Quay County Sun - Serving the High Plains

The Tucumcari wrestling team finished fifth of 12 teams at Saturday’s Spartan Duals at Bernalillo High School and gave its coach optimism for the Rattlers’ upcoming matches against district rivals.

Tucumcari 170-pound wrestler Joe Martinez, a runner-up at the state tournament last year, went 5-0 on the weekend.

Tucumcari teammates Julian Vargas (138 pounds) and Colt Garcia (182) each went 4-1 during their individual matches. Caleb White went 3-2 on the weekend, as well.

Rattlers coach Eddie Encinias said those strong performances enabled his team to defeat Socorro 40-30, which likely will prove beneficial later this season.

“Those three guys beat their Socorro guys, so that’s a good thing,” he said. “That will help us with seeding before the state tournament.”

Tucumcari lost close matches to district rivals West Las Vegas and Robertson during the tournament. Encinias pointed out he was without Charles Prieto because of the flu and Dyson Clark because of a concussion suffered the previous weekend.

“It easily could have gone the other way with those guys back,” Encinias said. “I think the district is going neck-and-neck.”

Los Lunas, a traditional wresting powerhouse, won the meet Saturday.

Encinias said he’s looking forward to dual matches Wednesday at the Shash Duals at Wingate High School against the host team and Newcomb, both district rivals.