Two wrestlers reached the podium at the 6A state wrestling meet in Garland, Feb. 20-21. Sophomore Noah Martinez placed second in the 120 weight class and senior Jake Moser was sixth in the heavyweight division.

Martinez won all three of his matches the first day, including pinning Timber Creek’s Jamie Paterson in the semifinals to reach the championship match.

“It was a great feeling and it isn’t really a feeling you could describe much,” Martinez said.

Qualifying for the finals, Martinez participated in the Parade of Champions with all the other finalists and their matches were shown live online at Fox Sports Southwest’s website. Martinez lost the final to Martin’s Kennedy Monday, his first loss after racking up 11 wins through district, regionals and state.

“I did not get the aspect I was expecting to get,” Martinez said. “I was not expecting a defeat. It was a match I was expecting at all. It just wasn’t a way I’m used to losing.”

Senior Jake Moser also placed at the state meet, in the heavyweight division. Moser won his first two matches the first day, including a second round upset over Allen’s Nico Manzonelli in the extra period to advance to the semis.

“What a huge match for Jake,” head coach Brad Bresnehen said. “That secured ‘all-state’ and a placement medal for him. And in typical Jake fashion, won it in OT. He has more OT wins than any other Rouse wrestler in history. That is a testament to how hard he works and how badly he wants to win.”

In his final match the first day, Moser lost in the semi-finals which bumped him into the consolation side of the tournament, but still guaranteed him a top six finish. In the fifth place match, Moser and Cypress Ridge’s Edward Valdez were tied 1-1 at the end of the third period. Valdez scored two points in the extra period to win the match, giving Moser sixth place.

“I was pretty happy,” Moser said. “Being sixth at competition is pretty difficult.”

As a senior, state was Moser’s final wrestling competition.

“It’s always one of the best feelings, standing up on the podium no matter what place you’re in,” Moser said.

Five wrestlers competed at the state tournament. Sophomore Dylan Rowling and junior Jesse Moser won and lost matches the first day to move to the consolation bracket for the second day. Both lost their consolation matches Saturday to end their tournament runs.

This was Rowling and Martinez’s second year to compete at the state level. Four of the five state wrestlers return to the team next year.

“Having four state qualifiers coming back is very exciting,” Bresnehen said. “The best thing about it, none of these guys were satisfied. Not even Noah. They are all unhappy with 15th as a team and how they placed individually. That, as a coach, is the most exciting aspect.”