There's plenty of reason for the high hopes of Grapevine wrestlers to make a strong showing at this week's District 6-5A tournament at Coppell and move several Mustangs on to next week's Region II meet.
Much of the excitement for Grapevine this year has been spurred by brothers Jacob and Blake Andrews.The senior and junior, respectively, will also compete in successive weight classes, 170 and 182.Jacob was 40-0 going into last weekend's dual with Arlington Martin, and just as remarkable is the fact that he has been taken down just once all season."He used leverage against me," Jacob said of the lone takedown, given up about the mid-point of the season during a tournament in Austin."I think about it all the time," he added.The oldest Andrews was one round from placing at last year's state tournament but fully expects to take the medal stand this year, if not the top rung.The younger Andrews, Blake, said the family's early years of wrestling in Edmond, Okla., have helped shape their development and success here in Texas."We went to a youth team practice and loved it," Blake said of his entry into the sport in fourth grade.Placing sixth at state last year after finishing regionals as runner-up, Blake was sporting a 34-3 record before last weekend.His only three losses were to the numbers 2-4 ranked 195-pounders in the state.Since the holiday break and the implementation of a two-pound growth allowance, Blake is competing at 182.It's a far cry from the 145 division of his freshman year.The additional growth over the last two years has certainly boosted his strength and quickness. It's also been a benefit to his play on the baseball and football fields.But ACL surgery awaits Blake in March after wrestling season concludes, to repair the injury he sustained at the Fargo (ND) Nationals in June when he was competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.Blake said the month-long rest at the start of the school year has helped him regain his form and the injury hasn't affected his wrestling.Some of the credit for his recent success - as well as the rest of the Grapevine team - has been directed toward first-year head coach Kent Hall."I had a pretty good idea as to what I had coming in," said Hall, who was familiar with the Grapevine talent after having coached at Lewisville for the last eight years."He got used to us pretty quickly," Jacob said. "We have more live wrestling and he works with us individually in teaching us moves," he said.That individual attention is paying off in the wrestling room.Also expecting a strong outing at the district meet and beyond are 113-pounder Justin Hill, Oscar Reyes at 120 and Gabe Cabrerra at 152.Hall said it's good to have competitive brothers on the team. The leadership it affords those who also just need mat time to further develop is invaluable, Hall said.And next season after the graduation of Jacob, Hall is excited that Bryan Andrews will be a freshman at Grapevine - and the brother tandem will continue for another year.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
