Dragon Wrestlers Dominate at District

Dragon Nation dominated at the recent UIL District Meet, advancing a dozen athletes to the regional round.

The Southlake Carroll boys wrestling team, ranked No. 3 in the state, captured its 12th consecutive UIL Boys District 4-6A championship Saturday, finishing with 279 points. The Dragons crowned six individual district champions and qualified 12 wrestlers across 14 weight classes for regionals, showcasing both depth and dominance throughout the lineup.

Freshman Chase Nickel earned one of Carroll’s lightweight titles and credited the team’s competitive culture for its continued success. “It was awesome,” Nickel said. “The atmosphere was fun. We got to wrestle, compete, and hopefully get better.”

Defending state champion Dylan Ota claimed the district title at 113 pounds, improving his record to 34–2. Ota recorded two pins during the tournament, securing the fourth district championship of his high school career.

Carroll surged through the middle weights, winning four titles between 138 and 165 pounds. Senior Braden Trang went 4–0 at 138 pounds, earning four pins. Junior Tyson Gibson captured gold at 144 with a dominant 15–0 technical fall in the finals. Top-ranked Keagan Sieracki followed with a championship at 150, pinning his finals opponent just 35 seconds into the first period.

Junior Corban Chen closed out the championship run at 165 pounds, securing a finals pin after rebounding from an earlier setback. Chen credited additional preparation during the winter weather week for his performance.

“I think that really helped me, just staying focused on wrestling,” he said.

The Lady Dragons also competed at their district tournament, finishing sixth with 100 points. Of the eight wrestlers entered, five qualified for the regional tournament and one earned an alternate spot.

Coaches from across the District honored Carroll Head Coach Joe Hathaway as District Coach of the Year following the tournament, recognizing both the team’s results and the program’s sustained excellence.

"I’m honored to be voted boys district coach of the year, and I owe it to the continual success of this team,” Hathaway said. “Their consistent individual accomplishments showcase the hard work and dedication to succeed that we hope stays with them as a lifelong skill.”

Hathaway will also be inducted into the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Honor at the state tournament on Feb. 14 in Cypress, Texas.

Coach Leslie Salazar was also voted Girls Assistant Coach of the Year. 

With the district title secured and 12 regional qualifiers advancing, the Dragons now turn their attention to the regional tournament at Coppell High School on Feb. 6–7, carrying strong momentum into the next stage of postseason competition.