Three varsity wrestlers placed at regionals Feb. 12-13, in San Antonio.  Senior Sergio Garza and juniors Noah Martinez and Dylan Rowling all placed in the top four and qualified for state.

Both Martinez and Rowling won all their early matches to reach the finals in their weight classes. Martinez lost the final match, finishing second in the 120 weight class.

“My best match was the one I lost, my finals match, because it taught me a lot about how I can wrestle a person I lost to,” Martinez said.

Martinez went to state his freshman and sophomore year as well, making this his third year going to state as a varsity wrestler. Last year at state, Martinez won all of his matches before falling in the state championship and finishing second in the 120 weight class.

“I don’t know how you would describe it,” Martinez said. “It’s a blessing really to be able to go again and there’s not really a feeling to describe it.”

Rowling, who finished second in the 160 weight class, will also be attending state for the third time.

“It’s kind of like a routine now and it’s expected of me,” Rowling said. “I’m definitely looking to get on the podium.”

Rowling’s best match came in the semifinals when he beat Bowie’s Graham Martin. Rowling lost to Bowie at district in the semifinals when Martin was awarded two points in the final seconds of the match.

“My semifinals match, I wrestled Bowie and at districts he beat me 3-1 but I beat him 7-3 this time,” Rowling said.

Garcia is advancing to state for the first time. Garcia won both his matches Friday, but lost a match Saturday to move into the third/fourth place match. An injury forced the senior to forfeit the final match and take fourth in the 220 weight class.

“Overall, I did pretty well,” Garcia said. “This past weekend I came out wrestling pretty hard on both of my matches Friday. Unfortunately Saturday, I lost a match, he was a very strong kid and he was quicker than me and stronger than me but looking forward on that I have a week to get better and focus on myself.”