Top 20 Texas high school boys wrestlers in 2023-24

Melissa's Angelo Ferrari, nation's top ranked at 175 pounds, headlines Lone Star State's best

The first round of the UIL Texas high school wrestling postseason is in the books in and regional competitions are underway throughout the state on Friday and Saturday.

Five boys wrestlers made SBLive wrestling expert Billy Buckheit's latest national rankings, released Friday, but the talent pool in the Lone Star State goes much deeper than that. 

National top 25 high school wrestling rankings for every weight class (2/9/2024)

SBLive took a look at some of the top boys wrestlers in the state, spanning every corner of Texas and spanning high schools of all sizes and association affiliation.

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TOP 20 BOYS WRESTLERS IN TEXAS IN 2023-24 

Names are in alphabetical order.

Angelo Ferrari, pictured competing at the 2023 UIL state meet, is the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 175 pounds / Photo by Tom Dendy

Isaak Arevalo, jr.

High school: Arlington James Martin

Weight class: 120 pounds

He’s a defending state champion back for the Warriors after winning 113 pounds last year. He’s 24-2 this year and his only two losses were against wrestlers from Oklahoma.

Efren Arizmendez Jr., sr.

High school: Comal Smithson Valley

Weight class: 165 pounds

He’s lost only once this year and will be a favorite to return to the finals in 5A. He took second last year at 165 pounds and was a state qualifier as a sophomore. He’s 46-1 this season.

Caio Aron, jr.

High school: The Woodlands College Park

Weight class: 126 pounds

He bumped down a weight class in the middle of January from 132 — where he was ranked No. 24 in the country in SB Live rankings. Last year, he was a state runner-up at 126 pounds and lost by one on an ultimate tiebreaker. He’s only lost once this season — his first match of the season back in November.

Kelby Bernard, jr.

High school: Allen

Weight class: 126 pounds

He heads into regionals on the heels of another district title. Bernard is 38-5 this season and three of those losses were foes from Oklahoma. He was the 120-pound 6A champion last year and was named the most outstanding wrestler in the lower weight classes at last year’s finals.

Eli Biermann, sr.

High school: Midlothian

Weight class: 138 pounds

He’s a three-time all-stater for the Panthers and will have a chance to repeat as a champion this year. He won 132 pounds last year and bumped up in a weight class and hasn’t missed a beat. After a 47-1 mark last year, he’s 30-0 with a chance to be an undefeated state champion. He’s headed to Tarleton State next year.

Hunter Bogner, jr.

High school: Dumas

Weight class: 132 pounds

He was the 5A 126-pound champion last year. He suffered one last year and heads into regional this week with a 21-1 record — and his loss came in overtime. He’s had 14 pins this year for the Demons.

Aiden Cooley, soph.

High school: Allen

Weight class: 190 pounds

He was the only freshman in this weight bracket last year at the state finals and took third — part of a 1-2-3 finish for Dallas-Fort Worth wrestlers. He secured his 70th high school win last week at the District 6-6A meet, winning the district title.

Angelo Ferrari, sr.

High school: Melissa

Weight class: 175 pounds

After reaching the finals twice in Oklahoma at Stillwater, he is seeking a second-straight trip to the finals at Melissa. The Iowa signee won the 175-pound title last year and is the favorite to win it again. He’s ranked No. 1 in the SBLive national rankings.

Jacob Henry, sr.

High school: Austin Vandegrift

Weight class: 285 pounds

He’s recently committed to Oklahoma to continue his wrestling career, though he was a solid football recruit as well with plenty of Division I offers. The son of WWE Hall of Fame Mark Henry, Jacob is 30-0 this year and won the District 13-6A title last week. He was fourth last year, competing for Austin Lake Travis.

Andrew Jurasek, jr.

High school: Keller

Weight class: 215 pounds

He’s been among the top wrestlers in the state this year and that was expected after a runner-up finish in the weight class last year at the 6A finals. Jurasek has lost only three matches by a combined four points. He is a two-time state qualifier for the Indians.

Kyle Lew, sr.

High school: Houston Westside

Weight class: 144 pounds

The Arkansas-Little Rock pledge has been all-state his first three trips to state with a fourth, fifth and a state title last year at 138 pounds. He’s 39-3 this year for the Wolves and won 11 in a row since a loss to a Missouri wrestler in December.

Garrett McChesney, sr.

High school: Katy Jordan

Weight class: 138 pounds

He went 49-2 last year and one of the two losses came against Kyle Lew in the state championship match. McChesney was a state qualifier for Deer Creek, Oklahoma as a freshman and won a title at 132 pounds in 2022. He’s aiming for this second UIL crown and sports a 35-0 mark this season.

Jake Moon, sr.

High school: Rockwall

Weight class: 150 pounds

He went undefeated in the Texas State Duals last month and helped the Yellowjackets finish second in 6A. Moon won the 5-6A District title last week and is 30-4 heading into regionals. He’s taken third at state the last two years and is a contender to win his first title this winter.

Dylan Ota, soph.

High school: Southlake Carroll

Weight class: 106 pounds

 The sophomore was a state medalist last year and back at the state weight class this year, there are many different results. He was 38-11 last year and this winter he sports a 37-3 mark. He won the District 4-6A title last weekend and won 8 in a row since a loss in the finals of Sand Springs (Okla.) Tournament on Jan. 13.

Sam Reynolds, sr.

High school: Lucas Lovejoy

Weight class: 285 pounds

He’s overcame a battle with leukemia to get back on the mat this year. He’s 18-0 and is one of the top heavyweight wrestlers in the state. He’s won the last two 5A titles and hard to imagine he won’t be in the mix for a third in a row later this month.

George Rodriguez, jr.

High school: Uvalde

Weight class: 120 pounds

 He won a 5A title last year at 120 pounds and is heading into regionals with a 39-1 record — one win less than his 40-1 mark last winter. He’s won 12 in a row heading into the Region 4-5A meet this weekend for the Coyotes.

Michael ‘Mikey’ Ruiz, soph.

High school: Canyon Randall

Weight class: 113 pounds

He won a state championship last year at 106 pounds and is again one of the tops in the state this year. He’s 33-0 after winning the District 3-5A title last week. He’s ranked No. 22 in the country in the SBLive rankings.

Keagan Sieracki, soph.

High school: Salado

Weight class: 126 pounds

 He’s the son of Keith, who was a two-time U.S. Olympic Team trials champion. Keagan is 47-1 this season and is heading to regionals on the heels of winning the District 10-5A title last week. His only loss this year came against Caio Aron in the Texas Outlaw tournament in Allen — the same tournament he beat Bernard.

Kody Tanimoto, sr.

High school: Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal

Weight class: 120 pounds

He won the Texas Prep State Championship last weekend in San Antonio with a 3-0 run. Next up is the TAPPS championships on Feb. 17. He was formerly a Class 6A all-stater at Keller Central. Tanimoto has signed to wrestle at North Dakota State.

Karson Tompkins, sr.

High school: Midlothian

Weight class: 190 pounds

The Air Force signee is ranked No. 4 in the country at 190 pounds in SB Live’s rankings. He’s aiming for his third straight UIL title and looking to repeat at 190 pounds. He won a district title last week and improved to 38-0 and wrestled for about 2 1/2 minutes in three matches.

-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx