Wrestlers advance to state tourney

The Tucumcari Rattlers wrestling team finished the regular season as the District 2-4A runner-ups, three district champions and qualified all team members for the state tournament.

The Rattlers will have 14 wrestlers representing Tucumcari at the state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Santa Anna Star Center in Rio Rancho, said Eddie Encinias, head coach.

Rattlers Michael Shelton, 160 pounds, Xavier Garcia, 170 pounds, and Isaiah Valverde, 285 pounds, won district championships during the district tournament Feb. 11 at Taos. Julian Vargas, 132 pounds, and Elias Ortiz, 145 pounds, took second at the event.

Encinias said the Rattlers wrestled their best event as a team at the district tournament. He said the team has shown progress throughout the year but last weekend's efforts showed how much their dedication paid off.

Tucumcari finished second with 168 points behind first place Robertson, 180 points, and four points ahead third place Taos, 164 points.

"The parents and volunteers that have helped out with events and practices all season long are just as responsible for this teams success," Encinias said.

Rattlers state qualifiers

• Ricky Montano, 106 pounds

• Tony Lopez, 113 pounds

• A'leyah Lucero, 120 pounds

• Jonathan Clark, 126 pounds

• Julian Vargas, 132 pounds

• Malachi Anaya, 138 pounds

• Elias Ortiz, 145 pounds

• Simon Ortiz, 152 pounds

• Michael Shelton, 160 pounds

• Xavier Garcia, 170 pounds

• Kaleb Hayes, 182 pounds

• Devin Apodaca, 195 pounds

• Antonio Norton Jr., 220 pounds

• Isaiah Valverde, 285 pounds