The Dripping Springs wrestling teams had cruised through the first two levels of the playoffs with ease; however the UIL State Championships held in Berry Center in Cypress over the weekend were a different story. The competition, as expected, was tough and talent close.
The Tigers were entered in nine of the weight classes with Grant Clarno (4th), Alec Rill (5th) and Hagen Shipley (5th) earning a spot on the award stand. The boys team placed 9th with 51.5 points. The girls, who advanced Carson Crow, Alyson Brownson-Welch, Caroline Nix finished 43rd. This was a major accomplishment as they set firsts for the school in most reaching state, most matches won and most total points.
The state meet followed a very successful Region IV-5A Championships competition where 12 wrestlers qualified to advance.
The boys’ team captured a third-straight regional title, finishing with 258 points to easily beat out the competition. Secondplace Mission Sharyland High School trailed by 140 with a final score of 118 points. Third-place Cedar Park High School trailed even further — with a final score of 100 points.
Of the 12 total athletes that went on to state, Dripping Springs advanced nine male wrestlers. Taylor Van De Walle (113 pounds), Hagen Shipley (126), Seth Rill (160), Alec Rill (195), and Grant Clarno (220) won their weight classes to earn regional crowns. Dominic Parmeson (182) finished as runner-up, and Abel Silverman (106) and Ben Lourens (170) took third place in their weight classes. Shane Bookbinder (138) rounded out the state qualifiers for the boys by taking fourth place.
Regional competitors Cole Sides (120) and Nathan Prehar (285) finished in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Meanwhile, the DSHS girls’ team recorded a program-best, third-place team finish at the regional meet with 86 points. Corpus Christi King High School won the meet with 104 points and McAllen Memorial took second with 91 points.
Dripping Springs advanced three female wrestlers to the state meet with Carson Crow (110), Alyson Brownson-Welch (128) and Caroline Nix (138) each finishing in second place in their respective weight classes.
DSHS head coach Joe Kirksey and assistant coach Eric Koontz each earned regional coaching honors.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Boys top five standings: 1. Lucas Lovejoy 93, 2. Dumas 81, 3. Amarillo Caprock 77, 4. Amarillo Tascosa 73, 5. Midlothian 64.
DS results:
106 – Abel Silverman (24-14); L, lost to Riley (Azle) Dec 10-4.
113 – Taylor Van de Walle (39-14); L, W, lost to Banda (Amarillo) Fall 4.26.
126 – Hagen Shipley 5th (39-11); W, L, W, W, L, def Villasana (Frisco Reedy) Dec 4-0.
138 – Shane Bookbinder (41-13); L, W, W, lost to Torres (Mission Sharyland) Fall 2.23.
160 – Seth Rill (42-14); W, L, lost to Mueller (Katy Paetow) Dec 7-6.
170 – Ben Lourens (32-17); L, lost to Goth (Highland Park) Fall 1.48.
182 - Dominic Parmeson (23-19); L, W, lost to Villa (Horizon) Dec 6-2.
195 – Alec Rill 5th(44-13); W, L, W, W, W, def Bumgarner (Midlothian) Dec 6-3.
220 – Grant Clarno 4th(53-4); W, W, L, W, lost to Smith (Lamar Fulshear) OT 7-5.
Girls to three: 1. Amarillo Caprock 107, 2. Azle 98, Canyon Randall 76.
DS results:
110 – Carson Crow (36-10); L, W, lost to Gonzales (Carrollton Turner) Dec 8-3.
128 – Alyson Brownson-Welch (33-7); W, L, W, lost to Khabbaz (Pflugerville Weiss) Fall 1.58.
138 – Caroline Nix (33-13); L, lost to Box (Anna) Fall 3.52.
