Mustangs, Panthers do well at state swim, wrestling meets

It was “championship weekend” for the Grapevine and Heritage wrestling and swimming teams over the weekend. Both sports conducted their annual UIL state championship events on Friday and Saturday.

The Grapevine wrestlers fared well, as Brian Andrews walked away with not only the state championship at 195 pounds, but also was honored with the Most Outstanding Wrestler award for 5A.

Andrews finished the season undefeated at 46-0 and pinned his opponent in the finals. He collected two technical falls in addition to another pin for the tournament.

With the state title under his belt in his sophomore year, Andrews said he has already matched brothers Jacob and Blake in the number of gold medals in the family. He said he intends to add to the total before his high school career finishes.

Samual Hodges finished fifth for Grapevine at 120 pounds.

He lost his first match to Cesar Ramirez of El Paso Del Valle, but came back the long road of consolations and picked up a major decision and two other decisions before losing in the consolation semifinals but a 4-3 score. He exacted some revenge by pinning Ramirez in the fifth place match.

At 182, Marcos Olvera, also picked up a fifth place state rank.

Olvera, as well, came back after losing his first match. He posted a technical fall and two decisions before falling in the consolation semis. He beat Judge Zarangoza of Austin Vandergrift, 8-5 for the fifth place spot.

Justin Hill, at 126 for the Mustangs, picked up a first round major decision before losing in the second round to El Paso Hanks’ wrestler. He then dropped a decision in the consolation rounds to Jacob Mekelke of Rockwall Heath.

Heritage’s Trevor Kleckner, having qualified for the state tournament by placing second place in the 182-pound bracket in the Region II meet, was able to win his first round match in the 6A division.

He lost his second round bout to Dante Alfano from Houston Cypress Ranch and then finished his tournament with a loss in the consolation rounds.

In Austin, the Grapevine and Heritage swimmers and divers were also competing at the state meet.

The Grapevine, boys finished 18th and the girls 23rd overall.

The Mustangs’ David Hallaron was the highest finisher, as he was seventh in the 100m Back event, in a time of 53:03.

The Lady Mustangs’ Erin Palmer was eighth in diving, with teammate Keelie Shuck just behind in ninth.

The Grapevine boys 200m Medley relay was 10th. That team consisted of Hallaron, Roger Meixueiro, Parker Schultz and Christian Hambrock.

Also competing at the state meet, Grapevine’s Benjamin Kalmbach was 15th in the 500m Free and the 200m Free relay (Parker Schultz, Nicholas Tsigas, Hallaron and Christian Hambrock) were 12th.

In the 6A meet, Colleyville Heritage’s Madison Chao was ninth in the 100m Back and 16th in the 200m IM.

Heritage also had Bridget Pacilio finish 12th in the 200m IM.

This story was originally published February 23, 2015 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Mustangs, Panthers do well at state swim, wrestling meets."