By Terry Carter
Propelled by a state championship performance from junior heavyweight Rodney Trotter, The Katy Tigers finished fourth in the 2022 UIL Boys’ State Wrestling Championship held in Cypress over the weekend.
Katy earned 70 team points with three state finalists. Trotter (36-2) pinned his way to the finals — not an easy task at 285 pounds — and won his state championship when South Grand Prairie’s Caleb Jinks (35-2) was injured in the finale. As it turned out, that heavyweight championship bout would determine which team finished fourth in the 6A team race; Katy pulled ahead of fifth-place South Grand Prairie with Trotter’s victory. Katy wrestling coach estimated that his Tigers could earn a Top-5 finish as a team.
Taylor’s Michael Bone (47-1) and 5A Jordan sophomore standout Garrett McChesney (52-2) also captured state championships with standout performances.
On Saturday the Allen Eagles amassed 239 points to outdistance runner-up Arlington Martin (144) and Klein. Local teams like Taylor (27) placed 19th, Cinco Ranch (26) 20th and Seven Lakes (23) 24th.
After watching Katy state finalists Jeremy Manibog (46-5) at 145 pounds and Juan Pablo Garcia (50-14) at 152 pounds drop aggressive battles in physical decisions, Taylor senior Bone scored an 8-3 state championship win over Arlington Martin’s Grayson Carpenter.
Seven Lakes picked up solid scoring from two seniors: 113-pound Spartan Jose Salinas (48-6), who finished fifth; and 170-pound Region III champion Mike Amico (38-3), who was fifth. Cinco Ranch’s Tomas Fuentes (54-14) finished fourth at 170 pounds to boost the Cougars’ mission.
In the 5A state wrestling tournament, Jordan finished 22nd with 24 points, powered by a state championship season from sophomore standout Garrett McChesney (52-2). McChesney’s title run on the mat included one pin and three hard-fought decisions. The Warrior sophomore won with defense, scoring a 2-0 win in his semifinal and a 4-2 decision in his state final. Panther teammate Yader Muller (36-14) finished fourth at 160 pounds.
On the girls’ side, Seven Lakes (37) placed eighth. Mayde Creek (18) tied for 32nd place, led by third-place finisher Rewa Chababo (42-4) at 215 pounds. The Seven Lakes scored with Annmarie Janssen (36-4), who finished fourth at 185 pounds, Nina Amico (49-4) fifth at 165 pounds. Katy’s Judea Higgins-Morris (46-20) finished sixth at 148 pounds.
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- Katy’s Jeremy Manibog battles College Park’s Jakob Smith in the 145-pound state championship final to find a scoring opportunity. While Smith won, he graduates in 2022. Katy standout Manibog is a junior and will be a force on the mat. Photo by UDPhotos
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- Jordan sophomore state champion Garrett McChesney receives his just reward for capturing the 5A 132-pound state championship. Photo by UDPhotos
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- Taylor senior Michael Bone soaks in his state championship on Saturday at 160 pounds before a large, loud, supportive audience. Photo by UDPhotos
