Dripping Springs wresting season underway

Dripping Springs High School’s always-strong wrestling program is already in the middle of its season and showing no signs of losing its status.

Coach Joe Kirksey was asked to assess his program this year in light of moving up to 6A.

“6A will definitely be more challenging,” he replied. “For the boys, Lake Travis will be a solid team in district, while Vandegrift and some other tough programs will contend at regionals. The girls have been struggling as a team and will have their hands full but he thinks they can compete for a district title and perform well at regionals. Of course, both groups will face a tougher road to state and at state, now that we are in 6A”.

The program has already reached the halfway point. The boys team are 9-0 in dual matches and entered four tourneys.

The boys entered the Capital Classic in Austin and came away with the first place trophy. Winning gold medals were juniors Hagen Shipley and Alec Rill. Also placing were Ivone Rios (second place), Jackson Shipley (third place), Shane Bookbinder (third place) and Evan Meneses (third place).

At the Mavericks Stampede in Houston, the team placed second overall with three champs: Shipley, senior Ben Lourens and Rill. Others placed as well: Abel Silverman (second place), Cole Sides (fifth place), Bookbinder (sixth place) and Shipley (sixth place).

Dripping Springs hosted its own Iron Tiger Dual Tournament. When the smoke had cleared, the Tigers had out-dualed the Vandegrift Vipers for the title.

The last tourney took place at the Leander Hill Country Classic, and they took second place with five champs. They were Silverman, Shipley, Lourens, Rill and Gavin Wahl. Shipley, Sides and Bookbinder snagged silver; Rios, bronze.

The Lady Tigers placed fourth in their own Iron Tiger tourney. Junior Carson Crow and senior Addison Williams were gold medal winners.

The girls had their best showing of the year in the Leander Hill Country Classic with a fourthplace finish. Capping gold medal finishes were Crow and Harlan Jack. Jack also had a third place finish at the Capital Classic.