Dragon Wrestling Takes Home Bronze at State Championship

The Southlake Carroll Boys Dragon Wrestling team ended an outstanding postseason run by earning third place overall at the UIL 6A State Wrestling Championships, held Friday, February 13, in Houston. Competing against the top programs from across Texas, the Dragons delivered an incredible team performance to bring home the state bronze medal.

“On behalf of the Carroll ISD Board of Trustees, we are truly #DragonProud of these young men,” said Andrew Yeager, Vice President of the Board. “Earning a podium finish at the state championship is an extraordinary accomplishment, but even more impressive is how our boys showed up, competing with grit, integrity, and pride in their school and community. They exemplify what it means to be a Dragon.”

Assistant Coach Cameron Haddock, a former state champion Dragon wrestler who returned to Carroll as part of the coaching staff, credited the team’s depth and chemistry throughout the season.

“This was one of the best teams we’ve ever been able to put together,” Haddock said. “It was really unique how good this group was from top to bottom. Looking ahead, we return three state qualifiers next year, and there are a lot of pieces we’ll be able to build on while continuing to uphold that same standard.”

Leading the way was senior Dylan Ota, who secured his third consecutive UIL state championship with a commanding major decision victory (11–1) over Kingston Stephens of Dallas Jesuit in the 1st place match. Ota finished the season with a 42–2 record and was named the 2026 6A Boys Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, further cementing his place among the elite in Texas high school wrestling.

Joining him atop the podium was senior Keagan Sieracki, who claimed his second UIL state title with a hard-fought 5–2 decision over Shiloh Jackson-Bey of Allen. Sieracki closed the season at 41–3, continuing a remarkable run of postseason success for the Dragons.

Senior Luke Burgar also advanced to the championship match, where he finished as state runner up.

Head Coach Joe Hathaway said the team’s experience and depth played a critical role in the Dragons’ historic performance.

“I’m really proud of them; they did a great job,” Hathaway said. “We had three wrestlers in the finals, which is the first time we’ve ever done that as a program, and to win two of those was huge. Everybody contributed. We scored bonus points, which really mattered in such a tight race for third, and those individual efforts added up.”

The championship weekend also included a special moment of recognition for Head Coach Joe Hathaway, who was inducted into the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Honor. The honor was presented during a ceremony prior to the championship rounds at the UIL State Wrestling Championships on February 14, 2026, recognizing his long-standing impact on the sport and the athletes he has coached.

“That experience, having been there before, really helped keep everyone together and focused on our goal of bringing home a trophy. The experience of this group, iron sharpens iron. Having solid practice partners in the room who push each other makes a huge difference over the course of a season, and that’s what helped us continue to improve and ultimately achieve the results we did.”

With a state bronze finish, multiple individual championships, and leadership recognized at the highest level, the Dragons closed the season exemplifying excellence, discipline, and pride on the state’s biggest stage.