MCALEAVEY WINS WRESTLING STATE TITLE

Cypress Creek High School junior Amanda McAleavey smiles after winning Class 6A’s 110-pound state title at the UIL Wrestling Championships on Feb. 23 at the Berry Center. McAleavey finished the season 47-0 and adds the gold medal to her third-place finish in 2018.

Feb. 25, 2018—Following in her sister’s footsteps, Cypress Creek High School junior Amanda McAleavey stood atop the podium wearing a gold medal, the achievement of winning Class 6A’s 110-pound wrestling state championship. McAleavey was CFISD’s lone champion, but among 12 participants to earn top-six medals at the UIL Wrestling State Tournament, held Feb. 22-23 at the Berry Center.

McAleavey completed her undefeated season by beating Keller Central’s Adia Ronea in a 4-0 decision. That pushed her final record to 47-0 and gave her a state title to go with a third place at 102 pounds in 2018.

“My mindset was different,” said McAleavey, who added the bronze medal was motivation going into her junior year. “I just didn’t really want to lose and I didn’t let myself lose. I didn’t give up in any matches.”

McAleavey’s older sister, Anna, was a four-time state qualifier for Cypress Creek and won state championships and a silver medal from 2010-2012.

“My sister won state and now I’m winning state, so it’s a family tradition,” Amanda McAleavey said. “She has two so I have to bring it back next year.”

Cypress Ranch High School senior Zack Good finished his career as a state runner-up, reaching the 160-pound final before eventually falling to Katy’s Daniel Manibog, a three-time state champion.

Cypress Ranch High School senior Zack Good (right) wrestles Katy’s Daniel Manibog in the Class 6A 160-pound championship at the UIL Wrestling Championships on Feb. 23 at the Berry Center. Good nearly quit the sport in January after suffering an injury but finished as the state runner up.

Good nearly quit the sport earlier this season after suffering a facial injury during the CFISD Invitational. He’d recently enlisted in the military and didn’t want to hinder his future plans.

But coaches and teammates convinced Good to see it all the way through and it ended up with him standing on the medal stand at state.

“These past four years have been a ride,” Good said. “I’m glad I stayed because I put too much into this to say goodbye that early.”

Finishing third in the girls’ tournament was Langham Creek High School senior Ashley Molina, who defeated The Woodlands College Park’s Brittyn Corbishley in the 185-pound division.

Langham Creek High School senior Ashley Molina (top) looks at an official after pinning The Woodlands College Park’s Brittyn Corbishley in the Class 6A 185-pound third-place match at the UIL Wrestling Championships. Molina won the match to place third.

The Lobos were the highest-finishing CFISD team, scoring 36 points to place 14th overall. They finished one spot ahead of Cypress Ranch (32) and three spots ahead of Cypress Creek (31).

The following girls’ wrestlers placed among the top six in the state:

• Endygo Scott, Cypress Park – sixth place, 102 pounds;
• Amanda McAleavey, Cypress Creek – first place, 110 pounds;
• Lydia Ramos, Cypress Ranch – fifth place, 110 pounds;
• Olivia Mottley, Cypress Ranch – fifth place, 119 pounds;
• Destiny Lamb, Cypress Ridge – sixth place, 165 pounds;
• Zammariea Brandon, Langham Creek – fifth place, 165 pounds; and
• Ashley Molina, Langham Creek – third place, 185 pounds.

In the boys’ tournament, Cypress Ranch was the highest-placing team, tying for 15th with 37 total points. Other CFISD teams to finish among the top 30 were Cypress Falls High School (25th, 17) and Cypress Lakes High School (28th, 15.5).

The following boys’ wrestlers finished among the top six in the state:

• Xavior Harrell, Cypress Ranch – sixth place, 106 pounds;
• Isaih Calderon, Cypress Falls – fifth place, 120 pounds;
• Garrett Orlando, Cy-Fair – fifth place, 132 pounds;
• Johnathan Wertz, Cypress Lakes – fourth place, 152 pounds; and
• Zack Good, Cypress Ranch – second place, 160 pounds.

Cypress Lakes High School sophomore Johnathan Wertz (left) speaks with Cypress Lakes Head Wrestling Coach Joaquin Bautista during a match at the UIL Wrestling Championships on Feb. 23 at the Berry Center. Wertz placed fourth in the Class 6A 152-pound division.

Cypress Ranch High School junior Olivia Mottley (left) placed fifth in the Class 6A 119-pound division at the UIL State Wrestling Championships, held Feb. 22-23 at the Berry Center. Mottley won three matches at state, finishing with 60 for the year and setting a 6A single-season record for all weight classes.

Cypress Falls High School seniorIsaih Calderon (left) placed fifth in the Class 6A 120-pound division at the UIL State Wrestling Championships on Feb. 23-24 at the Berry Center.