Girls Wrestler of the Week: Jacey Kuntz – Foster
Senior Jacey Kuntz delivered one of the most impressive upsets of the season at the Doc Hess Tournament in Bryan. In the semifinals, Kuntz dominated #1-ranked Malaina Jones (Oak) with a 17-6 victory. Jones, a state placer last year, had been undefeated until that point and had even tech-falled Kuntz just a week earlier. Kuntz’s ability to bounce back and flip the script shows tremendous resilience. But she wasn’t done there—Kuntz went on to secure a fall in the finals over 5A state qualifier Gillian Eckert (Comal Pieper). It was a huge performance on a big stage, earning Kuntz the well-deserved honor of Girls Wrestler of the Week.
Boys Wrestler of the Week: Jared Remington – Clear Creek
If you look back at some of our preseason previews, I mentioned that Jared Remington was “criminally underrated.” Despite finishing 4th in the state last year and qualifying for state as a freshman, the junior from Clear Creek somehow flies under the radar. But after this weekend’s performance at the Eli Beaty Invitational, it’s clear that Remington is a name everyone needs to know.
In a stacked bracket featuring three state qualifiers and two #1 ranked wrestlers, Remington came out on top. He started his run with a dominant fall over #4 Travis Rosa (Cy Creek) in the semifinals, setting up a highly anticipated final against returning state placer and #1 ranked Vincent Echavarry (Cinco Ranch). What was expected to be a nail-biting match turned into a statement win for Remington, as he pinned Echavarry in the final seconds of the first period, one of the most impressive victories of the season so far.
It was a remarkable performance that not only showcased Remington’s skill but also his ability to rise to the occasion in a loaded field. For his dominant display and huge victory, Jared Remington earns our Boys Wrestler of the Week honors.
Boys Team of the Week: Cinco Ranch
The Eli Beaty Tournament has become one of the toughest local events for Houston teams, featuring a stacked field of ranked wrestlers and some of the region’s top programs. This year, Cinco Ranch proved they have the depth and high-end talent to rise to the occasion, taking home the team title in impressive fashion.
The Cougars were led by #1 JP Smith, who remained undefeated at 215 pounds and continued his dominant season as one of the most consistent performers in the Houston area. #6 Colton Rollwitz also had a standout weekend, winning the 190-pound bracket with a big upset over #3 Beckett Kim (Friendswood) in the semifinals, avenging a loss from earlier in the season.
Though three of Cinco Ranch’s top wrestlers—#2 Andrei Gavaza, #2 Max Herman, and #1 Vincent Echavarry—dropped tough matches in the finals, their performances were still key in securing the team title. But perhaps the most telling display of the team’s depth came from Moises Palacios at 132 pounds. A steady contributor for several years, Palacios battled his way through the consolation rounds to claim a 5th-place finish, earning valuable points to help secure the overall victory for Cinco Ranch.
It was a total team effort, with both high-end talent and grit from their role players leading the way. For their collective success and depth of talent, Cinco Ranch earns our Boys Team of the Week honors.
Girls Team of the Week: Klein Oak
The Doc Hess Tournament in Bryan is one of the premier midseason tests for Houston-area teams, and this year it proved to be an incredible showcase of talent. With powerhouse programs like San Antonio Madison, Comal Pieper, Richmond Foster, and El Paso Franklin in the field, it’s a tough challenge for any team to come out on top. But Klein Oak rose to the occasion, claiming the team title by just two points and earning the honor of Girls Team of the Week.
The team was led by standout performances from #3 Josephine Clarke and #6 Pamela Carlos Maldonado, who both captured titles in the middleweights. These two have been solid all season, but their victories at a high-profile tournament like Doc Hess elevate them to another level. #6 Chloe Hanes was also consistent, finishing second at 107 pounds, while unranked Ariana Rangel pulled off a major upset by defeating the #1 ranked wrestler in her weight class on her way to a runner-up finish. Rangel’s performance is sure to earn her a spot in the rankings this week.
A lot of credit also goes to Klein Oak’s most accomplished wrestler, #1 Malaina Jones. Despite being upset in the semifinals, Jones didn’t let the loss define her. She bounced back with two crucial pins in the consolation round, helping secure the team title for Klein Oak. It takes a lot of grit and resilience for a wrestler to come back and finish third in a tough field, and Jones showed just that.
Klein Oak’s collective effort and individual resilience make them the clear choice for Girls Team of the Week.