Wrestlers take three district titles

Members of the Tucumcari wrestling team won three district titles over the weekend's state-qualifying tournaments, including its first-ever female champion. In all, 11 Tucumcari wrestlers will compete in this weekend's state tourney.

Senior A'Leaya Lucero (6-2) scored three straight pins in the 145-pound weight class, including against championship foe Katelin Klepac of Aztec, during the 30-team District 1 tournament Friday at Atrisco Heritage Academy in Albuquerque.

Tucumcari junior Colt Garcia (25-11) at 182 pounds and junior Dyson Clark (16-5) at 220 each captured titles at the Class A-3A district tournament Saturday at St. Michael's in Santa Fe.

Other state qualifiers for Tucumcari were senior Joe Martinez (23-4), second place at district at 170 pounds; senior Julian Vargas (23-12), second at 138; sophomore Charles Prieto (18-11), second at 120; eighth-grader Zach Bradfield (18-16), third at 113; eighth-grader Isaiah Garcia (15-20), wildcard at 106; eighth-grader Isaiah Lopez (9-19), wildcard at 132); freshman Xzander Garcia (10-24), wildcard at 145; and sophomore Reyes Garcia (7-15), wildcard at 160.

The state championships will be Friday and Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

The New Mexico Activities Association officially sanctioned girls wrestling last summer. Lucero finished third at a state tournament exhibition last year.

Assistant coach Tim Clark, who took Lucero to the district tournament so head coach Eddie Encinias could coach the boys that day, said Lucero trailed 8-2 in the final, but her superior conditioning helped her overcome and pin her foe.

"A'Leaya looked really good up there," Encinias said. "She was losing in the finals, turned it around and pinned that girl."

Colt Garcia pinned Mackenzie Ebell of Robertson and Dyson Clark defeated Karim Perez of St. Michael's in a 4-1 decision during their district finals.

"Colt and Dyson, I thought they would do well, and they did," Encinias said. "That's why they're district champions."

About the only disappointment Encinias voiced about was Martinez's 2-1 loss to Jaden Mifsud of St. Michael's in the district final.

"With about three seconds left, they gave this guy a reversal while Joe still had control of his legs," he said. "To me, it was a bad, bad call. I hate for an official to decide a match.

"But Joe will be all right. He'll come back at state."

Martinez finished runner-up at the state tournament last season.

Prieto lost by pin to Robertson's Kaleb Medina and Vargas lost by technical fall to Robertson's Andres Grano in their district finals.

"Both of them wrestled good," Encinias said. "They both battled, and both will do well in the state tournament, I think. I think Charles can be one of the top four in the state. Hopefully, he and Julian will get on the (top-three) podium."

Encinias expressed hope several of his wrestlers will earn medals at Rio Rancho.

"I'm really looking forward to state," he said. "It's going to be really interesting, and I think my wrestlers will show up and do a great job."