Cayden Rios Takes the Next Step: Two-Time State Champion Commits to Oklahoma

Cayden Rios has already accomplished plenty during his high school wrestling career.

The Allen senior is a two-time state champion, enters his final high school season as the No. 1 wrestler in the Ranked Texas 6A Pound-for-Pound Rankings, and will have an opportunity this year to add a third state title to his resume.

Now, the next chapter of his wrestling career is set.

Rios has committed to wrestle at the Division I level for the University of Oklahoma, earning an opportunity he says represents far more than his own accomplishments on the mat.

“It truly means the world to me,” Rios said. “I’ve put a lot of time and work into wrestling since I was little, but not only me. So have my parents, with the countless sacrifices they’ve made for me.”

For Rios, reaching the Division I level is the product of years spent competing, training and working through the difficult moments that come with pursuing the sport at an elite level.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to continue competing at the Division I level,” he said. “I’m excited to see how much more I can develop and compete at the highest level in college.”

A Family Accomplishment

Rios is quick to make one thing clear: he does not consider the commitment his achievement alone.

His family has traveled across the country to provide him opportunities to face elite competition, invested countless hours into his development and supported him through both the highs and lows of the sport.

His father, in particular, has played a central role in both his wrestling career and his life away from the mat.

“My dad especially has taught me everything I know about wrestling and has been there for me since the beginning,” Rios said. “All those long nights and early mornings, all the blood, sweat and tears we’ve gone through, have finally come to light. I’m not only the wrestler I am today because of him, but he’s also made me the man I am today.”

That makes the opportunity to wrestle at Oklahoma something Rios views as a shared accomplishment.

“This commitment isn’t just something I accomplished by myself,” he said. “It’s something my family helped me build, and I’m really proud that I can make them proud. It truly takes a village, and without my support system, I wouldn’t be here.”

Representing Texas on the Division I Stage

Rios will also carry something else with him to Norman: Texas wrestling.

He has roots in both El Paso and Allen, two communities he credits with helping shape the wrestler he has become. As Texas continues to produce more nationally competitive wrestlers, Rios wants his college career to provide another example of what wrestlers from the state are capable of accomplishing.

“I’m proud to be from Texas, and I want to represent where I come from every time I step on the mat, both El Paso and Allen,” Rios said. “Those places have played a huge role in who I am today, and I want to represent them the right way.”

The number of Texans wrestling at the Division I level remains relatively small compared with some of the country's traditional wrestling hotbeds. Rios sees that as motivation.

“Wrestling in Texas has grown a lot, and there are so many really good wrestlers coming out of the state,” he said. “I want to help continue that growth and show that Texas wrestlers can compete with anybody in the country.”

His goal goes beyond simply reaching the Division I level.

“There’s some serious talent brewing here in the Lone Star State,” Rios said. “I want to be part of proving that.”

Bigger Goals Ahead

Earning a Division I opportunity was one goal. Rios already has another in mind.

He wants to become an NCAA champion.

Rios understands that the transition from high school wrestling to the college level will require another significant jump in his development. His approach is centered around a simple philosophy: get one percent better every day.

“I know there’s going to be a big jump from high school to college, so I’m going to have to stay hungry, grind every day and ultimately be a sponge and be willing to learn,” Rios said. “The 1% better every day’ saying is something I really like to live by, especially with the little things.”

Consistency, he believes, will be just as important as talent.

“There are going to be good days and bad days, but I have to keep showing up and putting the work in and focus on what I can control,” Rios said. “My goal is ultimately to become an NCAA champion, and I know the work I put in over the next five years is going to determine whether I give myself that opportunity.”

For a wrestler who has already spent years chasing the highest levels of the sport, the difficulty of what comes next is part of the appeal.

“I’m just excited for the grind,” Rios said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to be in such a tough room, jump levels in my game and see how good I can become. Truly, the sky is the limit.”

Why Oklahoma?

When Rios began evaluating his college options, he heard repeatedly that eventually one school would simply feel different.

For him, that school was Oklahoma.

“Everyone told me when you know it’s right, you can feel it, and I never felt that feeling until I came across Oklahoma,” Rios said.

His connection with the coaching staff and wrestlers, along with the culture surrounding the program, helped separate Oklahoma during the recruiting process.

“I felt like the coaches believed in me and saw a lot of potential in me, and I knew I would be surrounded by guys who would push me every day,” he said. “The training environment, the program and the opportunity to compete at Oklahoma all played a big role in my decision.”

Rios also saw Oklahoma as a place where he could develop beyond wrestling while pursuing his academic goals.

“At the end of the day, I felt like Oklahoma was the place where I could develop the most as both a wrestler and a person,” he said.

For Rios, the decision also came with plenty of excitement about officially heading to Norman.

“But c’mon, how could I pass up on being a Boomer Sooner?” he said. “Norman is the place to be.”

Before Rios gets to Norman, however, there is still business to handle in Texas.

He enters his senior season with two state championships already secured and an opportunity to finish his Allen career with a third. Regardless of what happens during that final high school campaign, his next destination is set.

One of Texas’ best is headed to the Division I level, with even bigger goals waiting for him when he gets there.