Consol, Bryan ready for state wrestling championships

Bryan's Victor Thomas looks to improve his standing at the UIL state wrestling meet, which opens Friday at the Delco Center in Austin.

A&M Consolidated's Erickson Caldwell and Bryan's David Jones could renew their rivalry in a semifinal match, but there's more breaking news at the state tournament -- the girls have wrestled their way into the spotlight.

When matches begin Friday morning, three Bryan female wrestlers will compete. Jenna Goen is a top seed at 128 pounds. Goen, a freshman, has a martial arts background.

"She wasn't your little girl who had not done much athletically and just came in as a freshman," Bryan coach Mike Zito said. "She is an athlete. She runs track, cross country and will letter in three sports. She is the only freshman top seed in the state tournament and she is one of only eight freshmen at state. We're not going to overlook this year, but we've got a fun three years ahead."

At 119 pounds, Laura Hawk, who transferred into the Viking program, faces a challenge with defending 110-pound state champion Shelby Morrison of Bushland a likely second-round opponent. Victoria Huitt, at 165 pounds, has been the only girl in the program for the last two years. She competes in powerlifting as well.

"A lot of coaches ask, 'Where did these girls come from?'" Zito said. "We coach them just like the guys, and it has paid off for us big time."

Jones has upset Caldwell at the district tournament each of the last two years, but Consol coach Brian Wessel likes the draw that Caldwell got at state.

"I believe if he is in the zone and wrestles like he did at midseason, he will come in first place in the state," said Wessel, who said he thinks a Caldwell-Jones rematch could happen in the third round. "It could be. It's very possible. Your ability and smartness can get you to the state tournament, and after you get there, all bets are off."

Senior Victor Thomas finished sixth at state last year but faces one of the toughest and deepest weight classes. Thomas opens against El Paso Franklin's Vince Garcia, who wrestled at Viking Gym when Bryan hosted the state dual tournament.

"Victor knows this is it," Zito said. "His second match is against a No. 1 kid from Flower Mound [Austin Riddle]. If he wins that one, he has a kid that beat him at Doc Hess. If he wins that, he'll have the No. 1 kid in the state. He's going to earn it."

At 130 pounds, Zito calls Zach Escobar his most improved wrestler, and Escobar was ranked first entering the regional tournament.

"He can definitely upset some people, but he's got a tough match against Daniel Rivera from Clear Lake," said Zito, who referred to his own team's family legacy of wrestling. "The Rivera family has been around wrestling about as long as my Aguilar family. After his metamorphosis, I would love to see him in the medal round, but he's got a hard road."

Tyler Ward, a four-year letterman, placed fourth at the Region IV meet for Consol.

"He really wrestled well at regionals, beating a couple of kids who had beaten him earlier in the season," Wessel said. "He's got a tough first-rounder, against a No. 1 kid [Frisco Centennial's Dalton Caudell]."

If Consol's Garrett Goodman wins his opening-round match against Argyle's Ben Hammer, he will likely face Oliver Pierce in the second round. Allen's Pierce is the top-ranked wrestler in the state.

Wessel says the preparation is over, and the time to perform is now.

"I told them out of 300 wrestling programs in the state, they are now in the top 16," Wessel said. "It's all up to you now. I think the kids are going to be really pumped up. That can work against you. Mentally, our kids are right where they need to be. They're happy to be there and they are proud of their accomplishments."

Zito agreed.

"You do your best as coaches to train them and get them there," Zito said. "Once they step on the mat, we'll be sure it's a fair fight, but they've got to wrestle the match. Any one of ours, I feel confident, can win."