106 lbs
There are several contenders for the coveted top four spots here, with a mix of returning veterans and fresh faces pushing for positions.
Top Side:
#1 Fernando Morales (Clear Lake) is the defending champion and the clear favorite in this weight. He has defeated all the top competitors he’s faced in Houston. #5 Andy Vila (Paetow) made a strong debut this season with several impressive wins, including one over #7 Max Marino (Cinco Ranch), who is also on this side. #8 Diego Guerrero (Cy Woods) made a big splash at the district tournament, taking out multiple ranked foes.
Bottom Side:
#4 James Weller (Taylor) has been dominant since dropping down from 113 lbs. Can he challenge Morales for the title? The third quadrant is a gauntlet, with #16 Jamie Gomez (Humble), #11 Aaron Garcia (Tompkins), #10 Kyle Bui (Cy Ranch), and #12 Gavin Marks (Brazoswood) all having key wins this season. One of them will end up 0-2 here—a tough fate.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Morales, Weller, Vila, Marino
On the Edge:
Bui, Gomez
113 lbs
Four returning state qualifiers stand out here, but there are challengers looking to make a run and possibly find their way onto the podium.
Top Side:
#1 Adrian Fierros (Katy) has only wrestled 18 matches this season, but he has dominated every opponent. He’s looking to improve on his state placement from last year. The rest of the top side is more open, with #8 Dreagan Flores (Cy Creek) benefiting from a favorable draw in the second quadrant.
Bottom Side:
#4 Diego Morales-Ayala (Cy Falls) holds a win over #2 Aaron Reyna (Brazoswood) this season, but their matchup is a coin flip. Both are very good. #6 Jiovani Hernandez (Paetow) has had a solid season, though he lacks a win over any of the top three here. However, he could break through this week.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Fierros, Reyna, Hernandez, Morales-Ayala
On the Edge:
Flores, Calvillo
120 lbs
After the top two here, this weight is wide open, with 6-8 wrestlers capable of earning a state berth.
Top Side:
#1 Santiago Ramirez (Westside), a returning state runner-up, has wins over the top competitors in this weight. He should cruise through the top side. #6 Collin Tingley (Cy Woods) and #7 Leslie Hall (Fulshear) have both had solid seasons and will be tough to beat. Keep an eye on #8 Justin Hand (Jordan), who could make a semi-final run.
Bottom Side:
#5 Chance Berry (Cy Fair), a freshman, claimed a district title last week in a tough district. However, #3 Santiago Garcia (Katy) is the favorite to emerge from this bottom side, and their semi-final match will be one to watch.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Ramirez, Garcia, Tingley, Hall
On the Edge:
Berry, Hall
126 lbs
This weight class has no clear favorite, and the top four could be a mix of different wrestlers. Expect at least one surprise qualifier.
Top Side:
#2 Jordan Rodriguez (Cy Falls) has had an exceptional season, making significant progress since last year. He’ll meet returning state qualifier #10 Dylan Clay (Seven Lakes) in the second round, a match that could decide who reaches the finals on this side. #9 Moises Palacios (Cinco Ranch) pulled off an upset over Clay last week. Can the senior repeat the performance?
Bottom Side:
#8 Josue Pizana (Katy) will be the favorite, but #6 Caden Simonetti (Kingwood) and #7 Mateo De La Isla (Cy Ranch) are both strong competitors and will challenge for a spot in the finals.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Pizana, Rodriguez, Simonetti, Palacios
On the Edge:
Clay, De La Isla
132 lbs
There’s a dominant favorite in this weight class, but after that, the remaining spots could go several ways. It will depend on who is battle-tested and ready.
Top Side:
#2 Carlos Gonzalez (Paetow) has dominated all season and has wins over top competitors. He will likely meet #13 Cody Allen (Cy Falls) in the second round, who could make some noise here.
Bottom Side:
#4 Ashton Gamboa (Cy Ranch) has had a solid season but has yet to beat anyone of Gonzalez’s caliber. Their finals match should be a good one. The second-round battle between #5 Aiden Peterson (Foster) and #6 Danilo Cardenas (Taylor) will likely be explosive. Don’t be surprised if they meet multiple times in this tournament.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Gonzalez, Gamboa, Cardenas, Peterson
On the Edge:
Morin, Allen
138 lbs
This is another weight without a clear favorite. The battle for the finals and the top four is going to be intense.
Top Side:
#1 Dimitri Bao-Washington (Cy Falls) has had an exceptional season and will look to cap off his senior year with a trip to the state tournament. #6 Ali Salem (Taylor) and #7 Nikolas Fomin (Kingwood) are also on this side and will face off in the second round for a chance to wrestle in the semi-finals.
Bottom Side:
There’s a lot going on with the bottom side of this bracket. #5 Tyler Donnette (Cy Ranch) and #3 Andrei Gavaza (Cinco Ranch) both had solid seasons at 144 lbs and have dropped down to compete here. #8 David Morris (Cy Creek) and #13 Aidan Marks (Brazoswood) are tough competitors who won’t be easy outs.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Gavaza, Bao-Washington, Donnette, Marks
On the Edge:
Fomin, Salem
144 lbs
There’s a strong favorite here, but after that, the rest of the bracket is full of uncertainty.
Top Side:
#2 Diego Lopez (Tompkins) has had an incredible career and is looking to return to the state tournament. He’s the favorite here and will be a strong challenger for a spot on the state podium. #5 Aurelio Ibarra (Brazoswood) made a big impact at the district tournament last weekend, and I expect him to make his way to the semi-finals. Can he go further?
Bottom Side:
The bottom side has a lot of talent. #6 Ryan Pulley (Foster) and #7 Stephen Kirby (George Ranch) were both state qualifiers last year but are now in the same quadrant due to Ibarra’s run through District 12. #9 Thales Rivas (Kingwood) is very tough to beat and will likely face Pulley in the second round, whom Rivas defeated earlier this season. #3 Robert Planes (Jersey Village) has shown potential, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against the top Houston wrestlers.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Lopez, Planes, Rivas, Kirby
On the Edge:
Ibarra, Hernandez
150 lbs
This weight is packed with big-time contenders, and the bracket is wild due to upsets and loaded district draws. It might be the hardest weight to predict.
Top Side:
#3 Max Herman (Cinco Ranch) and #6 Tristan Forsman (Clear Lake) have had an intense rivalry this season. I predicted Herman would be ready when it counts at the end of the season. If they meet in the semis, we’ll see if that holds true. Herman must first get through #8 Keefer Strange (Cy Fair) in the second round. Strange has had a strong season and is a tough challenge.
Bottom Side:
#5 Tuck Wray (George Ranch) threw a wrench into the bracket when he upset Forsman last week. He’s been solid, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep it going. #4 Cayden Miller (Morton Ranch) and #7 Sebastian Santibanez (Bridgeland) will meet in the second round, which promises to be a major match.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Herman, Santibanez, Forsman, Wray
On the Edge:
Strange, Miller
157 lbs
The top two here might be the top two in the state, and there are 4-5 wrestlers vying for the remaining spots on the podium.
Top Side:
#1 Jared Remington (Clear Creek) has been one of the most dominant wrestlers in Houston this season. He has only gone six minutes once this year, including a pinfall victory over #2 Vincent Echavarry (Cinco Ranch). #7 Aiden Almaraz (Atascocita) is a tough wrestler who will likely see Remington in the semi-finals.
Bottom Side:
Echavarry is a returning state placer and will be looking for revenge for his mid-season loss to Remington. This match will likely go the distance. #4 Erick Moultry (Cy Ranch) has put up 50 wins this year but faces a tough challenge in the second round against #5 Truitt Box (Fulshear), whom he could also see for third place.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Echavarry, Remington, Moultry, Box
On the Edge:
Almaraz, Aranda
165 lbs
The top three here have mostly been from CFISD, but how strong are the challengers from across the region?
Top Side:
#1 Logan Soileau (Langham Creek) has had a great year and is looking for a fourth straight trip to the state tournament. He should get it done. #11 Jackson Vaught (Katy) is tough but has limited matches, while #16 De’mariyon Horn (Cy Springs) has a ton of matches and could cause trouble in the second quadrant.
Bottom Side:
#2 Travis Rosa (Cy Creek) and #3 Breyden Jefferies-Arndt (Bridgeland) have been excellent all year but have consistently been stuck behind Soileau on the podium. How good is #7 Keith Remington (Clear Creek)? He has some solid wins and could challenge the top three here. Keep an eye on #5 Maddox Fritz (Cinco Ranch), who should be well-prepared due to his tough schedule.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Soileau, Rosa, Remington, Fritz
On the Edge:
Jefferies-Arndt, Horn
175 lbs
This weight is loaded, with multiple contenders in every quadrant.
Top Side:
#2 Colton Rollwitz (Cinco Ranch) has managed to secure the top seed, but there is no easy path here. He’ll face #5 Jemarion Moore (Westside) in the second round and likely #6 Saul Gutierrez (Langham Creek) in the semi-finals. Whoever makes it out of the top half will have earned it.
Bottom Side:
#1 Sean Perez (Humble) has separated himself from the pack, but he’ll face a tough challenge from former #1 Henry Davis (Clear Springs). #8 Nicholas Oji (Cy Falls) and #11 Kayden Smith (Cy Fair) are both tough wrestlers who could cause issues on this side.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Perez, Gutierrez, Davis, Rollwitz
On the Edge:
Moore, Oji
190 lbs
Late changes have opened up this weight, with several newcomers looking to make an impact.
Top Side:
#1 Kane Rosario (Seven Lakes) has had a great season and should cruise through the top side with his physical style. His first-round match with #15 Issa Ndiaye (Foster) will be a tough one, though. Don’t be surprised if Ndiaye makes a run through the consolations.
Bottom Side:
This side features several contenders with no clear favorite. #7 Nikolai Krikstan (Cy Creek) had his best showing of the year last week and won a district title. #10 Zayde Fachetti (Kingwood) also claimed a district title. I’m watching #6 Thomas Orendorff (Tompkins), who has had an up-and-down season but can beat anyone in this bracket.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Rosario, Orendorff, Fachetti, Ndiaye
On the Edge:
Barron, Krikstan
215 lbs
This weight is stacked with tough competitors, and early matchups are going to make this one a true battle. The question is whether any of the contenders can break through the heavy hitters.
Top Side:
#3 JP Smith (Cinco Ranch) was upset last week, but now we have a showdown between Smith and #1 Timothy Merchant (Cy Springs) in the second round. The winner of this match will likely emerge as the favorite to take home the title. #5 Owen Pullig (Clear Lake) has some solid wins this season and could prove to be a tough matchup for anyone.
Bottom Side:
#2 Isaiah Goff (Mayde Creek) scored some big wins to earn a district championship in Katy last week. He will be challenged by either #4 Octavio Singh (Strake) or #6 Jordan Jose (Clear Falls) on this side of the bracket. This side won’t be easy for anyone, and it will come down to who can handle the pressure.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Smith, Goff, Merchant, Singh
On the Edge:
Pullig, Jose
285 lbs
This weight is absolutely stacked with talent, and it’s hard to predict who will rise to the top among such fierce competition. One wrestler has stood out this year, but the question remains: can anyone else break through?
Top Side:
#1 Michael Villareal (Brazoswood) has had an outstanding season with multiple wins over other top competitors. He was also a state placer last season, making him the clear favorite here. The rest of the top side seems relatively thin, and I’m leaning toward #8 Deacon Parrish (Tompkins) making the other semi-final. Watch for #7 Samuel Smith (Cy Woods) to make a run in the consolations after his second-round meeting with Villareal.
Bottom Side:
Two state placers, #2 Shane Trotter (Katy) and #4 Grant Bahnsen (Clear Lake), will meet in the second round, making this bracket incredibly tough. The winner of this match will face either #3 Ke’shawn Jones (Clear Creek) or #6 Aaden Menard (Cy Springs). Both Jones and Menard are tough, and though Jones has had an impressive second half of the season, this match is a total toss-up.
State Qualifier Predictions:
Villareal, Trotter, Jones, BahnsenOn the Edge:
Smith, Parrish