Princeton senior Addy Smith smiles after defeating Klein Oak’s Ariana Rangel by a 10-7 decision to win the Region II-6A Tournament title at 190 pounds. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media
By David Wolman
ALLEN – Last year, Princeton senior Addy Smith had to watch the Class 6A state tournament from the stands.
Smith finished fifth in her weight class at the regional tournament. With only the top four finishers earning automatic berths to the state tournament, she was forced to serve as an alternate and never had the opportunity to compete at the Berry Center in Cypress.
Smith will again make the drive to Cypress — but this time as a competitor. The Princeton senior captured the Region II-6A championship at 190 pounds last weekend at Allen High School.
“It feels amazing, especially with it being my senior year,” Smith said. “Last year, I got fifth and didn’t get to do anything at state. This year, I’m trying to go for the gold.”
Smith is one of two state qualifiers for Princeton. Erin Marquez, also a senior, qualified for state for the third time after placing third at 120 pounds. Junior Isobella Cook earned alternate status at 145 pounds.
Head coach Ryan DeLaVergne described Smith as “quiet” and “unassuming” but a tireless worker in practice. DeLaVergne said he began to see Smith’s breakout potential around Thanksgiving.
“She’s such a good, quiet, unassuming kid,” DeLaVergne said. “To see her work so hard and achieve what she has is what you get into this sport for.”
Smith secured the regional title by outlasting top seed Arianna Rangel of Klein Oak in the championship match. After falling behind 3-0 early, Smith surged ahead to a 10-3 lead and held off a late rally by Rangel to earn a 10-7 decision.
“At first, I was really nervous and had a lot of butterflies in my stomach when I was warming up,” Smith said. “I watched the girl and she was pretty good. But as the match went on, I saw that she was getting a little exhausted and was up high a lot when she tried to take me down.”
Marquez, like Smith, will be seeking her first state medal. The Princeton senior has competed at the state tournament in each of the previous two seasons but has come up short, including her sophomore year, when she was one win away from placing.
Marquez heads to Cypress as the No. 3 seed after placing third at 120 pounds at regionals. Following a loss in the semifinals, Marquez rebounded with a dominant second-period fall against College Park’s Halo Acevedo in the third-place match.
“Erin eats, sleeps and breathes wrestling, and that’s what you want from your wrestlers,” DeLaVergne said. “Her goal is to get a state medal. It’s rewarding to see her hard work come to fruition and see her get back to the state tournament. Hopefully, she can achieve those goals at state.”
Cook came close to becoming Princeton’s third state qualifier but was pinned in each of her final two matches. Nalani Mornes (105 pounds) and Analee Holguin (110) also competed for the Lady Panthers. Holguin advanced to the second day of regionals, earning two wins, both by pin.
On the boys side, Austin Aparicio (165) and Logan Wilczynski (113) both wrestled into the second day of the tournament. Aparicio went 1-2 with a pin, while Wilczynski finished 2-2, recording a 15-0 technical fall and an 8-5 decision.
Jeremiah Soto (126) and Nolan Culverhouse (150) also represented Princeton at regionals.
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