Dripping Springs wrestling competes at Cavalier Classic

DRIPPING SPRINGS – Dripping Springs High School competed in the Cavalier Classic boys and girls wrestling tournament hosted by Lake Travis High School on Saturday, Jan. 13. The meet featured varsity and junior varsity participants of schools from Central Texas and beyond.

Dripping Springs senior Carson Crow, on top, is in control and working to turn her opponent to make the pin which she did in this match and in her final match of the tournament. Crow is in her fourth year of wrestling for the Tigers. “My older brother was wrestling on JV and I went to a couple of his matches and thought I could try it – give it a chance – I love it.”
PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK[/caption]

Alec Rill won his finals match 4-2, (35-2 on the season) and holds the boys school record for most wins: 56 in a season. Harlan Jack, who holds the girls school record for most wins: 38 in a season, placed first in the tournament for her weight class.

Carson Crow, a senior, pinned her opponent in the finals and holds numerous season and career school records:

• Season records: Fewest losses two, winning percentage 0.947 and fastest pin 0.11 seconds.

• Career records: Fewest losses 15, winning percentage 0.750 and fastest pin 0.11 seconds.

Araceli Gonzales-Martinez, Cole Sides and Abel Silverman reached the finals and finished second. The boys team took second and the girls team third in the tournament. The JV wrestlers in the tournament had notable results with Tucker Lundin, Jayden Patterson, Isaiah Ellis, Noah Williams, Mikkel Bushee, Caleb Collins and Gavin Ordway each earning first place.

The district championship is Feb. 1 at Delco Center in Austin. The UIL State Tournament is Feb. 16-17 at the Berry Center in Cypress and Dripping Springs’ Joe Kirksey, who is in his tenth year as head wrestling coach, expects the Tigers to be there.

“Our girls team is stronger this year and we have a couple who have a good chance at State and we should have six or so boys qualify,” he said.

Jonah Ribera in 2013 was the first Tiger wrestler to win at state. Luke Hodsden won in different weight classes in 2015 and 2016, as did Chase Warden in 2019 and 2020.