Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari wrestling team went 3-2 in season-opening dual matches against much larger schools Saturday at Los Lunas, and those losses might have been victories if not for forfeits at two weight classes the Rattlers were unable to fill.
Tucumcari coach Eddie Encinias didn’t have exact scores, but he said his team defeated Bernalillo by 20 points, downed Rio Grande by 16 and defeated Albuquerque Academy “handily.”
The Rattlers’ losses were to Kirtland Central by 20 and Albuquerque High by eight — both which might have been closer if had Tucumcari had not suffered two forfeit losses that put them in a deficit for points.
One forfeit game occurred because of an athlete’s still-healing football injury, and the other was an open spot at 132 pounds Encinias hopes to fill with an eighth-grader in the coming weeks.
Encinias said he was pleased with his team’s showing over the weekend.
“Our guys, they got so much heart, they’ll compete with anybody,” he said. “Some of them got behind in their matches, turned it around and pinned their opponents. They’re not going to quit; they’re going to give it all to the end.”
Encinias praised these wrestlers for their good showings Saturday: Charles Prieto at 126 pounds, Joe Martinez at 170, Julian Vargas at 145, Dyson Clark at 220, Colt Garcia at 182 and Caleb White at 152.
Prieto went 5-0 during his matches over the weekend.
“Now, will we beat anybody such as a Cleveland or a Los Lunas as a team? Probably not,” Encinias said. “But individually, for us to be competitive as a team, those guys have to win. And the other guys probably will be contributing later in the year.”
Tucumcari will host a home meet starting at 4 p.m. Thursday.