The Region 1-5A wrestling championships are nicknamed the “Region of Doom” due to the difficulty of advancing to the State Championships in Houston. These brackets are loaded with Top 20 wrestlers and only the top five in each weight class will be packing their bags for the state tournament in Houston next weekend.
Highlighted by two of the top teams in the state this year in Azle and Lubbock and perennial powerhouses Canyon Randall and Dumas there are lots of fantastic story lines that will unfold in this region.
Lots of ranked match-ups and plenty of upsets are to be expected and some very good wrestlers will come up short in the quest to make it to the Berry Center in Houston for the UIL State Championships.
Below is a preview of each weight class and our picks for the top 5 in each weight. There are sure to be upsets and we wish every wrestler the best of luck this weekend!
The rankings from Txtakedown.com were used in this article. Please check out the website for more rankings, articles, and videos.
Key – Txtakedown Rank, Name, School, Record, Grade
106 113 120 126 132 138 144 150 157 165 175 190 215 285
106 Pounds
The Frontrunner: #2 Conner Smith (Dumas, 37-1). Smith is the man to beat, but the bottom of this bracket is a landmine.
1) District 2 Champ -#2 Conner Smith – Dumas, 37-1, 9
2) District 3 Champ – #7 Enrique Dioses – Lubbock, 38-8, 11
3) District 4 Champ – #5 Chaz Marone – Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, 37-2, 10
4) District 1 Champ -#8 Sebastian Rascon – El Paso Del Valle, 28-3, 10
Contenders : #11 Joel Monterroso – Azle, 34-15, 10 / #6 Zyair Gonzales – Amarillo Caprock, 6-1, 11 / #13 Elisha Bravo – Borger, 20-12, 10 / #14 Andrew Garcia – El Paso Parkland, 21-10, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #2 Conner Smith vs #11 Joel Monterroso, #5 Chaz Marone vs #6 Zyair Gonzales, #7 Enrique Dioses vs #13 Elisha Bravo or #14 Andrew Garcia
Semi- Finals – #2 Conner Smith vs #8 Sebastian Rascon, #7 Enrique Dioses vs #5 Chaz Marone or #6 Zyair Gonzales
Finals – #2 Conner Smith vs #5 Chaz Marone
The Houston 5 Prediction: Smith , Marone, Dioses, Gonzales, Rascon
113 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ -#6 Camillo Esqueda – Lubbock Cooper Liberty, 19-0, 11
2) District 2 Champ – #14 Miguel Sandoval – Amarillo Caprock, 23-4, 9
3) District 4 Champ – #15 Mark O’Neill – Azle, 35-12, 11
4) District 1 Champ – #16 Aaron Solis- El Paso Hanks, 29-6, 10
Contenders : Johnathon Matta – Lubbock, 22-7, 11 / Aiven Martinez – Dumas, 9-4, 9
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #15 Mark O’Neil vs Johnathon Matta, #16 Aaron Solis vs Aiven Martinez
Semi- Finals -#6 Camillo Esqueda vs #16 Aaron Solis , #14 Miguel Sandoval vs #15 Mark O’Neil
Finals – #6 Camillo Esqueda vs #15 Mark O’Neil
The Houston 5 Prediction: Esqueda, O’Neil, Solis, Sandoval, Matta
120 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #2 Abraham Campa Cortes – Canyon Randall, 27-3, 11
2) District 4 Champ – #10 Ethan Orat – Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, 33-3, 12
3) District 2 Champ – #11 Sean Rodriguez – Amarillo, 36-14, 10
4) District 1 Champ – #4 Ryan Lopez- El Paso Ysleta, 24-5, 12
Contenders : Elijah Ramos – Lubbock, 29-10, 11 / Kolby Moreland – Azle, 35-16, 12 / #7 Noah Gamez – El Paso Parkland, 34-13, 12 / Isaac Romero – Borger, 15-10, 11
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #10 Ethan Orat vs #7 Noah Gamez
Semi- Finals – #2 Abraham Campa Cortes vs #4 Ryan Lopez, #10 Ethan Orat or #7 Noah Gamez vs #11 Sean Rodriguez
Finals – #2 Abraham Campa Cortes vs #10 Ethan Orat or #7 Noah Gamez
The Houston 5 Prediction: Campa Cortes, Orat, Gamez, Rodriguez, Lopez
126 Pounds
1) District 4 Champ – #4 Charles Anderson – Aledo, 33-2, 9
2) District 2 Champ – #5 Aiden Rivera – Amarillo Tascosa, 28-8, 12
3) District 1 Champ – #13 Derek Rojo – El Paso Hanks, 41-6, 10
4) District 3 Champ – #17 Jacob Edwards – Canyon West Plains, 27-15, 10
Contenders : #20 Gavin Henderson – Fort Worth Benbrook, , 12 / #9 Angel Ochoa – Amarillo Caprock, 28-10, 12 / Qaletre Garcia – Hereford, 21-4, 11 / #19 Niko Villalon – Amarillo Palo Duro, 31-9, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #17 Jacob Edwards vs #9 Angel Ochoa, #13 Derek Rojo vs #20 Gavin Henderson
Semi- Finals – #4 Charles Anderson vs #9 Angel Ochoa, #5 Aiden Rivera vs #13 Derek Rojo
Finals – #4 Charles Anderson vs #5 Aiden Rivera
The Houston 5 Prediction: Anderson, Rivera, Ochoa, Rojo, Villalon
132 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #7 Amos (AJ) Ramos – Lubbock, 31-8, 12
2) District 2 Champ – #3 Christian Casarez – Amarillo Caprock, 34-4, 12
3) District 4 Champ – #10 Camron Latham – Azle, 39-3, 12
4) District 1 Champ – #14 Eli Fuentes – El Paso Parkland, 36-6, 11
Contenders : #17 Julian Banda – El Paso Eldorado, 30-10, 11 / #9 Colton Bogner – Dumas, 21-6, 9 / #11 Gavin Chambers – Amarillo, 46-5, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #10 Camron Latham vs #9 Colton Bogner, #7 Amos (AJ) Ramos vs #11 Gavin Chambers – Amarillo or #17 Julian Banda
Semi- Finals – #3 Christian Casarez vs #14 Eli Fuentes, #7 Amos (AJ) Ramos vs #9 Colton Bogner or #10 Camron Latham
Finals – #3 Christian Casarez vs #10 Camron Latham or #9 Colton Bogner
The Houston 5 Prediction: Casarez, Latham, Bogner, Fuentes, Ramos
138 Pounds
1) District 4 Champ – #1 Tyler Yancey – Azle, 49-1, 10
2) District 2 Champ – #6 Eli Loya – Dumas, 24-5, 11
3) District 3 Champ – #8 Landen Ballesteros – Canyon Randall, 26-4, 11
4) District 1 Champ – #16 James Barde – El Paso, 31-5, 12
Contenders : #12 Fernando Dioses – Lubbock, 33-10, 12 / Matthew Salazar – EP Del Valle, 28-4, 11 / #13 Bryson Brown – Amarillo, 39-14, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #1 Tyler Yancey vs #12 Fernando Dioses, #16 James Barde vs #13 Bryson Brown
Semi- Finals – #1 Tyler Yancey vs #16 James Barde or #13 Bryson Brown, #6 Eli Loya vs #8 Landen Ballesteros
Finals – #1 Tyler Yancey vs #6 Eli Loya or #8 Landen Ballesteros
The Houston 5 Prediction: Yancey, Loya, Ballesteros, Barde, Dioses
144 Pounds
1) District 4 Champ – #1 Chase Yancey – Azle, 48-1, 12
2) District 3 Champ – #12 Dominic Contreras – Springtown, 39-4, 10
3) District 1 Champ – #8 Jacaden Brown – EP Chapin, 37-1, 12
4) District 2 Champ – #13 Bently Arguello – Amarillo, 28-15, 10
Contenders : Ryan Cavitt – Canyon Randall, 21-12, 12 / #20 Logan Luchenbill – El Paso, 37-5, 11
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #1 Chase Yancey vs #20 Logan Luchenbill
Semi- Finals – #1 Chase Yancey vs #13 Bently Arguello, #12 Dominic Contreras vs #8 Jacaden Brown
Finals – #1 Chase Yancey vs #12 Dominic Contreras or #8 Jacaden Brown
The Houston 5 Prediction: Yancey, Brown, Contreras, Arguello, Cavitt
150 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #4 Jaxon Russell – Lubbock, 25-2, 11
2) District 4 Champ – #6 Wyatt Hicks – Azle, 47-4, 12
3) District 2 Champ – #8 Max Trostle – Amarillo Caprock, 34-8, 12
4) District 1 Champ – #18 Marcus Perez – El Paso Hanks, 14-5, 10
Contenders : #9 Michael Castillo – Canyon West Plains, 36-4, 10 / Aydeen Salgado – El Paso Riverside, 23-8, 10
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters -#8 Max Trostle vs #9 Michael Castillo, #6 Wyatt Hicks vs Aydeen Salgado
Semi- Finals – #4 Jaxon Russell vs #18 Marcus Perez, #6 Wyatt Hicks vs #8 Max Trostle
Finals – #4 Jaxon Russell vs #6 Wyatt Hicks
The Houston 5 Prediction:Russell, Hicks, Trostle, Castillo, Perez
157 Pounds
1) District 2 Champ – #4 Drezdyn Ballard – Amarillo, 37-1, 11
2) District 3 Champ – #9 Connor Armstrong – Canyon, 28-8, 11
3) District 1 Champ – #20 Johan Rodriquez – El Paso, 32-4, 11
4) District 4 Champ – #12 Jackson Hukill – Brewer, 20-5, 12
Contenders : #14 Keegan Jones – Lubbock Cooper, 24-11, 11 / #15 Mac Shafer – Fort Worth Benbrook, 37-8, 12 / #10 Braylan King – Amarillo Tascosa, 26-16, 11 / #19 Daniel Wilson – Springtown, 33-11, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #4 Drezdyn Ballard vs #19 Daniel Wilson, #12 Jackson Hukill vs #14 Keegan Jones, #20 Johan Rodriquez vs #10 Braylan King, #9 Connor Armstrong vs #15 Mac Shafer
Semi- Finals – #4 Drezdyn Ballard vs #14 Keegan Jones or #12 Jackson Hukill, #9 Connor Armstrong or #15 Mac Shafer vs #10 Braylan King
Finals – #4 Drezdyn Ballard vs #9 Connor Armstrong or #15 Mac Shafer or #10 Braylan King
The Houston 5 Prediction: Ballard, King , Armstrong, Shafer, Jones
165 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #3 Lucas White – Lubbock, 45-3, 12
2) District 2 Champ – #9 Jace Castillo – Amarillo Tascosa, 35-10, 12
3) District 4 Champ – #14 Desmond Chambers – Fort Worth Benbrook, 29-6, 12
4) District 1 Champ – #19 Gabriel Anderson – El Paso Irvin, 28-6, 11
Contenders : #15 Bowie Eakin – Vernon, 12-1, 11 / #17 Ben Hungerford – Aledo, 25-14, 10 / #16 Ace Bledsoe – Canyon Randall, 22-9, 11 / Cesar Robinson – El Paso, 22-4, 12 / #12 Xavier Vargas – Amarillo Tascosa, 26-7, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #3 Lucas White vs #17 Ben Hungerford, #12 Xavier Vargas vs #19 Gabriel Anderson, #14 Desmond Chambers vs #15 Bowie Eakin, #9 Jace Castillo vs #16 Ace Bledsoe
Semi- Finals – #3 Lucas White vs #12 Xavier Vargas, #14 Desmond Chambers or #15 Bowie Eakin vs #9 Jace Castillo
Finals – #3 Lucas White vs #9 Jace Castillo
The Houston 5 Prediction: White, Castillo, Vargas, Eakin, Chambers or Anderson
175 – District Champions and top 4 Seeds
1) District 2 Champ -#5 Ethan Webb – Amarillo, 43-6, 12
2) District 1 Champ – #11 Jorge Quinones – El Paso Bel Air, 38-8, 11
3) District 4 Champ – #6 Quaylon Mason – Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, 32-4, 12
4) District 3 Champ – #8 Zaidyn Samora – Lubbock Monterey, 18-4, 12
Contenders : #16 Jack Sipowicz – Lubbock Cooper, 9-3, 12 / #12 Ryan Dyer – Fort Worth Paschal, 26-8, 11 / #15 Jacoby Nevarez – El Paso Irvin, 23-5, 12 / #17 Reymundo Cadena – Amarillo Palo Duro, 24-9, 9, Johnathon Moss – Dumas, 16-5, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #5 Ethan Webb vs #12 Ryan Dyer, #8 Zaidyn Samora vs #15 Jacoby Nevarez, #6 Quaylon Mason vs #17 Reymundo Cadena, #16 Jack Sipowicz vs #11 Jorge Quinones
Semi- Finals – #5 Ethan Webb or #12 Ryan Dyer vs #8 Zaidyn Samora, #6 Quaylon Mason vs #11 Jorge Quinones
Finals – #5 Ethan Webb or #12 Ryan Dyer vs #6 Quaylon Mason
The Houston 5 Prediction: Webb, Mason, Dyer, Samora, Quinones (Moss is a wildcard here and could upset some higher ranked wrestlers)
190 lbs: The Ultimate Showdown
- The Favorite: #1 Mark Gallegos (Canyon Randall, 16-4) is the consensus top seed and powerhouse of this bracket.
- The Sleeper Match: A potential quarterfinal between #9 Brady Powell and #7 Josiah Medrano will be a brutal fight, with the winner likely facing #6 Cesar Ramos in the semis.
- The Wildcard: Keep an eye on #7 Medrano (44-5 overall record)—he has the most wins here and could easily spoil the top seeds’ plans.
1) District 3 Champ – #1 Mark Gallegos – Canyon Randall, 16-4, 12
2) District 1 Champ – #6 Cesar Ramos – El Paso Bel Air, 51-4, 11
3) District 4 Champ – #9 Brady Powell – Aledo, 16-1, 12
4) District 2 Champ – #11 Caiden Frias – Amarillo Tascosa, 20-14, 11
Contenders : #7 Josiah Medrano – Lubbock, 44-5, 12 / #17 Ozzy Giron – El Paso Del Valle, 26-9, 9 / #18 Cohen Swaim – Amarillo Caprock, 27-8, 11
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #9 Brady Powell vs #7 Josiah Medrano,
Semi- Finals – #1 Mark Gallegos vs #11 Caiden Frias, #6 Cesar Ramos vs #9 Brady Powell or #7 Josiah Medrano
Finals – #1 Mark Gallegos vs #6 Cesar Ramos
The Houston 5 Prediction: Gallegos, Ramos, Powell, Medrano, Frias
215 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #6 Isaac Rodriguez – Lubbock Cooper Liberty, 25-1, 11
2) District 4 Champ – #7 Najae Nicholson – Saginaw, 20-5, 12
3) District 1 Champ – #20 Austin Mitchell – El Paso Irvin, 18-6, 10
4) District 2 Champ – #14 Eliot Flores – Amarillo Palo Duro, 20-9, 12
Contenders : #11 Jacob Carpenter – Fort Worth Benbrook, 20-3, 12 / Edgar Rubio – El Paso Del Valle, 31-9, 12 / Adonnis Cofer – Amarillo Tascosa, 13-5, 11 / Vicente Sanchez – Dumas, 24-5, 11/ #13 Dallen Clift- Canyon, 15-7, 12
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #6 Isaac Rodriguez vs Edgar Rubio, #11 Jacob Carpenter vs #14 Eliot Flores, #20 Austin Mitchell vs #13 Dallen Clift, #7 Najae Nicholson vs Adonnis Cofer
Semi- Finals – #6 Isaac Rodriguez vs #11 Jacob Carpenter, #7 Najae Nicholson vs #20 Austin Mitchell
Finals – #6 Isaac Rodriguez vs #7 Najae Nicholson or #20 Austin Mitchell
The Houston 5 Prediction: Rodriguez, Nicholson, Mitchell, Carpenter, Clift
285 Pounds
1) District 3 Champ – #1 Ryder Hatton – Lubbock Cooper, 18-0, 12
2) District 1 Champ – #13 Sebastian Pedroza – El Paso Parkland, 38-1, 12
3) District 2 Champ – #5 Josiah Darnes – Amarillo Caprock, 8-1, 11
4) District 4 Champ – #12 Jordan Durrett – Azle, 29-9, 12
Contenders : #6 Elijah Luna – Canyon Randall, 28-5, 12 / Ezekiel Means – Arlington Heights, 14-4, 12 / #20 Carlos Carbajal – El Paso, 31-4, 12 / #9 Anival Acosta – Amarillo Palo Duro, 29-13, 11 / #18 Aaron Venzor – Dumas, 26-7, 11
Potential Top Matchups : Quarters – #1 Ryder Hatton vs #9 Anival Acosta, #18 Aaron Venzor vs #12 Jordan Durrett, #6 Elijah Luna vs #5 Josiah Darnes, #13 Sebastian Pedroza vs Ezekiel Means
Semi- Finals – #1 Ryder Hatton vs#18 Aaron Venzor or #12 Jordan Durrett, #13 Sebastian Pedroza vs #5 Josiah Darnes
Finals – #1 Ryder Hatton vs #5 Josiah Darnes
The Houston 5 Prediction: Hatton, Darnes, Pedroza, Luna, Acosta