
THE OFFICIAL HOME OF

LADY JAGS WRESTLING

Justin Thomas
Jan 9, 2017
Flower Mound has a girls wrestling team for the first time in program history.
For years, Flower Mound’s wrestling team has been among the premier programs in the Metroplex and state.
Now, the school is hoping to develop a girls team that can attain the same standards of excellence.
The Lady Jaguars are underway in their debut season in the sport with the team featuring six members and recently welcoming a new head coach in Tiffany Mangini.
It is an idea the school has wrestled with for years, but just didn’t quite have the interest, budget or manpower to pull off, according to boys head coach Steve Davis.
“We’ve had interest before, but we couldn’t find enough girls to find good workout partners and the way the rules are set up, we’re not going to have girls practicing with the boys,” he said. “Unfortunately in past years, there would be a girl that would want to come out, but she couldn’t get anyone else and that would be the end of it. And it was tough for me to have to share the budget, and share facilities and devote more time to it. It was just a lot more work to be honest.”
But all that changed this school year with the arrival of Chisholm Trail transfer Britney Orellana and an active campaign to recruit new members.
“This year, we had a young lady that moved in with experience and Britney was not ready to go away,” Davis said. “We pushed it a little harder through social media and announcements and meetings. We actually had 12 that thought they were interested. When they found out what it actually was and how difficult it was, that number dwindled. But still we have enough to have workout partners so off we go.”
Timing was also on Flower Mound’s side in finding a coach in Mangini — who previously wrestled in high school at Southlake Carroll — for the girls team.
“We just had some girls that really wanted to wrestle,” Mangini said. “They got it started and got the ball rolling and I was in the right place at the right time and started working with the girls under coach Davis. It happened to work out I was coming here and the girls program was starting, so it fit perfect.”
Thus far, results have been mixed on the mat for Flower Mound’s wrestlers, all whom are participating in the sport for the first time outside of Orellana.
“It’s going great,” Mangini said. “It’s a brand new program, so we’re working from the bottom up with the basics, but we’re already seeing a whole lot of improvement.”
As noted, Orellana — who grew up in a family of wrestlers — is the only member with previous experience, but she noted she has benefitted from being in a first-year program.
“Before coach Mangini got here, I felt like I had to be more of a leader, which has helped,” she said. “And I feel like I get a lot more out of here because we have a smaller team. We can do more individual stuff and you get more attention.”
The newcomers to the sport have also benefitted from Orellana’s advice prior to Mangini’s arrival, as well as support from the boys wrestling team.
“We hope to be able to reach and be where the boys team are over time,” said sophomore McKenna Sisson. “They’re very helpful. If they see us doing something wrong, they’ll help us out and explain things.”
On the mat, the Lady Jaguars have enjoyed multiple aspects of the sport.
Sisson thrives off the feeling of slamming an opponent, though she admitted it doesn’t feel to great when she is thrown to the ground.
Others, like freshman Miriam Pacheco, enjoy the fast-paced action.
“I love the adrenaline rush I get,” she said. “It’s just so exciting, but that’s also one of biggest challenges. It’s tough to remember and think back to the technique. It’s so fast-paced when you’re in the match it can be hard to process.”
In addition to the competition, the Lady Jaguars have enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships they have built over such a short period of time.
“The team is amazing,” said freshman Jasmine Silvey. “We didn’t know each other, but we became friends on like the first day. Us girls always say you don’t understand it, unless you’re in it. It’s a good rush to feel like you’re winning and to have a good family.”
And of course, there is the added physical benefit of conditioning and improved eating habits.
“This is my first time doing a sport of activity at school,” said freshman Angela Zapata. “So I love the team aspect, but losing weight has been the best part … and the worst part. I’ve always been overweight and it’s been challenging, but it’s great for my own health and is a great feeling.”
With the team settling into a rhythm over the past few months, the Lady Jaguars can now begin to focus on improved performances in anticipation of next month’s postseason tournaments.
“I’ve been improving a lot since the beginning and I can see it from my teammates too,” said freshman Tamera Ali. “We’re ready to go.”
And no matter the results, Mangini, Davis and the Lady Jaguars are hopeful that the program continues to build interest and expand in the future.
“If we’re in it, then we’re going to go big,” Davis said. “We’re going to recruit like crazy and hit the middle schools. If we’re going to do it, we want to do it first class.”