Harker Heights, Killeen and Shoemaker went south. Chaparral and Ellison traveled north. It didn’t matter the direction they started, though. It’s all about where they end up. And, as far as wrestling is concerned, all roads are destined for Cypress.
Kicking off the postseason, Killeen ISD’s Class 6A and 5A programs hit the mats for their respective district tournaments Wednesday, aiming for a top-four finish by any means necessary and a spot in the regional round, which is the next stop on the journey to the UIL State Championships at Cy-Fair ISD’s Berry Center.
After all the tussles, when the whistles finally ceased, and the blood, sweat and tears were mopped up, 45 KISD wrestlers extended their seasons –– some of them, a whopping 12, did so in gold medal fashion.
At the 12-team District 13-6A tournament at Cedar Park Vista Ridge High School, the Harker Heights Lady Knights outlasted their opponents for five individual titles en route to a third consecutive 13-6A team championship. They accomplished the latest feat with head coach Kris Perkins in his first season in charge.
The Lady Knights compiled a tournament-leading 204½ points. Round Rock Westwood was second with 135½ points and Copperas Cove third with 135 points.
Emily Malbrough started off the run of golds for the Lady Knights, who sent eight wrestlers into the finals. Malbrough set aside Copperas Cove’s Lillian Hoaglin by major decision, 21-8. Major decision is a victory by between eight and 14 points.
Aniya McConico (132) added to the stash with a victory through second-period fall (pinning an opponent) over Copperas Cove’s Haleigh Poser.
Xenia Gutierrez (138) next cruised to an 18-1 tech fall (15 points or more) over Cove’s Vera Hathaway to claim her top prize.
Ana Davis encountered Shoemaker’s Zana Connally in the 185-pound final and came away with a win by second-period fall over her counterpart in a match that went toward showcasing KISD’s depth in the sport.
Saniah Ebron (235) closed out the victory parade with a third-period fall win over Copperas Cove’s Evelyn Stack.
Shoemaker had two individuals top the podium following a long day of close-quarters combat.
Aljon Morales notched a narrow 8-6 decision in the 120-pound final over Vista Ridge’s Caleb Hennig for his gold.
In the 285-pound title tilt, which turned out to be an all-KISD survival of the fittest, the Grey Wolves’ Sheldon Gunnels defeated Harker Heights’ Ivan Arzate by fall 50 seconds into the second of three 2-minute periods.
The Killeen boys and girls are sending a combined eight to regionals, a haul highlighted by Labbron Washington’s silver at 150 pounds. The Knights, who finished fourth as a team, will have five regional representatives.
Fourteen teams gathered at Burleson Centennial High School for the District 6-5A tournament in which Chaparral and Ellison grappled for their regional berths, and the pair from KISD emerged with a combined five district champions.
Two Lady Bobcats, Lanaya Padilla (100) and Mikayla Hudson (107), earned that distinction and helped lead the team to second place overall –– just four and a half points behind first place Midlothian Heritage.
Padilla, who was named the most outstanding female wrestler of the district tournament, wrapped up her championship with a third-period fall win over fellow KISD competitor Darlah Louis-Charles of Ellison. Hudson quickly quelled her challenger in the title match, pinning Heritage’s Natalie Fernandez in 37 seconds.
Giselle Solis-Leon captured the top prize for Lady Eagles, defeating Lampasas’ Sayler Siters by tech fall, 21-4, in the 145-poind final.
Adrien Wright produced a 126-pound championship for the Bobcats, while Ellison’s Aodhan Jimenez, a state runner-up last season, claimed the 113-pound crown. Jimenez picked up a major decision, 20-11, in his final. Wright also won by major decision, 12-4, over Belton’s Jacob U’ren.
The 6A Region IV tournament is slated for Feb. 7-8 at the Delco Activity Center in Austin, the 5A Region II tournament is at the Alfred J. Loos Complex in Dallas on Feb. 7-8, and the state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 14-15.
More photos can be viewed on KISD Communications' Flickr page here.
Below is a list of all the KISD regional qualifiers.
Class 6A regional qualifiers
Boys
Harker Heights: Gavin Rowell (106), fourth; Vincent Yang (138), third; Austin Ishee (144), fourth; Gavin Nutt (215), second; Ivan Zarate (285), second
Killeen: Anthony Rivera (132), third; Labbron Washington (150), second; Anthony Beverly (165), third; Damirte Hemphill (190), fourth
Shoemaker: Aljon Morales (120 pounds), first; Sheldon Gunnels (285), first
Girls
Harker Heights: Emily Malbrough (100), first; Kalani Saria (107), second; Kimora Henry (120), second; Violet Raymond (126), third; Aniya McConico (132), first; Xenia Gutierrez (138); Cheyenne Metcalf (165), second; Ana Davis (185), first
Killeen: Ruth Greene (100), fourth; Mackeila Angrand (138), third; Zoey Zapata (152), fourth; Fredaya Clarke (235), fourth
Shoemaker: Zana Connally (185), second
Class 5A regional qualifiers
Boys
Chaparral: Yariel Flores (106), fourth; Adrien Wright (126), first; Elijah Gordon (132), third; Mitchell Dye (144), third; Antonio Simmons (150), third
Ellison: Aodhan Jimenez (113), first; Kaedin Peredo (126), fourth; Corey Conway (132), fourth; Benjamin Alvarado (138), third; Michael Cotto-Velez (144), fourth; Adrian Mitchell (285), third
Girls
Chaparral: Lanaya Padilla (100), first; Mikayla Hudson (107), first; Desiree Madrid (120), third; Alyssa Thomas (132), third; Kaelyn Reynolds (138), third; Paige Mateski (152), third; Makayla Davis (235), second
Ellison: Darlah Louis-Charles (100), second; Breyanah Leyva-Arcinega (107), fourth; Lohamy Buby-Luque (126), third; Giselle Solis-Leon (145), first
*Note: Wrestlers who finished fifth are regional alternates.
