Morton Ranch senior wrestler Brittany Cotter says she’s the healthiest she’s been in her four years as a Maverick. That matters and doesn’t matter all the same.

It matters in that Cotter, already a three-time state qualifier and four-time placer at Nationals, feels she has yet to hit her peak. It doesn’t matter so much in that she has still managed to thrive, and oftentimes dominate, despite extreme adverse circumstances.

Cotter won her fourth district championship at the 9-6A wrestling tournament Saturday, April 10, to become the first Mavs wrestler to do so. Cotter improved to 16-1 this season by taking down Tompkins’ Kristen Bryant in the 110-pound final.

“It means a lot to come into a program that was already established as an amazing program, especially with a state title to their name,” Cotter said. “It was real motivational for me to come in and see there was still room to accomplish something, even a part of something great. It was big for me when I noticed I had a possibility of being the first (four-time district champion). I worked hard and took the opportunity.”

The road to a fourth straight district title was physically, emotionally and mentally taxing.

During her freshman year, Cotter broke her collarbone. In the middle of recovery, Hurricane Harvey hit the area and her family’s house flooded. Over the next eight months, they stayed with family and various friends. Cotter still won district and advanced all the way to the state final.

As a sophomore, Cotter suffered a concussion at the beginning of the wrestling season and did not return to action until the district tournament. She still won district and, again, advanced to the state final.

“It’s all about believing in yourself, I think,” Cotter said.

Last season was, by far, the toughest.

Cotter hit her “ultimate low” dealing with the Epstein-Barr virus, rhabdomyolysis, and insomnia. She was only getting two hours of sleep every night and her cholesterol was severely elevated. Because she was also cutting weight for her sport, her health was compromised.

And while Cotter won district and still qualified for state—failing to place because of health issues involving cramping of the hands and legs—she had an epiphany. She decided once and for all to stop being angry about not winning state her freshman and sophomore years. She decided to be more grateful, appreciative.

“I wanted to win state finals so bad. I always felt I wanted it more than my opponent,” Cotter said. “But when I lost in my freshman year, I was devastated. Sophomore year, I was just so angry. I was in the state finals and got hit in the head again after just coming back from a concussion. My junior year, I was still angry over my sophomore year. I was so close.

“But right before season, I decided no matter what happens, I would accept it. I wouldn’t be mad or sad or cry about it. I’m just going to go out and do what I love. I’ve come to realize that it’s amazing to go out as a freshman and sophomore and be in the state finals. In my mind, I have such high standards and I hated losing and was so angry, but looking back, it’s something I should be proud and thankful about. Being thankful rather than being angry or sad, that’s been the biggest thing.”

Cotter fell in love with wrestling when she happened to take in a dual meet in the sixth grade. Wrestling did not make sense to her at first, but she was enamored with the idea that girls participating in wrestling was normal. She also like that, while it was a team-oriented sport, it allowed for individualism.

“I think what sets me apart is the love I have for this sport,” Cotter said. “I don’t look at it as something I do for fun. I look at it as a lifestyle. It’s something I’ve wanted since I first saw wrestling for the first time.”

Cotter knew then and there, in the sixth grade, that she was going to wrestle. And not only was she going to wrestle, she was going to be good at it.

She hasn’t failed. Cotter’s talent and success have earned her an opportunity to wrestle at William Penn University next fall. She has twice been named a National All-American.

And there is no telling what the rest of this wrestling postseason will bring.

“I’m probably the healthiest I’ve been,” Cotter said. “I feel relaxed. I don’t feel stressed. I feel comfortable with myself.”

Tompkins won the District 9-6A girls team title with 145 points, followed by Seven Lakes (127) and Katy High (86). It was the Falcons’ girls second straight team district title. On the boys’ side, Katy won the team district title for the sixth straight season, squeaking by Seven Lakes by a half-point.

The top three wrestlers in each category advance to the regional meet April 16 at the Merrell Center.

GIRLS 9-6A RESULTS

Team: 1. Tompkins, 145; 2. Seven Lakes, 127; 3. Katy, 86; 4. Morton Ranch, 72; 5. Cinco Ranch, 52; 6. Mayde Creek, 40; 7. Taylor, 31; 8. George Ranch, 10.

Individual

95: 1. Isabella Walsh, Cinco Ranch; 2. Kimmie Castaneda, Katy; 3. Rachel Cotter, Morton Ranch.

102: 1. Natalie Vasquez, Morton Ranch; 2. Julia Nowak, Seven Lakes; 3. Victoria Pena, Tompkins.

110: 1. Brittany Cotter, Morton Ranch; 2. Kristen Bryant, Tompkins; 3. Justine Martin, Taylor.

119: 1. Lily Broadrick, Tompkins; 2. Ruby Stamatis, Seven Lakes; 3. Aurora Emmons, Cinco Ranch.

128: 1. Laisy Sanabria, Seven Lakes; 2. Tessa Brillhart, Katy; 3. Andrea Tamez, Tompkins.

138: 1. Graycen Hall, Katy; 2. Demitra Petritsis, Tompkins; 3. Shirit Holdeman, Seven Lakes.

148: 1. Nina Amico, Seven Lakes; 2. Katherine Knight, Cinco Ranch; 3. Judea Higgins-Morris, Katy.

165: 1. Kaitlyn Bryant, Tompkins; 2. Camryn Strohman, Seven Lakes; 3. Isabella Vasquez, Taylor.

185: 1. Nicole Blinn, Tompkins; 2. Annmarie Jenssen, Seven Lakes; 3. Kylee Stuve, Katy.

215: 1. Rewa Chababo, Mayde Creek; 2. Chelsea Andrade, Tompkins; 3. Abby Fonseca, Katy.

BOYS 9-6A RESULTS

Team: 1. Katy High, 170.5; 2. Seven Lakes, 170; 3. Strake Jesuit, 144; 4. Cinco Ranch, 120; 5. Tompkins, 117; 6. Morton Ranch, 96; 7. George Ranch, 94; 8. Taylor, 42.

Individual

106: 1. John Raymundo, Katy; 2. Esai Deras, Cinco Ranch; 3. Keane Quiambao, Seven Lakes.

113: 1. Jose Salinas, Seven Lakes; 2. Ty Ferguson, Mayde Creek; 3. Ryan Miller, George Ranch.

120: 1. Phoenix Medrano-Martinez, Katy; 2. Koen Quiambao, Seven Lakes; 3. Juan Lizama, Morton Ranch.

126: 1. Jackson Crandall, Katy; 2. Ruben Moreno, Morton Ranch; 3. Phillip Junghans, Strake Jesuit.

132: 1. Luke Holland, Katy; 2. Mitchell Saccone, Tompkins; 3. Cameron St. Julien-Currie, Morton Ranch.

138: 1. Cole Minnick, Tompkins; 2. Connor Timmons, Katy; 3. Preston Bryant, Cinco Ranch.

145: 1. Michael Bone, Taylor; 2. Mason Wilke, Tompkins; 3. Alex Del Valle, Seven Lakes.

152: 1. Juan Pablo Garcia, Katy; 2. Matteo Nikolov, Tompkins; 3. Michael Amico, Seven Lakes.

160: 1. Truman Timmons, Katy; 2. John Gabbanelli, Strake Jesuit; 3. Kaiden Stassen, Seven Lakes.

170: 1. Samad Al-Khatib, George Ranch; 2. Harris Masson, Tompkins; 3. Sean Lade, Strake Jesuit.

182: 1. Luke Marvin, George Ranch; 2 Lane Staton, Cinco Ranch; 3. Kent Stovall, Strake Jesuit.

195: 1. Joe Racicot, Seven Lakes; 2. Omar Juarez, Morton Ranch; 3. Tim Lucio, Katy Tompkins.

220: 1. Kane Strohman, Seven Lakes; 2. Landon Parrish, Cinco Ranch; 3. Jack Bohnsack, Strake Jesuit.

285: 1. Austin Stubbs, George Ranch; 2. Sam Corious O’Connor, Morton Ranch; 3. Blake Rogers, Seven Lakes.