Azle sends 11 wrestlers to state

Dillard seeks second girls title

It’s been a long time since Mariah Dillard lost a wrestling match. And if the Azle High School senior has her way, she won’t lose another one before she graduates.

Dillard is one of 11 Azle wrestlers (6 boys, 3 girls, 1 girl alternate, 1 boy alternate) who will be at the Class 5A State Tournament at the Berry Center in Houston this weekend following their performance at the Region I Tournament in Lubbock this past weekend.

“Eleven Hornets headed to Houston!” said an excited coach Tyler Harrison. “Our coaching staff is incredibly proud of the way our kids competed this (past) weekend.”

It will be a third straight trip for Dillard as she carries an 85-match winning streak into the tournament and is seeking a second straight state championship.

Dillard (39-0 this season) will be competing in the 114-pound weight class after having won the 120 division a year ago. She was 4-0 at the regional tournament.

Also returning to state for the Lady Hornets is Noah Kovach (31-1) in the 100-pound weight class after winning regionals.

Joining them will be Elly Yelle (43-2), who won the regional championship in the 165-pound class and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Female Wrestler.

Kaylie Groot (35-14) narrowly missed joining them, finishing fifth in the girls 107 division. She is making the trip as an alternate.

Meanwhile, the boys posted the program’s highest finish ever at regionals, taking second place. Tyler Yancey (44-3) and Roman Fraser (447) each won regional championships in the 132 and 215 weight classes, respectively.

Chase Yancey (48-4), Landin Evans (38-6) and Devin Wingfield (26-3) were runners- up in the 138, 150 and 285 classes, respectively.

Eli Bryan (38-11) placed third in the 175 category and Wyatt Hicks (47-8) is an alternate at 144 after finishing fifth in the 144 division.

Chase Yancey finished third in the state last season in the 132 class. Also returning to state are Evans, Bryan, Wingfield and Hicks.

“We had a record number of regional finalists and champions and had the highest boys team finish in school history. We are excited to continue to get better and chase our goals for one more week,” Harrison said.

SPRINGTOWN

The Porcupines had three wrestlers compete at the 4A level in Lubbock this past weekend, though none advanced to state. Dominic Contreras split his four matches in the 138 weight class, while Daniel Wilson (144) and James Snyder (285) each won one of three matches.