College Park boys lead area with third-place finish
For the second time in three years, the College Park boys wrestling team finished in third place at the UIL Class 6A meet and is the top program in Greater Houston.
The Cavaliers totaled 110 points Saturday as they took home a trophy, just like in 2021.
“I’m always happy to bring home a trophy from the state tournament,” College Park eighth year coach Erik Spjut said. “Coaching so many individuals out there, you’re really happy for some and you’re really down for others. Once you take time and step back, you’re really happy with the trophy with third.”
Sophomore Caio Aron was the lone championship qualifier, and his match went the distance against two-time defending state champion Shawn Ryncarz of Arlington Martin.
Caio lost for just the fourth time all season (and second time to Ryncarz) on a 2-1 tiebreaker.
Caio finished the season 55-4.
“I’m very proud of him,” Spjut said. “He’s only a sophomore and he’s got a lot of big events coming up that he’s going to train for.”
College Park had three silver medalists as freshman Andrew Huerta (113), junior Kolten Oborny (150) and senior Alec Robeson each ended on a high note.
Lew makes history
The Westside boys wrestling team has been represented well at state but never had a champion. That all changed with the 138-pound final.
Junior Kyle Lew held on for a 3-2 decision to defeat 2022 state champion Garrett McChesney, finally putting the Wolves atop the podium.
“My coach is here, I’m the first state champion and I know it means a lot to him and to this program,” Lew said. “It’s everything. It’s really big for me and family. Coming off of Fargo, All-American at Fargo, All-American at duals, this is just icing on the cake.”
In a rematch of the Region III-6A championship, which Lew won by pinfall, Lew scored an early takedown before McChesney scored two escapes to tie the match at two entering the third period.
“I knew that last time we wrestled he got a really good takedown on me, so I really had to be careful with his offense but also try to impose mine,” Lew said.
“Once I got that first takedown, settle in the match, I know he’s going to be aggressive, going to be shooting. A lot of it is just positioning and footwork, if I could just stalk him forward I knew I’d have the match.”
Lew chose the down position to start the third and escaped for what proved to be the championship point. He stayed sturdy and averted attacks the rest of the match, wrapping up his opponent as time expired.
The Wolves produced three state medalists, as Juan Cantu took silver in 113 and Santiago Ramirez took bronze in 106.