Wrestler makes state debut for Aledo

For more than 20 years, the athletic programs at Aledo have come to expect excellence no matter what sport. That expectation does not change with a new sport either. So when the new wrestling program started in November of 2021, expectations were high.

Throughout the season, both boys and girls wrestlers progressed through tournaments and invitationals leading up to the district meet in early February. Five boys and a girl qualified for the regional meet the following week, and when all was said and done, one wrestler stood tall and made it to the state meet in Cypress.

Ansel Din-Mbuh, who had won the district title weeks prior, finished third in Region 1 in class 5A, guaranteeing a spot to compete for a state championship. Din-Mbuh along with head coach Austin Stockon, assistant coach Doug Wheeler, and teammates Bryon Wheeler and Cole Bohnen arrived in Cypress on Thursday for the meet to start on Friday, Feb. 18.

The first bout came at approximately 9:30 a.m. with Din-Mbuh wrestling Eric Morales of San Antonio Burbank High. The bout lasted the full six minutes with both wrestlers going back and forth for the lead. It appeared Din-Mbuh had secured the winning points with less than a minute to go, but a late move by Morales swiped the win away by a 14-12 decision.

The loss moved Din-Mbuh to the consolation side of the bracket, meaning the best he could finish was third.

Unfortunately in his next bout against Isaiah Adams from Richland, Din-Mbuh was swiftly defeated by pin after just 39 seconds. The defeat eliminated Din-Mbuh and brought an end to the inaugural wrestling season for Aledo. With most of the wrestlers from both the boys and the girls team being underclassmen, the program looks to have a bright future ahead.