The Eli Beaty Invite has really grown into a sneaky-awesome tournament over the past few years. These brackets are loaded and I’m glad the entries are available on Friday night so that we can get a preview out.
100 lbs
#1 Natalie Roberson (Katy) has been outstanding this season, and I expect her to continue her dominant run here. #5 Aubrie Williams (Cy Falls), who recently dropped down from 107 lbs, is a wrestler to watch as she adapts to this weight class. Given her strong performances earlier in the season, don’t be surprised if she becomes a major contender here.
107 lbs
A big battle is brewing in this weight class. #3 Emily Beltran (Katy) has been absolutely dominating and is coming off a stellar season. She was a state qualifier last year at 120 lbs. However, Minha Castillo (Clear Falls), a state qualifier at 107 lbs last season, is also in the mix. These two are on a collision course, and when they meet, expect fireworks!
114 lbs
This weight class is loaded with talent. The #1 seed is #2 ranked Nevada Daniels (Cinco Ranch), who enters as the favorite, but the competition is fierce. #6 Alexie Hurtado (Cy Park), #7 Eva Horton (George Ranch), #8 Haily Miranda (Cy Creek), #10 Miaham Jimenez (Caney Creek), #12 Nadia Whipple (Friendswood), #13 Courtney Hoang (Bridgeland), and #14 Anna Le (Clear Creek) all bring depth and talent to the bracket. Daniels will likely dominate, but with so many ranked wrestlers, the race for second place is wide open.
120 lbs
#3 Emily Melham (Taylor), a returning state placer, has looked excellent so far this season, and I expect her to keep her momentum going here. #6 Nuradrianna Adam (Katy) and #8 Layla Castro (Caney Creek) will add depth to the bracket, but Melham should be able to navigate her way through and claim the title.
126 lbs
#5 Sophia Tamayo (Clear Lake) came onto our radar with strong performances at offseason tournaments, and those efforts have carried over into a successful season. She’ll face tough competition in #4 Kayla Dunn (Cy Park), #7 Alicia Acevedo (Cinco Ranch), #8 Alina Hopkins (Katy), #10 Isabel Trujillo (Caney Creek), and #13 Grace Banuelos (Clear Falls), all of whom are capable of making a deep run. Keep an eye on Zooey Deets (Cy Falls), who moved down from 132 lbs and has had a solid season at her new weight. This is going to be a highly competitive bracket.
132 lbs
#2 Natalie Grijalva (Taylor) is clearly in a class of her own at this weight, and she’ll be tough to beat. The real battle here will be for second place. #5 Kylie Brown (Clear Springs) has had an excellent year, while #6 Nevaeh Biggers (Katy) has shown significant improvement. #7 Mackenzie Drosche (Cinco Ranch) is another seasoned competitor at this weight. #12 Sofia Vargas (Bridgeland) and #11 Keirah Villareal (Clear Brook) round out the rest of the top contenders.
138 lbs
The battle for the top spot here will feature two returning state qualifiers: #2 Haley Pitts (Katy) and #4 Kathryn Kaminski (Caney Creek). Pitts has made huge strides this year, and I’m excited to see if she can continue that momentum. #8 Michelle Holden (Clear Lake) also made the state tournament last year and has been very consistent. #9 Sophia Payrovi (Cy Falls) is a new addition to this weight class and could make some noise, potentially knocking off one of the top seeds.
145 lbs
#2 Savannah Freifeld (Katy) is a returning state qualifier and a leader of the tough Katy Girls team. She faces a tough field here, with #6 Mia Medrano (Cinco Ranch), #10 Leslie Ontiveros (Clear Creek), and #12 Christina Decker (Clear Lake) all in the mix. Unranked Dora Dickinson (Clear Falls) is undefeated on the season and could use this tournament as her opportunity to prove she belongs among the top wrestlers at this weight.
152 lbs
This weight features two top contenders: #4 Caitlyn Tresler (Clear Falls) and #8 Lupita Gonzalez (Brazoswood). These two look like they’ll be separated from the rest of the field, and this bracket could serve as a preview of the District finals later this season in February.
165 lbs
#2 Karen Kime (Brazoswood) and #3 Genevieve Seiffert (Bridgeland) lead the charge in this deep weight class. #6 Tracy Linklater (Friendswood) and #12 Jade Black (Taylor) add further depth to the competition. I’m expecting a rematch between Kime and Seiffert in the finals, and it’s going to be an exciting one to watch.
185 lbs
This is a wide-open weight class with four ranked competitors. #6 Maria Gonzalez (Brazoswood), #8 Angela Verduzco (Humble), #9 Sakina Awawda (Taylor), and #10 Annabelle Rollwitz (Cinco Ranch) have all exchanged victories throughout the season. It’s a toss-up, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Verduzco come out on top when all is said and done.
235 lbs
#2 Kalea Berry (Cy Park) has been a consistent force in this weight class and will be a tough challenge for anyone in the field. #5 Sherry Linklater (Friendswood) has shown she can compete at the highest level, and after beating #6 Sydney Layton (Clear Falls) last week, she’s got a lot of momentum heading into this tournament. Expect another exciting battle between Berry and Linklater for the top spot.