Talent-laden area sure to make girls regional a grueling test

Top four finishers in each weight class go to state

Cinco Ranch senior Charlotte Fowler is always working.

She wrestles yearround, competes at the junior national level, which takes her overseas, and strives to improve daily.

To succeed in the Houston area, that approach is a must.

The area boasts 10 girls who are first or second in their weight class in the most recent Class 6A state rankings heading into the Region III tournament Friday and Saturday at the Merrell Center. The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state meet Feb. 19-20 at the Berry Center.

“There are a lot of girls here who also do jiujitsu and judo, and other mat-based sports, so they have this pride about themselves and what they do, and really enjoy the sport,” said Fowler, a fifth-place state finisher the last two years.

Fowler is 41-0 at 102 pounds, earning the No. 1 state ranking in wrestlingtexas.com.

Cinco Ranch teammate Kayla De Leon is No. 1 at 138, and Oak Ridge’s Lucero Rosales (119), Cypress Ridge’s Aiyana Batiste (148) and Klein’s Kijhla Evans (165) also are ranked first in their weight classes.

Clear Falls’ Elissa Douglas (128), Clear Springs’ Eboni Johnson (165) and Langham Creek’s Rachel Doolittle (215) are ranked second, making for a grueling regional.

“This region is by far the toughest,” Klein coach John Banas said. “There will be weight classes where all four girls who get out will place at state.”

The region, and the sport, is so tough, it can take a toll on wrestlers.

Klein’s Morgan Zogg, a two-time state champion and ranked No. 2 at 102, chose to leave the team

There’s been a lot of really good, solid program over the years, and it’s elevated everybody else.” John Banas, Klein wrestling coach

two weeks ago because she wasn’t happy, Banas said.

With her on board, the Bearkats were regional and state team favorites.

“This sport will do that to people,” Banas said. “You hit a wall. It’s pretty rare someone with her credentials will quit at this point. Our program hasn’t really seen too much of it. But I’ve heard from other coaches it happens. Kids just can’t take it anymore.

“It’s a tough sport, it’s real grueling, and it happens.”

Zogg’s exit clears the way for Cy Falls’ Allisa Maldonado, the thirdranked 102-pounder, to move up. Out for much of the season, Maldonado recently returned to win the District 17-6A title.

Houston crowned an area-record seven 6A girls state champions out of 10 weight classes two years ago, with four of those girls defeating other area wrestlers in the finals.

Zogg, Evans and Klein Oak’s Iliana Keju won state titles last year.

Cy Ridge is the defending 6A girls team champion, with two titles in the last three years.

“We take girls wrestling pretty seriously here in this area, and some of the other schools up in the Dallas area don’t really do it very much at all,” Cinco Ranch coach Bill Dushane said.

That’s why the Houston-area wrestlers should make quite an impact at state after surviving a rugged Region III.

“Down here in Houston, the evolution is remarkable,” Banas said. “There’s been a lot of really good, solid program over the years, and it’s elevated everybody else.”