Rattler wrestlers will begin their season at Amarillo tournament

link Tucumcari Rattler Xavier Garcia (center) works on a take-down maneuver with Zach Martinez during Monday’s practice to prepare for the Rattlers’ first tournament Friday at Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas.

QCS Senior Writer

The Tucumcari Rattlers varsity wrestling team will compete in their first tournament of the year Friday at Randall High School at Amarillo.

“This tournament will feature some of the toughest schools from the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and Kansas,” said Eddie Encinias, Rattlers head wrestling coach.

Encinias said this year’s team has no seniors, but he is excited that he will have all of his team returning next year.

“We’ve got a talented group of young men and I expect great things from them this year,” Encinias said.

Encinias said he has eight experienced wrestlers returning to this year’s program that he estimates will have 16 members competing. He said the newer members will learn a lot from the returning Rattlers and will have to learn on the fly as wrestling teams have done in the past.

“I like to start the year off with by going up against the best,” Encinias said. “It gives the guys a reality check and helps them to see what areas they are strong in and what skills they need to improve.”

Encinias said at the Randall tournament there will be two schools from Arlington, Texas, and top-ranked teams from Oklahoma and Kansas. Combined with the top-tier programs from Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle, he said, the tough competition will give the Rattlers opportunities to gain from mat time and experience on their first go-round of the year.

“The guys will get a chance to see different styles of wrestling at this tournament,” Encinias said. “They will have to learn to adapt and think on their feet, which will help them later in the season.”

Encinias said the Rattlers’ varsity members push themselves each year to increase their skill with a dedication to becoming better competitors. He said that dedication and the promising results from the middle school program give him a positive outlook for Rattlers wrestling.

The middle school wrestlers have already competed in three tournaments this year and continue to show enthusiasm for learning and competing more this year, said Tim Clark, middle school head coach.

Clark said the middle school wrestlers will compete in two tournament this week Wednesday at West Las Vegas and Thursday at Boys Ranch, Texas. He said his wrestlers show improvement with each tournament.

Clark said over the past three years, the middle school program has doubled the amount of tournaments they compete in and the program continues to attract new members each year.

“This year we have two girls who have joined the team,” Clark said. “We welcome everyone who wants to come out and join the program.”

Encinias said the two programs will have over 30 members this year with each program continuing to show growth.

Tucumcari Rattlers Wrestling Schedule 2104-2015:

Varsity

Dec. 5—9 a.m. at Randall, Amarillo, Texas;

Dec. 9—3 p.m. at Bushland, Texas;

Dec. 11— 3 p.m. at Palo Duro, Texas;

Dec. 20— Tucumcari Rattler Invite.

Jan. 9—3 p.m. at Saint Michael’s;

Jan. 17—at Pecos Invite;

Jan. 24—at Trinidad Invite, Trinidad, Colorado;

Jan. 30—Las Vegas Invite.

Feb. 7—9 a.m. at District 2 4A Duals, Las Vegas;

Feb. 13—at District 2 4A Tournament, Pecos.

Middle School

Dec. 4—2:30 p.m. at Boys Ranch, Texas;

Dec. 13— 9 a.m. at Robertson.

Jan. 8—2 p.m. at Hereford, Texas;

Jan. 16—3 p.m. at Dumas, Texas;

Jan. 24— 9 a.m. at Los Lunas.