While that last loss may have been a blemish to the total tally against cross-town rival Kinkaid, 2013 marked the first SPC title for St. John’s and the beginning of a snowball effect for the program. The Mavericks have won 10 SPC titles since and have added seven Prep State and five Prep State Dual titles to their resume. 

“When we lost the War on the Floor in 2013, we were very motivated afterward,” said Head Coach Alan Paul.  

Coach Paul helped start the War on the Floor to promote wrestling and get the younger middle school wrestlers involved in the program. Over time the high school wrestlers have taken this connection with the future stars to another level. Varsity wrestlers help coach and mentor middle schoolers and the Alpha Pups youth program. They cheer for them on the mat and treat them as part of one big team. 

“When those middle school boys get to high school they understand that they were once helped by the veterans and they pay it forward,” said Coach Paul. “It’s not what I had originally thought would happen, but it's been an organic thing that has snowballed into something much bigger.”

Even with all those titles, Coach Paul and his program never seem satisfied with the status quo. There is always more to achieve beyond the War on the Floor, SPC, and State. The 6A Cinco Ranch Tournament just became part of the Mavericks lore, adding one more trophy in the mat room. 

On Friday, November 15, the Mavericks lost to Cinco Ranch in a team dual 39-22. The next day St. John’s went back to Cinco Ranch to compete in the Cinco Ranch Big 12 Invitational tournament. The Mavericks were the only private school to participate and have been competitive at the event in the past, but they had not yet been able to clinch it until Saturday.

“This tournament has some of the top tier 6A teams in the state competing,” said Paul, underscoring the intensity of the event. 

Unlike a dual match, a tournament is like a track meet or a swim meet where placement in multiple events, or this case, wrestling weight classes, combine for the team score. Each weight class is in a bracket with a winners side and a consolation side.  Even if an early match is lost, there is still a chance to score points on the back side of the bracket.

“Most of the years we may have only had one or two individual champions, but we have guys who lost early and went on to win in the consolation bracket for third place,” said Paul. “We win with thirds.”

One of the notable third-place finishes was with heavyweight Luke Odom ’27, who won his first match and lost his second match. His opponent was none other than the HW he lost to the night before in the Cinco Ranch dual. Odom weighed in the lightest possible weight for his class, almost 90 pounds less than his opponent. With speed and quickness, Odom prevailed for third place and more team points. The rest of the Mavericks did their part too— losing and then winning just enough to capture another first-time title. Mason Lum '25 (132) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament.

“I learned from my mistakes on Friday,” said Odom. “If you can be fast and get around him you can win. It was a confidence booster to get the win for the team.”

Final results of the Cinco Ranch Tournament:

St. John’s 227.5

Cinco Ranch: 206.5

Katy: 164.5

Katy Tompkins: 153.5

Dripping Springs: 146.5

Bridgeland: 128.5

Cy-Fair: 104

Katy Jordan: 85.5

San Antonio Veterans Memorial: 65.5

Richmond George Ranch: 63

Cinco Ranch White: 61

Lamar Consolidated: 40

College Station A&M Consolidated: 39.5

“It means a lot,” said Captain Sebi Rodriguez '25. “It shows that we are advancing to another level that we have never been to before, like back in 2013 when we won the first SPC championship. It shows the growth of the team and how unified we are this year.”

“It was a huge win, said Captain Henry Denham ’25. I’m not as excited about the win itself, but I’m more excited about what it means for the future. My freshman year we came really close to winning Cinco Ranch but we didn't get it. Following the trend this year, if we were as good as we were at the Cinco Ranch tournament, I think we could be a top-10 team nationally."

What’s next, Coach Paul?