Kingwood Park girls duo claim gold medals
The Kingwood Park girls wrestling team had only two representatives at the UIL Class 5A state wrestling championships Friday at the Berry Center. It was enough to rank the Panthers fourth out of 60 scoring schools.
Senior Madison Sandquist and junior Lexi Shannon won state championships to complete stellar seasons. Sandquist defended her title in the 138pound weight class, finishing the season 30-0. Shannon ended girls competition with the 215 crown, finishing a 28-1 season.
Both pinned all three state opponents, with Sandquist shortening her matches as she progressed. She won her quarterfinal at the three-minute, 49-second mark, advanced in the semifinal at the 3:07 mark and struck early in the second period for the championship.
Sandquist and Dallas Sunset’s Maya Lewis were scoreless after the first period, but Sandquist made her move at the 2:38 mark for the pin to repeat as state champion.
“I knew coming into the tournament I had a chance to win,” Sandquist said. “I was expecting to win because I was coming off of last year, but my coach was telling me to be patient in the first period. The longer the match went on, the better it would be for me. Then she went down the second period and I’m on top, which is one of my strengths. I felt pretty good.”
The victory completed a tremendous high school career for Sandquist, who finished 51-4 last year, including a 2-1 decision in last year’s 138 final. She raised her arms in triumph and beamed toward the crowd the moment she knew she had the pin this time.
“It felt pretty good,” Sandquist said. “I feel relieved. I’m really happy that that’s my last freestyle match.”
Shannon made her return trip to state as strong as ever, winning her quarterfinal match 47 seconds and adding another pin at the 2:50 mark of the semifinal. She led 2-0 after one period against Justin Northwest’s Trinity Washko and led 6-0 entering the third period.
Narrowly missing a pin in the second, Shannon went for another early in the third, scoring a takedown and ending the match at the 4:52 mark. Her championship gave Kingwood Park a total of 56 points, behind only Canyon Randall (71), Burleson Centennial (60) and Amarillo Tascosa (59) in Class 5A.
Two freshmen reach the podium
Friendswood’s Avery Beckman and Foster’s Madison Canales just finished their first high school seasons, and they outperformed several experienced wrestlers during impressive state runs.
Beckman (15-1) captured the ultimate prize, taking the state championship in the 148 class. The freshman was difficult to stop, pinning her quarterfinal and semifinal foes in 39 seconds and 2:33, respectively.
She took a 4-0 lead after one period against El Paso Ysleta’s Jazmine Garcia before ending the final at the 2:49 mark. Including teammate Bailey Jarvis’ sixth-place finish in 95, the Mustangs amassed 35 points to place ninth in the state.
Canales took an undefeated freshman season to state, advancing with a 17-2 major decision before taking a 7-4 loss in the semifinals. She responded with a 9-2 victory in the third-place match, finishing 19-1 with a bronze medal.
“It means a lot knowing how much preparation goes into this and how hard I worked, knowing that me and my coach have worked so many hours making the strategy,” Canales said. “I think I did pretty good today, even though it wasn’t what I wanted.”
The Houston area had several highlights, including a silver medal from Waller senior Sierra Hall in the 185 class. She pinned her first two opponents in 4:17 and 1:19 before a 5-4 loss in the final that included some confusion at times regarding scoring.
In boys 5A action, Paetow’s Jeramiah Marquez and Fulshear’s Seth Smith wrestled for bronze medals, finishing fourth in 195 and 220, respectively.
North Forest’s White takes fifth
Houston ISD had a successful showing at state with four wrestlers making the podium. Northside’s Daniella Brown (girls 138) and Waltrip’s Tonatiuh Esquivel (boys 138) earned sixth place in their brackets, with Brown repeating a podium finish. Kashmere’s Samyra Thomas moved up a spot in girls 215, winning her final match to place sixth.
Among the district’s best finishes was a fifth-place performance from North Forest senior De’Zairae White, competing in her first season of wrestling.
“I’m very athletic, so when they asked me to do it I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll give it a try,’ ” White said. “But I became pretty good. I see myself doing it in college because I’m really committed to it. I don’t know where at the moment, but I do have offers that are looking good.”
White (13-4) entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed but fell into the consolation bracket. But she pinned her last two opponents in 38 and 26 seconds.
“I feel like I did good,” White said. “Some things I can improve on, but for the most part I did great. I’m proud of myself.”