The Woodlands College Park junior Landri Von Gonten has now won state in back-to-back-to-back years after winning her state final match against Allen's Kailin Sebert. Von Gonten was named the outstanding wrestler for the girls' championships. After the match, she held up three fingers representing her three years as state champion.
"I held the three because I was a third-time state champ," Von Gonten said. "That's not something a lot of people can do; some people don't get a state title, so to be able to do it three times, I'm grateful."
Katy's Emily Beltran caps off her senior season with a perfect 49-0 after winning state in back-to-back years.
"My freshman year, I was an alternate, my sophomore year, I went 0-2 at state, so it feels like sometimes I don't even belong," Beltran said.
Mayde Creek junior Stephanie Lopez hands Cinco Ranch's Nevada Daniels her first loss of the year. Lopez placed sixth last year, and this year, she is a state champion.
"I don't even know how to describe it," Lopez said. "I'm just overwhelmed with so many emotions right now. I can't believe that I became a state champ; all the hard work paid off."
The Woodlands junior Claire Guydon improved to 49-2 after beating Leona Layne of Rockwall for the state title.
"How does state champ sound? It sounds amazing. I'm so excited to have accomplished this," Guydon said.
On the boys' side, The Woodlands College Park finished second for the team championship. Individually, TWCP freshman Mason Milsaps is flipping happy for his first state title, while his brother, a senior, Logan, won gold in the 144-pound class for the second year in a row.
"I just know it's going to prepare me for a very successful life," Logan Milsaps said. "Nothing is going to be as hard as this sport, and I take confidence in saying I'm a wrestler and accomplished my goal of being a state champion."
The Remington brothers from Clear Creek both came in undefeated. Younger brother Keith finished state runner-up, and his brother Jared, a four-time state qualifier, ended his senior season as state champion with a record of 46-0, with his dad Keith watching from the bench.
"They've put a lot of hard work in this since they were 4 and 5 years old," dad said. "We're just blessed to be able to support them and give them what they need to go."
"I wrestle Keith twice a day, every day," senior Jared Remington said. "We butt heads sometimes, but it makes us so much better, and we're such a good fit it's amazing to have a partner like that in my own household."
The last of the champions is Sean Perez of Humble in the 190-pound class. Peres finishes his junior season at 52-0 and as a state champion.
"They (family and support) led me to the way, and that led me to progress, and progress makes perfect," Perez said.
When asked how it felt to be state champ, he responded, "Feels great, still can't believe it right now...loss of words.