100 lbs
State Credentials
- Natalie Roberson (Katy) – State 3rd
- Kaelani Palmer (Foster) – State Qualifier
- Celeste Gonzalez (Paetow) – State Qualifier
One of the toughest brackets in the entire tournament comes right at the top.
Natalie Roberson has owned this weight in Houston for over a year and enters the postseason as the clear favorite. The returning regional champion brings relentless physicality, speed, and toughness that few can match. If she’s on her game, she’s very hard to beat.
Kaelani Palmer is the most dangerous challenger to Roberson in this bracket. She has the power and pace to make things interesting if the two meet late, and that potential finals matchup would be one of the highlights of the weekend.
The depth here is real. Kesley Tran (Cy Woods) and Danielle Shirey (Brazoswood) are both breakout wrestlers this season, and their projected quarterfinal matchup could very well decide a state qualifier. On the other side, two-time state qualifier Celeste Gonzalez knows how to survive this tournament. She often takes regular-season losses, but February is where she shines.
Gonzalez faces a brutal path, opening with Natalie Moreno (Cy Park) and potentially meeting Emmie Guitron (Atascocita) in the quarters. Guitron has been knocking on the door all season and will need to beat elite competition to punch her ticket.
Up-and-Comers to Watch:
Isabella Bello (Langham Creek), Mia Gutierrez (George Ranch)
Our Picks
- Roberson (Katy)
- Palmer (Foster)
- Gonzalez (Paetow)
- Tran (Cy Woods)
- Guitron (Atascocita)
- Shirey (Brazoswood)
Darkhorses
- Reese Box (Fulshear)
- Natalie Moreno (Cy Park)
105 lbs
State Credentials
- Emily Beltran (Katy) – State Champion
- Minha Castillo (Clear Falls) – State Qualifier
Emily Beltran remains one of the most dominant wrestlers in Texas, regardless of weight class. Her constant pressure, crisp attacks, and composure make her the clear favorite to repeat as regional champion.
The race behind her is where things get interesting. Minha Castillo (Clear Falls) is as tough as they come and could meet Beltran in a compelling semifinal. Castillo will likely have to get through freshman sensation Carrie Murrell (Cy Ridge), one of the biggest surprises in Houston this season.
Kayla Miller (Cy Ranch) enters as a Cy Fair champion, but Mariangel Miranda (Paetow) owns a head-to-head win over Miller, setting up a must-watch semifinal. This bracket is deep, with multiple wrestlers capable of making a run.
Depth Pieces
Marlena Messa (Heights), Monica Caballero (Cy Park), Quinn Dutcher (Mayde Creek)
Our Picks
- Beltran (Katy)
- Miranda (Paetow)
- Castillo (Clear Falls)
- Miller (Cy Ranch)
- Murrell (Cy Ridge)
- Caballero (Cy Park)
Darkhorses
- Carrie Murrell (Cy Ridge)
- Ashley Nataren (Bellaire)
110 lbs
State Credentials
- Grace Horton (George Ranch) – State Qualifier
Grace Horton was one match away from a state medal last season and has looked excellent throughout her senior year. She enters as the favorite and should reach the finals if she wrestles to her potential.
Gianna Zavala (Langham Creek) has quietly built one of the strongest resumes in the field and enters as the Cy-Fair champion. Natalie Taylor (Cinco Ranch) has also put together a strong season. A Zavala–Taylor semifinal would be outstanding.
Our Picks
- Horton (George Ranch)
- Taylor (Cinco Ranch)
- Zavala (Langham Creek)
- McDougal (Brazoswood)
- Truong (Katy)
- Mia Rodriguez (Morton Ranch)
Darkhorses
- Jacqueline Urbano (Bellaire)
- Alexa Rodriguez (Fulshear)
115 lbs
State Credentials
- Nevada Daniels (Cinco Ranch) – State 4th
- Stephanie Lopez (Mayde Creek) – State 6th
- Aviana Caceres (Langham Creek) – Regional Champion
- Hailey Miranda (Cy Creek) – State Qualifier
This is the most credential-loaded weight in the tournament.
Daniels enters undefeated and is a two-time state placer. She holds four wins over Lopez this season, though Lopez has had an outstanding year and has closed the gap at times. If they meet again in the finals, it will still be must-watch wrestling.
Lopez has a massive semifinal looming against Aviana Caceres (Langham Creek). Lopez won their CFISD finals matchup, but Caceres answered back at the Tiger Classic. That rubber match could be one of the best bouts of the entire tournament.
Our Picks
- Daniels (Cinco Ranch)
- Caceres (Langham Creek)
- Lopez (Mayde Creek)
- Uresti (Morton Ranch)
- Miranda (Cy Creek)
- De Souza Ramos (Taylor)
Darkhorses
- Cecelia Blanco (Clear Falls)
- Stephanie Nataren (Bellaire)
120 lbs
State Credentials
- Emily Melhem (Taylor) – State 5th
- Aylin Pagan (Paetow) – State Qualifier
- Alicia Acevedo (Cinco Ranch) – State Qualifier
This weight is a clash between proven veterans and hungry newcomers.
Pagan has been outstanding all season and owns multiple wins over Melhem, but Melhem is a two-time state placer who always finds a way in February. A finals rematch between the two would be another toss-up.
Behind them is a brutal scramble for the remaining spots. Guerrero, Acevedo, Deets, Casares, and Le are all capable — and unfortunately, some elite wrestlers will be eliminated early.
Our Picks
- Pagan (Paetow)
- Melhem (Taylor)
- Guerrero (Clear Lake)
- Acevedo (Cinco Ranch)
- Le (Clear Creek)
- Casares (Jersey Village)
Darkhorses
- Zooey Deets (Cy Falls)
- Mylanni Ayala (Clear Falls)
125 lbs
State Credentials
- Kayla Dunn (Cy Park) – State Qualifier
This weight has been shuffled all season. Dunn, Alina Hopkins (Katy), and Sophia Tamayo (Clear Lake) have all held the top Houston ranking at different points. Dunn brings state experience, while Hopkins and Tamayo are chasing their first trip.
Our Picks
- Hopkins (Katy)
- Dunn (Cy Park)
- Tamayo (Clear Lake)
- Denbow (Paetow)
- Escalante (Langham Creek)
- Scalf (Brazoswood)
Darkhorse
- Mikaela Martinez (Mayde Creek)
130 lbs
State Credentials
- Haley Pitts (Katy) – State Runner-Up
This weight will produce several first-time state qualifiers, but the favorite is clear.
Haley Pitts missed the early portion of the season, but since returning she has looked every bit like the state finalist she was last year. She brings a clear separation from the field and should be the one everyone is chasing.
Behind her, this bracket is balanced and volatile. Sofia Vargas (Bridgeland) has been steady all season and has proven she can win tough matches. Kyle Brown (Clear Falls) is returning from time off the mat but placed fifth at regionals last year and knows how to navigate this tournament. With so many evenly matched wrestlers, expect shakeups and surprises.
Our Picks
- Pitts (Katy)
- Garzon (Taylor)
- Vargas (Bridgeland)
- Berlanga (Jersey Village)
- Brown (Clear Falls)
- Smith (Cy Ranch)
Darkhorses
- Sasha Tabasinske (Fulshear)
- Katherine Racicot (Seven Lakes)
135 lbs
This is one of the most wide-open brackets in the tournament, with seven or eight wrestlers who could realistically find themselves in the finals. That kind of parity makes this weight one of the most entertaining to watch.
Jaclyn Fonseca (Katy) is doing what Katy wrestlers always seem to do — improving rapidly at the right time of year. Gabriela Carrera (Jersey Village) has battled through one of the toughest schedules in Houston and has emerged sharper for it. Emilia Martinez (Summer Creek) owns multiple tournament titles and quality wins, though she hasn’t faced quite the same grind as some others in this field.
Our Picks
- Carrera (Jersey Village)
- Fonseca (Katy)
- Dewitt (Clear Springs)
- Martinez (Summer Creek)
- Jennings (Cy Park)
- Simmons (Paetow)
Darkhorses
- Kye Carrell (Cy Springs)
- Savannah Johnson (Cy Ranch)
140 lbs
State Credentials
- Piya Raghavan (Seven Lakes) – State Qualifier
There are three to four legitimate title threats here, and the bracket layout will matter.
Sophia Payrovi (Cy Falls) has been one of the breakout stars of the Houston area this season, but she’ll be tested by Piya Raghavan, whose state tournament experience could be the difference when matches get tight.
Leah Bentley (Fulshear) has found consistency in her senior year and will be motivated to end her career with a trip to the Berry Center. Her opening-round matchup with Caroline Ryser (Katy) is sneaky tough and could shape the bracket. Keila Deleon (Bridgeland) is another wrestler who believes she can win this entire weight.
Our Picks
- Raghavan (Seven Lakes)
- Payrovi (Cy Falls)
- Bentley (Fulshear)
- Deleon (Bridgeland)
- Novak (Cinco Ranch)
- Royse (Jordan)
Darkhorse
- Lucia Iraheta (Langham Creek)
145 lbs
Notable Contenders
- Christina Decker (Clear Lake) – State 5th
- Maria Caires (Cy Ranch) – State Qualifier
- Alyssa Navarro (Cy Springs) – State Qualifier
Christina Decker is one of the most dominant wrestlers in Houston and enters this bracket as a legitimate state title threat. Her pace, power, and consistency make her the clear favorite.
Maria Caires (Cy Ranch) has shown time and again that she can find big wins when it matters most, as she did at the district tournament. Alyssa Navarro (Cy Springs) has been on our radar all season and will be hungry to return to the state tournament. Alex Quinto (Cinco Ranch) also factors heavily into this bracket with her experience and resume.
Our Picks
- Decker (Clear Lake)
- Caires (Cy Ranch)
- Navarro (Cy Springs)
- Quinto (Cinco Ranch)
- Wong (Fulshear)
- Schultz (Tompkins)
Darkhorse
- Giggi Youngblood (Bridgeland)
155 lbs
State Credentials
- Elizabeth Castro (Cy Ridge) – State 5th
Elizabeth Castro made an impressive postseason run last year and brings that experience back into a competitive bracket. While she’s taken a few losses this season in limited competition, she just captured a Cy Fair district title and appears to be peaking at the right time.
This weight has no shortage of challengers, and the placement rounds could be chaotic. Several wrestlers here are capable of breaking through if they string together the right matches.
Our Picks
- Hurd (Cy Springs)
- Castro (Cy Ridge)
- Hall (Jersey Village)
- Nightingale (Seven Lakes)
- Funchess (Westside)
- Williams (Atascocita)
Darkhorse
- Ava Grant (Humble)
170 lbs
State Credentials
- Genevieve Seiffert (Bridgeland) – State 3rd
- Angelina Patterson (Cy Ranch) – State 6th
This is the deepest weight in the entire tournament. There are six to eight wrestlers here who could realistically win a regional title.
Gabrielle Moore (Cy Creek) has been our top-ranked wrestler in this weight for much of the season and owns a district win over returning state placer Genevieve Seiffert (Bridgeland). Seiffert, however, is working her way back after time off the mat and should not be overlooked — she knows how to win in February.
Madeline Moore (Cinco Ranch) has also had an excellent season and is fully capable of going on a run. This bracket will be decided by matchups, timing, and composure.
Our Picks
- Seiffert (Bridgeland)
- Moore (Cy Creek)
- Moore (Cinco Ranch)
- Patterson (Cy Ranch)
- Dickinson (Clear Falls)
- Haller (Clear Lake)
Darkhorse
- Jenesis Hunt (Jersey Village)
190 lbs
State Credentials
- Jaida Kuntz (Foster) – State Qualifier
- Margot Royston (Lamar) – State Qualifier
- Sydney Layton (Clear Falls) – State Qualifier
Jaida Kuntz enters as a clear state title threat and a strong favorite at this weight. She’s been dominant all season and has separated herself from the field.
Behind her is an excellent group of young wrestlers ready to break through. Kaylee Conway (Cy Park), Gabrielle Carter (Clear Lake), and Tristyn Alo-Suliafu (Jordan) are all emerging sophomores who look like future upperweight stars. Add in experienced qualifiers like Layton and Royston, and this bracket becomes a fight for every spot.
Our Picks
- Kuntz (Foster)
- Conway (Cy Park)
- Layton (Clear Falls)
- Askins (Cy Ridge)
- Alo-Suliafu (Jordan)
- Royston (Lamar)
Darkhorse
- Leyla Allen (Langham Creek)
235 lbs
Notable Contender
- Kate Oguntoyinbo (Bellaire) – State Qualifier
There is real depth here, especially at the top.
Izis Kouokam (Foster) is one of two legitimate state title threats at this weight in the Foster room and will be expected to contend for a state title. J’Niyah Brown (Cy Springs) has been one of the most consistent upperweights all season — something that matters greatly in this class.
Kate Oguntoyinbo (Bellaire) was one match away from placing at the state tournament last year and will be laser-focused on reaching the podium this time around. Experience, composure, and execution will decide this bracket.
Our Picks
- Oguntoyinbo (Bellaire)
- Brown (Cy Springs)
- Kouokam (Foster)
- Rollwitz (Cinco Ranch)
- Oubre (Atascocita)
- Patrick (Cy Ranch)
Darkhorse
- Kelsey Turney (Cy Woods)