The time runs on the clock as Coppell junior Hannah Francis swiftly pins her opponent in the final match of the UIL District 6-6A Championships at Prosper High School. Seconds later, she wins her first individual district championship in the 215 weight class. 

On Thursday during school, 12 athletes from the Coppell boys wrestling team and 10 from the girls wrestling team competed in the district meet. 

The Cowgirls finished 3 points ahead of Prosper, taking first in the competition overall. They were the only team to advance all its wrestlers who competed to the regional level. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the UIL Region II Championships on Feb. 14-15 at Allen High School.

“We’ve worked so hard, even before the season started, with our conditioning and our drilling,” New Tech High @ Coppell senior captain Brooke Massaviol, who competes in the 148 pound weight class, said. “All of the girls that have moved on [to regionals] are so on top of their practice and it really shows when we have hard matches and they’re able to persevere and win.”

Eight of the boys wrestlers placed for the regional meet, with senior captain Jackson Briscoe, who competes in the 170 pound weight class, leading the team in second place. 

“I knocked out, I won’t be advancing to regions, which I’m pretty bummed about,” Coppell senior Garrett Hardin, who competed in the 138 pound weight class, said. “But how many guys we got to bring to districts and being able to support each other during these matches has been great. I’m really proud of this team.”

A rigorous January schedule and weeks of intense preparation followed the teams to the district competition. The environment created by Coppell coach Chip Lowery, who was awarded District Coach of the Year at the meet, seemed to play a key part in the teams’ successes. 

“[Lowery] made our schedule for January super challenging so we could be better prepared,” Hardin said. “Everyone has practiced a lot for this moment. Briscoe especially has been putting in a lot of time in the weight rooms lately, and that shows today.”

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