CYPRESS – The job, finally, is done.

For this year, at least.

Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano finished what she started and rallied back to win the Girls 6A 100-pound UIL State championship Saturday at the Berry Center. Medrano (38-0) completed her perfect season with a dominant 7-3 decision over Flower Mound’s Lillian Zapata, with a 53-3 record this season.

It is the fourth straight year a girls wrestler from the RGV has won a wrestling state title. Medrano’s semifinal victory came against defending state champ Jubilee Rendon of El Paso Franklin, who defeated Medrano in last year’s semifinals and finished third this year with a 53-1 record. Medrano’s final two opponents combined for a 104-4 record.

On Saturday, however even they had to take a back seat to the Valley’s newest state champion, the junior Medrano.

“That was 365 days of preparation and fixing the mistakes from last year,” head coach Abel Saenz said. “She enjoyed the semifinals and she quickly got focused, but the ultimate goal was what just happened.

While her finals opponent was among the best in the state, Medrano controlled the entire match.

“I saw a little bit of feat. She looked worried,” Medrano said. “She was looking for a hip toss, but I didn’t give her an opening for that.

“But this year was my year to be queen of Texas and queen of the Valley and nobody was going to take it from me. I worked so hard and if I had lost that match I would’ve been so depressed and gone straight home and to the gym for next year. I’m still going back to train for another state championship.”

Medrano’s semifinal match was one that could’ve been a final. Rendon and Medrano were both undefeated. Medrano lost to Rendon in last year’s state championship and Medrano never forgot it.

Still, she trailed 7-3 with less than a minute remaining in that semifinal.

“I kept my composure,” Medrano said.

“She has a Hail Mary move that she hasn’t thrown yet ad you can see on the video me telling her we gotta go 100,” Saenz said. “She threw it, the grabbed the arm and she won. She hadn’t done that all year.”

After the match, Medrano had one more spectacular move to unleash. She ran over to Saenz, gave him a huge hug, then hip-tossed him to the mat.

“I told him if I win, we’re going to do this. We’re going to do it,” An ecstatic Medrano said. “

Now comes the beginning of the trip for a second straight girls title, accomplished for the first time in the Valley in 2022 and 2023 when McAllen Memorial’s Serenity De La Garza went back to back wining state titles along with two straight undefeated seasons.

“I’m going to enjoy this for an hour or for a bit,” Medrano said. “But I have another (club) tournament next week and I need to get ready for that to win a second title next year.”

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Cassandra Medrano was stunned. Everything happened so quick.

Thirty seconds earlier it looked as if she was going to the consolation bracket.

Instead, she was heading to the state championship match.

Edinburg High’s 100-pound wrestler was the only Valley wrestler to advance to the state finals Saturday morning at the Berry Center, pinning defending state champion Jubilee Rendon — 51-0 at the tine — when time was running out and she trailed 7-3.

Then she did what she’s done a few times this year, and went for a Hail Mary. It worked. She grabbed Rendon’s arm, through her and in three seconds, not only did the tides turn, but the match was over and Medrano, with an ear-to-ear grin leapt into the arms of coach Abel Saenz, tears flowing from coach and wrestler – with one match still to go.

Since the beginning of the season, the junior grappler has said time and again, ‘the job’s not done.’ Now that she has beaten the defending state champion, and wrestler who defeated Medrano a year ago in the same round, Medrano promised there wouldn’t be a let up.

It’s still not done – there’s one more match, for the state title.

Medrano is the lone Vally wrestler to advance to the 2024 UIL State Championship final match in Cypress, later today but four other wrestlers – Sharyland’s Aiden Baker, Edinburg Economedes Maddox Quinonez, Edinburg Vela’s Danielle Silva and McAllen High’s Arsyn Sadlier have all clinched a spot on the podium and will wrestle for third through fifth later today.

Sadlier will face Joy Ortiz from El Paso Chapin (32-5) for third place after Sadlier fell to Brijatte Garcia of Burleson Centennial by decision 4-2. After taking an early lead, Garcia was clearly in no hurrry to play offense and kept arms’ distance the remainder of the match.

Sadlier (45-1), a junior, will face Aubree Schubert of Liberty Hill (24-9) for third. Silva wrestles Olivia Ontiveros (43-7) of El Paso Bel Air for fifth. Quinonez, from Edinburg Economedes, matches up with Dorian Jaramillo (52-9) of El Paso Pebble Hills and Baker (43-4) is set to meet Enrique Uribe of Frisco (62-17) for third at 113 pounds.

Pharr Vanguard Rembrandt’s  Isy Nieto, who finished third in the Region IV-5A tournament woke his way through the consolation bracket to become the Valley’s first medalist of the year. Nieto, a senior with a 21-5 record, captured sixth in the 120-pound division.

Edinburg High’s Kenia Islas captured sixth and made the podium, finishing her season with  a 51-6 record for the Bobcats

 

 

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Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano became the first, and only, wrestler at state this year to advance to the finals, winning a thrilling match with a pin more than halfway through the final period.

“I don’t know what happened but she came at me and I knew she wanted to go back to the finals,” Medrano said through tears of joy. “But it’s my time to go.”

Medrano, 37-0, trailed 7-3 heading into the final period and with less than a minute to go, pulled off the stunner against Jubilee Rendon, the defending state champ and the same wrestler who defeated Medrano a year ago in the same round. Rendon fell to 51-1 on the season. Medrano claimed the pin at the 5:28 mark.

Rendon dominated most of the match but Medrano didn’t let down. Heading into the third period, her coach Abel Saenz told her to remain calm.

“I’ve been in this position before and I know myself and knew I had to hit a Hail Mary because it was now or never,” Medrano said. “I hit the switch. I grabbed her arm and just threw her. I didn’t even know ifI had the lock right.”

From being beaten to claiming a no-doubt-about-it pin took less that three seconds and Medrano’s arm was raised.

“I was blow away,” Medrano said. “I didn’t know what to do. This was my turn to make it to the finals, not hers.”

Medrano will now face Lilian Zapata of Flower Mound (52-2) this afternoon for the 100-pound Class 6A state championship.

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Name: Arsyn Sadlier

Grade: 11

School: McAllen High School

Weight class:145

Record: 44-

Times at state: 2

Hype song: Cowboys from Hell- Pantera

Favorite Move: Front Head Pinch

Favorite Cheat Meal: Dim Sum

Favorite Food: Cornish Pasty

Who/what inspires you: I am inspired by my parents and their versatility. My mum dropped out of high school and proceeded to get degrees from Juliard, Eastman, and a Doctorate from Indiana University as a concert pianist and composer. My dad has done everything, though he is an opera teacher now, he was a firefighter, fry cook, cook decorator, and countless other things, even now e can fix anything that needs to be fixed with a quick YouTube video. I am inspired by both of their lives because they taught me that whatever I do, I can succeed and make a career.

 

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Check out Edinburg Vela 114-pound wrestler Danielle Silva’s profile. Silva is wrestling this morning for a shot at the state championship.

Name: Danielle Silva 

Grade: 12

School: Robert Vela High School

Weight class: 114

Record: 24-5

Times at state: 3

Hype song: Fireball- Pitbull

Favorite Move: Ankle pick 

Favorite Cheat Meal: Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s 

Favorite Food: Spaghetti 

Who/what inspires you: My two brothers who both wrestle in college and had amazing high school wrestling careers, my parents and their sacrifices and of course our beloved friend who recently passed away this season, Lisa Torres.

 

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Edinburg High’s undefeated 100-pound wrestler Cassandra Medrano will compete shortly for a shot to advance to the UIL State Wrestling finals. Check back for results.

 

Check out her profile:

 

Name: Cassandra Medrano 

Grade: Junior 

School: Edinburg High School 

Weight class: 100

Record: 36-0

Times at state: 3 

Hype song: Britney spears “Work Bitc

Favorite Move: Banana Split 

Favorite Cheat Meal: Tacos 

Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo

Who/what inspires you: My team of coaches 

 

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CYPRESS — Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano will face defending state champion Jubilee Rendon — the wrestler who eliminated Medrano in a semifinal last year — today in a highly anticipated semifinal match in the 100-pound division of the UIL state wrestling tournament at the Berry Center in Cyprus.

The two are a combined 87-0 and the only two undefeated wrestlers in the brackets, but they ended up on the same side, forcing what many believe should be the final match instead of a semifinal.

Medrano advanced with a pair of pins that combined took just 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Rendon won by an 11-0 major decision and a pin at the 3:20 mark.

Four other wrestlers, including regional champions Danielle Silva of Edinburg Vela, Arsyn Sadlier of McHi and Aiden Baker of Sharyland, also won their first two matches along with Rio Grande City’s Aiden Valdovinos. Those five wrestlers are two victories away from a state title in their respective weight classes.

For Medrano, the state tournament has become an annual trip, making it for the third time. But this time, the junior expects some change in the semifinal.

“I feel like I have everything on point,” she said. “I’ve worked on my shot, I haven’t made any mistakes — there is no room for mistakes — and I’ll be doing good (today) as well.

“I just go out there and do me. I feel comfortable with the environment and wrestle how I wrestle. I do what I do, and this is my get-back year.”

Baker showed some endurance in his two matches to the 113-pound semifinal, improving to 43-3 with a pair of long, drawn-out pins. First, he shouldered Andre Moyton (27-8) of Carrollton Creakview in 3:43, then pinned Victor Ramirez of Dallas Hillcrest (51-4) in 4:28.

Silva upped her record to 27-7 and will face the Region III champ — Akeelah Moore of Melissa with a 36-0 record — in a semifinal.

Sadlier took 2 minutes, 20 seconds to improve to 43-0 and will face Region II champion Brijatte Garcia (37-4), with the winner shooting for gold. The second win Friday was huge mentally for Sadlier.

“This last match really made the difference mentally for me,” Sadlier said. “That was the match I lost first last year at state, and to go out there and finish it meant a lot at this point.

“I’m a more technical wrestler this year and understand the sport. And I’m not just here to be here. I’m here to win and (today) I’m going to be my best self.”

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At the beginning of the high school wrestling season, a text was sent to multiple media outlets with a photo of Maddox Quinonez, a 190-pound wrestler from Edinburg Economedes.

It showed a photo of Maddox and read something to the effect of “The Valley’s first USA Wrestling High School All-American.” Forty-two undefeated matches later, his perfect record still intact, Quinonez is one of the Valley wrestlers heading to state with a great shot at winning gold.

Whenever anyone is said to be the best, worst, first or last, there’s always skepticism. Where’s the proof? People want to know. Several veteran coaches were asked if they could remember another All-American from the Valley. The question returned with nothing more than another question mark.

After seeing Quinonez wrestle, while it may not confirm that title, it’s clearly obvious that the humble, well-built grappler is from a different breed, a breed more commonly seen in Iowa or Minnesota — where wrestling is king. That breed will be fully on display beginning today at The Berry Center in Cypress at the UIL state championships.

The Valley is sending six regional champions and a host of other qualifiers. Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano (32-0, 100 pounds, 6A), McAllen High’s Arsyn Sadlier (42-0, 145, 5A) and Edinburg Vela’s Danielle Silva are the girls regional champs, and all three are making their second trip to state. Silva is a senor, while Medrano and Sadlier are juniors.

Quinonez (43-0, 190, 6A), Sharyland’s Aiden Baker (39-3, 113, 5A) and McHi’s Sergiel Arroyo (33-6, 144, 5A) round out the boys. Quinonez is a senior, while Baker and Arroyo are both sophomores.

Quinonez has been a man among boys this season, rolling through opponents like a person tossing away a box of rag dolls. His skills, confidence and advanced toned body — that of a 23-year-old more than a teen, make him an overwhelming intimidation on the mat. He will face Benoit Bokuto, a senior from Keller Fossil Ridge with a 21-12 record.

Quinonez is an impressive physical specimen to see — his personality is quiet and humbling, almost shy-like — until the match starts when he unleashes the beast within. The closest scenario is watching Dr. Bruce Banner turn into the Incredible Hulk. (“Don’t make me angry, you won’t like me when I’m angry.”)

He’s also an anomaly when it comes to his diet. The morning of the first day of the regional he ate four sausage patties — and probably gulped his go-to drink, Diet Coke.

“I eat the worst food ever,” he said. “I rarely drink water, and Diet Coke is my favorite drink — they are very addicting, I love them. I used to eat really healthy when I was at 175, but that’s because I used to have to cut a lot of weight all day — I had to make sure I could get rid of that weight.

“Now, I can eat whatever I want and whenever I want, and I’ll still be three pounds under the next day.”

This was after his regional final match, where he was about to celebrate with a large pepperoni pizza and a large soda.

“It might stop working right now and my kidneys may fail me when I’m 30, but it’s working right now. I’d rather eat what I want and when I want, and work out a little bit harder and feel happy, rather than feel miserable with a salad three times a day and a protein shake and maybe some fish.

“I’m much happier eating my Burger King than fixing some tilapia.”

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Danielle Silva needed a win in the finals of the Region IV-5A girls wrestling tournament Saturday at the Delco Center in Austin.

Technically, it would mean a higher seeding at state, but win or lose, she was still going.

That need, however, had more to do with her mind and she earned it, righting her mental track by capturing a 3-2 victory over Corpus Christi Carroll’s Genevieve Bellino, the District 15-5A champion with a 41-5 record. Two of those wins came against Silva, including one for the district crown.

Silva and McAllen High’s Arsyn Sadlier (145 pounds) each captured regional titles Saturday in Austin, and will compete along with nine other Class 5A Valley girls wrestlers, and three alternates who could compete based on various reason like another wrestler not making weight, illness or injuries at the Berry Center in Houston on Friday and Saturday at the UIL State Wrestling Championships.

Overall, six Valley wrestlers captured regional titles over the weekend along with Silva and Sadlier. Edinburg Economedes’ Maddox Quinones won the 190-pound 6A crown, Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano won the 6A girls 100-pound championship. Sharyland High’s Aiden Baker captured the boys 5A 113-pound title and McHi’s Sergiel Arroyo won the title at the 5A boys 144-pound class.

It will be a second consecutive trip to state for both regional champs. Silva, in the 114-pound weight class, holds a 22-5 record after her four regional tournament wins. Sadlier, who was named female wrestler of the tournament, is 42-0 and also making their second trip to state.

Silva recognized the importance of Saturday’s win beyond being a high seed at state.

“This is a huge win for me,” Silva said. “We faced each other four or five five times last year and this year she beat me at the first tournament and at the second tournament we met. But, after that first loss it really messed me up in the head and I beat myself up a lot over it and my season started going down.

Silva added that her five losses this year are more than her total number of losses the previous three years of high school wrestling.

“I knew it would be hard, no doubt in my mind,” she said. “But I tried to put my mindset to just wrestle, I’m a senior, I’m committed to college and going to state, let it loose.”

After a scoreless first period, Bellino started on top during the second period, knowing Silva has had some struggle in the spot against her. Again, Silva couldn’t escape.

“It was the same thing but then I was like let me hit a Hail Mary and grabbed her arm and tried to hit a Peterson,” Silva said. “She rolled to her back, I reversed on her and went behind her.”

The lead held and Silva held off a furious comeback attempt as Bellino took multiple unsuccessful shots in the final seconds.

“This gives me some confidence going to state. I couldn’t get her out of my head,” Silva said. “I don’t think people recognize this as a mental sport. It’s tough physically too. Ive cried at practice because of how tough it is. But today is something I’m proud of.”

The Wartburg (Iowa) College wrestling commit says that now that she’s back in her right mindset, she’s as prepared as can be for the state tournament.

“There’s not much more I can do in this final week but stay focused and get some rest,” she said. “Sometimes I think you can work too much. Now, whatever is going to happen is going to happen.”

Silva will face Georgetown’s Sydney Reager (35-14), the Region III fourth-place finisher in the first round on Friday. Sadler will contend with Morgan Raley (23-17), the fourth-place wrestler of Region II in the opening round.

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