Morton Ranch twin sisters win state gold in wrestling

AUSTIN — Twin sisters, twin gold medals.

Morton Ranch’s Tamyra Mensah became a two-time champ at the UIL wrestling state championships on Saturday at the Austin ISD Delco Center — and that was almost an afterthought.

All her excitement, all the emotions swirling inside, were reserved for her sister, Tarkyia Mensah, who claimed her first state championship after missing two years because of a devastating injury.

“I can’t put it into words,” Tamyra said. “I am so happy that we are both champions in back-to-back weight classes.”

Tarkyia survived a tough third period to beat Bryan’s Jenna Goen 7-5 at 128 pounds. Goen had beaten her earlier, and Tarkyia went to state as a regional runner-up, making her win in the final all the more unlikely.

Making a name for herself

Tarkyia’s thoughts then turned to her father, Prince Mensah, who died during her long rehabilitation and never saw her reach the top of the medal stand.

“I was just thinking I wish my dad was here,” Tarkyia said. “That’s all I was thinking. I just knew that I deserved this.

“I’m always known as Tamyra’s twin sister, the injured one, and I wanted to make a name for myself my last year, after all I’ve gone through.”

Tamyra made quick work of Cypress Creek’s Anna McAleavey — herself a defending state champ — in the second period of the 138-pound final.

It was a rematch of the Region III final, which Tamyra also won.

The Houston area crowned two other girls state champions: Brazoswood’s Jenna Pisarski pinned Langham Creek’s Shanay Colyar in another regional rematch at 110 pounds, and Seven Lakes’ Alex Wascom edged Amarillo Caprock’s Britnee Barbosa 1-0 in the 165-pound state final.

Both girls claimed their first gold medal, and both will have another chance as seniors next season.

The Caprock girls claimed their eighth consecutive team championship, finishing with 84 points. They were led by Hilary Cordero (102), who became the first four-time state wrestling champion.

The Lady Mavericks were right behind with 81 points. Hereford was third with 48.

Area boys unlucky

The Houston area sent four boys to the final matches but came up empty.

Cy-Fair’s Jacob Ekster fell painfully short of his second straight state title, losing to San Antonio Reagan’s Reggie Sanders at 135 in an ultimate tiebreaker, which comes after three overtimes.

Klein Oak’s Cougar Babin had to default in the 152-pound final after his illegal throw in the first period sent El Paso Eastwood’s Andy Rico down hard on his head, leaving him seriously injured.

The finals were halted for about 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance. The extent of the injury was unknown, but Babin said Rico, a longtime friend, was hurt badly.

Clear Lake’s Daniel Rivera fell 5-2 to Allen’s Jarrod Trotter in a rematch of the Region III 130-pound final, and Cy Creek’s George Woods lost 10-6 to Arlington Martin’s Chandler Ford.

Allen won the boys team championship with 167 points. Lewisville Flower Mound (128) was second and Canyon Randall (97.5) was third.