Dallas’ Jose Romero follows big upset with overtime win in final (Reser’s TOC 126 pounds)

“I said I was going to pull a Matt Ramos, and I did.”

Dallas senior Jose Romero produced the upset of the season in the semifinals of last weekend’s Reser’s Tournament of Champions when he knocked off two-time TOC and 6A champion Isaac Hampton of Newberg. 

But the shine of that victory would have been tarnished if Romero couldn’t corral Crater’s Aidan Godley for 30 seconds in Saturday night's 126-pound final at Hillsboro’s Liberty High School.

“I’m not going to lie, I was just wrestling hard and trying not to give up any points,” Romero said. “Just try my best no matter the outcome.”

Romero’s best was good enough to keep Godley down for the 30-second overtime period to seal a 2-1 victory. 

Jose Romero of Dallas (photo by Taylor Balkom) 

Romero, who finished sixth at the 5A state meet last year as a junior, did not place in his first two Reser’s TOC appearances, but he pinned four opponents on his way to Saturday night’s final — including the biggest win of his career in the semifinals, when he pinned Hampton 50 seconds into the second round.

“When I saw I had him in the semis, I said I was going to pull a Matt Ramos, and I did,” Romero said, referring to the Purdue wrestler’s upset of three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee at last year’s tournament.

Then, he knew he needed to “wipe the slate clean” to prepare for the title match.

“Don’t worry about if you lost, but whether you want to just wrestle your best,” Romero said. “That’s all I thought.” 

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