Houston Chronicle

Eagles sending five to state

Enjoying program’s best year to date, Oak Ridge not done yet

- By Jason McDaniel Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer who can be reached at jasonrmcda­niel@ outlook.com.

The Oak Ridge boys followed their third-place district finishwith­a sixthplace showing at the Region III-6A wrestling tournament.

They were only half a point behind Seven Lakes and Cypress Lakes, who tied for fourth.

Katy won the team championsh­ip with 135 points, followed by The Woodlands (103), Cy Woods (101), Seven Lakes (96), Cy Lakes (96), Oak Ridge (95.5), Cinco Ranch (81) and Clear Springs (79).

“We had a great year this year,” coach Michael Morgan said.

“It’s the best season that we’ve ever had here. We placed second at the CyFair Invitation­al, which is a huge tournament, and we placed in every tournament we were at. Wewere in the top 10 or five.

“We were sixth at regionals, so we had an outstandin­g year.”

Morgan credited the depth of the program for their breakthrou­gh season.

The War Eagles sent seven boys and seven girls to the regional tourney, which is the most they’ve qualified in one year.

They’re also sending a program-best five wrestlers to state.

“It’s just a hard-working group, the whole group, from top to bottom,” Morgan said. “It makes coaching easy when you have kids who will do what they’re asked and go.”

Now they’re going to state.

The four boys qualifiers are freshman Kynnyth Maban (106 pounds), junior Kchrys Maban (113), and seniors Spencer Reynolds (145) and Sergio Muñoz (285).

Kchrys Maban is the Eagles’ lone regional champion.

He went to state last year as a third-place qualifier and claimed his first regional title with a win over Westside’s Ty’Rae Carter.

“That was one of the most exciting matches to watch,” Morgan said. “Those two kids really got after it.

“On his feet, (Kchrys) has an unbelievab­le shot, and he’ll scramble hard from the bottom. He’ll get upand get uspoints. “He just will not quit.” Now that he’s reached one goal, he has another in mind– state champion.

“Anybody can win it and anybody can take fifth,” Morgan said. “When you’re whittled down to the elite, anything can happen, and if he wrestles well, he’s definitely, I think, top four if not in the finals.”

Kynnyth Maban finished third at 106 pounds.

He had some experience wrestling outside school coming in, but he really tookoffaft­er Christmas.

The freshman lost in the quarterfin­als, then bounced back to beat Cy Ranch’s Austin Hernandez for third.

“He’s gotten on a little streak at the end, and that’s what got him to the state tournament,” Morgan said.

“The kid won’t quit. He just goes.”

Reynolds placed second, falling 5-3 in overtime to The Woodlands’ Andrew Ulrich in the championsh­ip match.

“He battled that kid all year long, and it’s been back and forth every time,” Morgan said.

Muñoz beat Langham Creek’s Robert Hill for third in the heavyweigh­t division.

Lucero Martinez is Oak Ridge’s lone girls state qualifier – and shemay not get to wrestle at the tournament.

The junior was 34-0 going into the regional final, which she lost be injury default, exiting early with a knee injury.

The 119-pound championsh­ip went to Klein’s Tori Reed.

“I’m hoping (she’ll compete),” Morgan said. “We’ll get her to the doctor and see what they say.”

Martinez went to state last after only starting wrestling in December, 2014.

“She works incredibly hard,” Morgan said. “She just will not quit. I hope she can come back and finish the season up, and then get ready for next year.”

TheUILwres­tling state tournament is Friday and Saturday at the BerryCente­r.

“It’s a great facility,” Morgan said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a fun time of the year, when you get the best of the best and they go andcompete.”

 ?? Diana L. Porter / For the Chronicle ?? Oak Ridge’s Spencer Reynolds, top, tries to pin Cameron Mitchell of Clear Lake in the 145-lb. class match at the Region III-6A Boys Wrestling Championsh­ips last week.
Diana L. Porter / For the Chronicle Oak Ridge’s Spencer Reynolds, top, tries to pin Cameron Mitchell of Clear Lake in the 145-lb. class match at the Region III-6A Boys Wrestling Championsh­ips last week.

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