Stewart Johnson
Dylan Ota
In 2021, Bayley Trang was crowned the Dragon wrestling team’s first 6A state champion. This past spring, sophomore Dylan Ota is continuing Southlake Carroll’s legacy of excellence as its newest state titleholder. At 106 pounds and with a 45-3 record, Dylan’s technique and tenacity can take down any opponent regardless of their age or experience. While he’s currently ranked the No. 1 wrestler in the state for his weight class, he continues to train for nationals this summer. Because if there’s anything that wrestling has taught him, it’s that there’s always room for improvement.
I’VE BEEN WRESTLING FOR AROUND… 11 years, ever since I was 5 years old. My dad initially signed my brother and I up, and we just kind of stuck with it. I enjoy the challenge that comes with it. There are many obstacles you face that you have to push past, and it makes you mentally stronger.
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND LOSING A MATCH, THERE’S… only so much time to try and make it up, so you’ve got to just focus on your moves and try as hard as you can to make up those points that you’ve lost. You really have to try and not panic. Once you panic, your match suddenly becomes that much harder to win.
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE… smaller side [of my weight class], so I’ve always had to wrestle guys who are bigger and older than me. I just always try to stay calm throughout the whole thing and focus on the moves I’ve practiced over and over again.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF THAT… even if you’re down, you can always make a comeback. It doesn’t matter how many points you’re down by. All it takes is one pin on the mat, and you can win the whole match. Remembering that always helps me keep myself focused.
I FIRST QUALIFIED FOR STATE IN MY… freshman year. I knew I had a good chance of going far in the tournament. I just had to push myself to do my very best. I ended up finishing sixth out of 16 wrestlers in my bracket, and it was only my first year.
I DEFINITELY FELT A LOT MORE… confident going into state in my second year. I knew that I had a better chance of winning compared to the other wrestlers — I just had to approach it like any other match and keep focusing on my technique.
I COMPETED ACROSS… four rounds, pinning wrestlers from Katy, Klein and Conroe Woodlands in my first three matches. When I got to the final match, I focused on wearing down my opponent knowing that I could outlast him. I won 6-3 after pulling a reversal and scoring two near-fall points to win the state championship.
WINNING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS... exhilarating. I knew what I could accomplish, so to me, it was about reaching my potential more than anything else. Celebrating my gold medal alongside my family and teammates is an experience I’ll never forget.
BESIDES AIMING TO RETURN TO STATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR… I also want to wrestle for the Texas National Team this summer. The USA Wrestling 18U National Duals will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma in June, and the Junior National Championships will be held in North Dakota in July. I just came back from the U.S. Open U17 World Team Trials in Las Vegas, where I achieved All-American status in Greco-Roman wrestling by placing eighth at 48 kilograms.
I’M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF MY… coaches and practice partners who have refined my skills as a wrestler. They’ve helped me understand that wrestling is just as much about your mentality as it is your technique. I’ll take their lessons with me as I continue to improve on the mat.