Courtesy Joe Hathaway / Dragon Wrestling
It is often said that reaching the mountaintop is hard, but staying there is nearly impossible. Don’t tell that to Carroll senior Dylan Ota.
On Saturday night at the Berry Center in Cypress, Ota cemented his legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers in Texas history, securing his third consecutive individual state championship.
Competing in the Class 6A 113-pound weight class, Ota capped off a dominant senior campaign with a commanding 11-1 major decision over Kingston Stephens of Dallas Jesuit in the state final. The victory was a masterclass in technical precision and endurance, qualities that have defined Ota's tenure as a Dragon.
Ota’s journey to the 2026 title was marked by overwhelming consistency. He finished his final high school season with a stellar 45-3 record and 36 pins, making quick work of the state bracket:
Semifinals: Defeated Kenneth Nichols (Klein) via a 10-1 major decision.
Quarterfinals: Secured a fall over Matthew Marino (Conroe Woodlands College Park) in just 51 seconds.
This victory marks a rare "three-peat" for the senior, who previously captured state titles at 106 pounds in both his sophomore and junior seasons. His performance was so dominant that he was ultimately named the 6A Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Ota wasn't the only Dragon to stand atop the podium. Teammate Keagan Sieracki also captured gold in the 150-pound division, helping lead Southlake Carroll to a third-place overall team finish with 80 points.