DSHS wrestler takes state title

Dripping Springs High School senior wrestler Alec Rill captured a state title in the 215 weight class on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the UIL 6A State Wrestling Tournament in Cypress.

Rill became just the fourth wrestler in school history to win a state championship, following Jonah Ribera (2013), Luke Hodsden (2015, 2016) and Chase Warden (2019, 2020). He is also just the fourth DSHS wrestler to place in at least three state tournaments after finishing third as a junior and fifth as a sophomore.

In the 16-wrestler bracket, Rill recorded falls in the first two rounds before registering a 3-1 decision in the semifinal match. In the championship, he defeated Keller Timber Creek’s Rade Ostrander with a 6-5 decision.

Sophomore Jackson Shipley claimed state runner-up honors in the 106 weight class after recording three decisions in his second consecutive state appearance. Hagen Shipley also earned a spot on the podium after finishing in fifth place in the 132 weight class, his second time placing after finishing fifth in 2022.

TheTigers totaled 55 points to place eighth as a team, their highest finish since 2019. Other state qualifiers were Cole Sides, Abel Silverman and Caleb Flores. Sides and Silverman each picked up wins in the consolation bracket.

For the girls, Harlan Jack represented DSHS as the sixth female wrestler to qualify for state. She advanced to the quarterfinals before suffering a defeat to eventual state runner- up Alexis Booth of Jersey Village.