HP, Hillcrest Grapplers Head to State
Highland Park will send an impressive contingent of eight wrestlers, including three freshmen, to the Class 5A state tournament beginning Friday in suburban Houston.
HP freshman Holden Jacobs (35-3 individual match record) will be a top seed in the 144-pound weight class after winning the Region III title on Feb. 8. His classmates Jax Hanson (33-6) at 120 pounds and Graham Rodgers (38-8) at 157 pounds also qualified.
HP’s regional runners-up heading to state include Jack Rice (39-7) at 132 pounds and Ryan Wright (29-5) at 150. Others competing at the state tournament for the Scots are Jaden Taylor (28-14) at 113 pounds, Bennett Ham (39-6) at 165 pounds, and Amin Elahmadi (21-5) at 215 pounds.
Meanwhile, Hillcrest is sending four competitors to state, including a trio of Region II champions who will be among the favorites in their respective weight classes — Victor Ramirez (33-1) at 113 pounds, Elijah Guzman (40-1) at 138 pounds, and Alexa Rodriguez (48-1) in the girls 100-pound class. Neveah Blair-McKnight (24-3) will represent the Panthers in the girls 107 class.
In Class 6A, Kingston Stephens (35-4) of Jesuit Dallas qualified for state as a Region II runner-up at 106 pounds.
