South Texas is rapidly earning a very good reputation when it comes to high school wrestling.
This was the scene over at the scene over at Ray high school this afternoon. It’s Day two of the District 15-5A wrestling tournament for both boys and girls. Winners today advance to the regionals next week up in Austin
So tickets were being punched for a lot of wrestlers.
All eyes are on Veterans Memorial’s Jackie Ghent, who is there in red and blue.
She’s the defending state champion at the 128-pound class.
Jackie has actually dropped some weight and now competes at 119 pounds. Leaner and meaner.
She won a hard-fought battle over King’s Carissa Pena to win the title. So now she is heading back to regionals and hopefully state.
Here are some of her thoughts about competing in wrestling, a sport unlike any other.
“This sport is definitely the most underrated sport ever, especially in South Texas,” she said. “It’s not only demanding physically but it’s the most mental sport I have ever been in and I have tried a lot of sports.
“When you are out there, it’s not just about how strong you are, how good your technique is. It’s whoever can fight the longest and whoever has the most grit. So it’s definitely demanding, mostly physically and mentally.”
All of the winners today, both in boys and in girls, advance to the regional tournament next week in Austin. We wish them all the best.
