Encinias: Time for the Rattlers to push for greatness

QCS Staff

After months of competition, training and pushing themselves to the very breaking limit it all comes down to how the Tucumcari Rattler wrestlers perform in two matches on Friday during the district tournament in Pecos.

Rattlers Head Coach Eddie Encinias was putting the wrestlers through the paces testing their conditioning with a series of drills late in the practice.

“This is going to be the toughest week of your entire wrestling season,” Encinias said during Monday’s practice.

When the team failed to set up for a drill in a timely fashion Encinias immediately ordered the team to commence with “Monkey Rolls” a exercise that has the three wrestlers leaping and rolling over and under each other for several minutes.

“There is no reason for you all to be this slow and sluggish at this point in the season,” Encinias said. “You have been working hard all season and that is why you have beaten so many other wrestlers because you’re conditioning is so much better than theirs.”

Encinias said the wrestlers have been working hard showing such great progress and promise as the season progressed. He said despite all of the earlier accomplishments the Rattlers need to dedicate themselves more then ever to pushing themselves to greatness.

Encinias said only the top three in each weight division get to move on to state competition. He said with how the team performed Saturday at district duals in Las Vegas he expects no fewer than seven of the Rattlers to qualify for state.

“There is no reason why we should qualify everyone,” Encinias said. “If they wrestle to their potential we should have a strong showing at state.”

The Rattlers finished third in the district duals behind first place Robertson and second place Taos.

Game time: TBA Friday at Pecos