It should’ve been me.

Watching each fight from the safety mat at the 2024 UIL Wrestling State Tournament, that’s all he could think. 

I have to train harder. I have to put in the work. I have to be here next year.

He didn’t want to come back as an alternate, but as a wrestler competing to place; a year later, he did.  

After placing 2nd at regionals, junior and wrestling captain Alexander Barros placed 3rd at the state championship meet on Feb. 15. Competing in the 150 lb. weight class, he has placed at regional, state and national levels for recreational club teams and is a member of the Puerto Rican national team. 

“This year has been my best year,” Alexander said. “I’ve exceeded expectations. Last year I wasn’t always [fighting] to my fullest [potential]. This year, I’ve [met] awesomeness.”

In eighth grade, Alexander started wrestling at a youth program in Coppell. While he only started wrestling as another sport to pair with football, he said he fell in love with wrestling and quit football as a result. 

“I like physical sports,” Alexander said. “But football was never physical enough [for me.] When I started wrestling, it stuck with me — I knew I had to put my focus on it.” 

After spending a summer training at youth programs to focus on his technique and form, Alexander made varsity his freshman year. He won 14 out of 26 matches. 

“He’s a lot more confident [now, compared] to his first years wrestling,” Green said. “He is consistent and smart in the way he wrestles. He doesn’t freak out in a bad decision and he trusts his fundamentals.”

During his sophomore year, Alexander advanced to state as a regional alternate. He was to take the place of the state qualifier if they were to get injured and unable to compete. He said this experience was a turning point, as he realized he could compete at the same level as the qualifiers. 

“I remember going [as an alternate,] and not really thinking much of it,” Alexander said. “[But] whenever people started wrestling, and I was just watching, it made me [realize] I was missing out. I wanted to immediately get back to work and make state [the following] year.” 

During this past summer, Alexander competed in a tournament to earn a chance to wrestle for Puerto Rico’s national team and qualified. Around the same time, he started training and competing for Allen Texas’ youth program.

“I have seen [Alexander] grow in a number of ways,” Alexander’s teammate Jayden Sullivan said. “His mental strength and technique as a wrestler have improved and he is confident in his ability to perform.” 

This season, Alexander is a captain and has won all but two matches. He has morning practice daily at 6 a.m. and wrestles again during fourth period. 

“The [hardest part] of wrestling is cutting weight,” Alexander said. “Every time it gets bad, I wish I had picked a [different] sport. Despite it being miserable, it’s worth it in the end.” 

At the state championship, Alexander won five out of the six matches he wrestled in. After winning his first match at state, he was put in the quarterfinals, but lost the second match. In order to place third, he had to win all the remaining matches. 

“I’m happy overall,” Alexander said. “I wanted to win and be [state champion,] but placing third is still really good. I have to be proud about something, and placing at state is awesome.”

Alexander plans on wrestling in college and hopes to eventually become a wrestling coach — a decision he said is inspired by Green. Alexander said his goal is to become a state champion and a world champion competing for the Puerto Rican national team.

“Everyone [I went up against] was a good competitor,” Alexander said. “I thought some would be easy, but they were all tougher than expected. [While] I need to be more prepared for next time, I am happy I preserved and placed.”