SPORTS LOOKBACK: How wrestling got its start in Dripping Springs

The last athletic sport added to Dripping Springs High School’s list was that of wrestling. It, like most of the others, had to go through the process to get accepted. It began in 2009 when Richard McLemore appealed to the school to add wrestling. It met the same resistance as other sports in the beginning mainly because of budgetary concerns and they needed proof of enough interest to make it a viable choice. The decision was made to allow the group to use the school facilities as a school club. It was called Team Elite and was headed up by Mark Ribera for several years.

In 2012 Dripping Springs petitioned the UIL to join a wrestling district because three boys, George Neef, Ben Silliman and Scott Hodsden, wanted to enter some meets. Tracy Neef, the mother of George and the Highsteppers dance program coordinator, volunteered to be the surrogate coach to represent the school at the meets. This was the hook to get the program started at the school.

The next year the school decided to set up a full time program and hire a coach. This decision was made easier when one of the coaches on the staff, Jonathan Hayhurst, had wrestling experience. He headed up the program for the next two years before taking another job outside the district. In that first year he had four athletes qualify for the state tournament and one, Jonah Ribera, was a state champion in the 126 division.

The major problem was finding the funding and a place to practice where they could put down the big mat and not have to roll it up at the end of each practice. The decision was made to use the old elementary/ sixth grade gym on the old main campus where they would have to share with the school day care center. It was agreed the Booster Club would fund the program, including the purchase of the official mat. It was also agreed the wrestling team would use the facility early in the morning before the day care needed it and the mat could remain on the floor full time.

Coach Joe Kirksey took over for Hayhurst in 2015 and the old E.P Shelton gym was cleaned out and made available for the team. Each morning during the season, some 20-25 athletes, maybe more, would run the distance from the HS to the old gym, plus those that chose to drive. Finally they were able to move into a facility of their own during the 20-21 school year on the High School campus. It was funded as part of the bond election that expanded the campus.

The program has proven to be very popular with upwards of 50 or more vying for positions on the boys and girls teams. Wrestling, like powerlifting, is one of the most equitable sports. The divisions are determined by weight and until you get to the top weights, each division is usually around eight pounds between. Each participant has to weigh-in and if they do not make their weight, then they can not participate in that division. So an athlete has to continue to watch their weight at all times to stay in the division they want to participate in or qualified for.

The team has dominated the last five years, winning district in 17, 18, 20, 21 and second in 2019. The boys also won regional in 2021. The girls are just starting to build their numbers and did place third in 2020 with just four members. The key is participation and DS has wrestlers in every division and points all along the way, not to mention top wrestlers that go all the way to state. In addition to Ribera there have been four other state champions. Luke Hodsden was an undefeated champion in 2015 (167) and 2016 (182) as was Chase Warden 2019 (145) and 2020 (152). At the present, Luke and Chase hold all the school records.

The next question will be what will be the next sport to be added? With the way its popularity seems to be going, it will probably be Corn Hole or Pickle Ball. Ha! Ha! Just thinking that in the 20th century horseshoes and washers were big with everyone but they seem to have been pushed aside. Just about to run out of room for many more.