Sports In Katy

by Terry Carter 

Petey Martinez and Niles Peebles demonstrated last Thursday why they are among the elite grapplers competing at the upcoming regional and state wrestling competitions.

Both are strong; technically sound grapplers with all the tools necessary at 132 pounds. When they met in their district final, Peebles appeared larger, perhaps stronger than Martinez.  But Martinez's balance and mat savvy skills nullified Peebles attempts to push Martinez, the Katy senior with an impressive 32-1 record, off-balance and secure a takedown.

Peebles, a 48-8 sophomore at Cinco Ranch, found Martinez virtually untouchable when it came to in-fighting, hand control and gaining leverage on tie-ups. Martinez, however, found ways to maneuver the powerful Cougar, throw him off-balance and eventually secure a 3-0 decision.

After the bout, Cinco Ranch coaching legend Bill Dushane, whose Cinco Ranch boys' team became the only Greater Houston team to win the UIL team championship in 2007, said Martinez was the best wrestler he saw at the District 22 Wrestling tournament.

Check the look in Petey's eyes. His district championship was just another hand wave, very calm, very determined. He's been here before. What Petey wants is deeper. It's every senior wrestler's dream - a state championship and his name in the UIL record books forever.

Both Martinez and Peebles should advance through the Region III tournament - regarded as one of the premier collisions of pure mat talent in Texas - to state. From there, Martinez will want to be a top seed, which means he wins Region III, and Peebles will not want to be a fourth seed. Fourth seeds have the distinct displeasure of opening the UIL State Championships against a top seed from Region I, II or IV.

Other dangerous District 22 champions entering the Region III Octagon - oops, sorry, wrestling arena - include Katy sophomore Christian Martinez (25-6) and Cinco Ranch senior Tanner Waltman (35-12) both at 113 pounds. Both have good wrestling pedigree - Christian is Petey Martinez's younger brother and Tanner is Cinco Ranch former wrestler Nick Waltman's sibling.

Other challengers who could advance to state and make some noise include:
285-pound District 22 champion Ivan DeLeon (41-2), Cinco Ranch
220-pound Cinco Ranch champion Cody Newnom (34-6)
195-pound Taylor champion Kielan Snyder (46-5)
182-pound Waller champion Mike Hulick (30-5)
170-pound Cinco Ranch champion Austin Jones (22-15) who muscled his way to title
152-pound Seven Lakes champion Glenn Scott (44-8)
138-pound Taylor champion Geovanny Alzate (36-7)
120-pound Strake Jesuit champion Marc Henning (34-8); Seven Lakes runner-up Ben Thompson (43-11)
106-pound Morton Ranch champion Brian Quiroz (41-10)