Boys wrestling looks to build on momentum
Athletes in a circle talk amongst themselves as two wrestlers try to gain an advantage over another. The coaches look on to see which athletes will give Coppell the best shot of success during the season, and which athletes will step up and be leaders on the team.
Last year, Coppell had two state qualifiers, and they had a great showing at the District 6-6A Meet, placing third overall.
“We lost some real point-getters from last year,” Coppell coach Chip Lowery said. “However, we got some guys back and we got new guys that are ready to perform and help us.”
Entering this season, Coppell was looking to start strong with the Coppell Round-Up. Heading into the meet, there were a lot of expectations, especially since there were many state-level teams there.
Coppell placed third in the meet, and some returning members, such as senior Cooper Johnson and senior Ricky Gonzalez, went undefeated in their matches. At the meet, these wrestlers were crucial in turning the tide for Coppell and allowed Coppell to maintain momentum to get ahead in points.
With a rise in newcomers on their team, this type of talent and leadership is precisely what Lowery is looking for.
“Looking back from last season, I wanted to have guys that could step up and compete at a high level,” Lowery said. “A lot of our returning guys are stepping up and becoming leaders, and that is what I wanted to see from last year.”
Their second meet was also very successful as the Cowboys placed second with many outstanding performances from key players.
As the season takes full swing, the Cowboys look to maintain their momentum with following matches.
The NYE Quads follow, also in Coppell High School Arena on Dec. 29, before going to Lewisville in the District Duals on Jan 3. Once that meeting is over, the Cowboys travels to Dallas Jesuit to compete in the Jesuit tournament.
In their final season meet, Coppell returns home for Senior Night at CHS Arena for the Fossil Ridge meet.
“Our goal is to win,” Lowery said. “It’s simple. I expect these guys to go out there and perform to the best of their abilities and push themselves to new heights.”
Girls wrestling stars as season opens with two dominant wins
As Coppell girls wrestling coach Ted Witulski faces off with one of his senior athletes, he swiftly works around his student, demonstrating the precise skills and tactics needed to hold a prominent stance and win the point.
In the past three years, the Coppell girls wrestling team has tripled in size and improved immensely. With the help of Wituslki, the program has gained popularity and has allowed individuals to grow enough to get recruited by big schools and set records.
“The amount of traction and the amount of talent that has joined the team in the past three years has been remarkable,” assistant Maxine Lisot said. “Coach Witulski has done just a great job with this team and with the way they have performed in the past few years.”
Starting the season with two dominant wins at the Coppell Round-Up and the Cowgirl Classic, the girls have made it their mission to continue on this path.
“Since I have been here, the culture is very centered around pushing yourself and being the best version of yourself that you can be,” Lisot said. “The expectation here is that students give their best and that they win.”
With many freshmen coming onto the team, the program is ecstatic about the future of their team and the amount of talent that is still to be nurtured throughout the year.
With numerous freshmen getting action, and two dominant team wins, the team is looking forward to their future matchups.
The NYE Quads follows in CHS Arena on Dec. 29, before traveling to Flower Mound Marcus to compete in the Marcus Mayhem on Dec. 30-31. With the conclusion of that meet, the girls will get a rest before heading to Tulsa, Okla. to compete in the Supergirl 64 tourney on Jan. 5-6.
With the Chicken Wing meet in Houston on Jan. 12-13 and the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association (THSWCA) 6A State Duels in Wichita Falls on Jan. 19, Coppell returns home for Senior Night at CHS Arena for the Keller Fossil Ridge meet on Jan. 24.
With its first two wins, Coppell looks to continue this surge.
“We want to show Coppell what girls wrestling can do,” Lisot said. “We want to win state and we want to put on individual performances that will last forever.”
Follow @namir_awan and @SidekickSports on X.
