Wrestlers salvage tie against Moriarty

The Tucumcari wrestling team salvaged an 18-18 tie against Moriarty on Saturday during a meet at Robertson despite the Rattlers missing five athletes due to a COVID-19 quarantine.

Tucumcari coach Eddie Encinias was very pleased with his athletes’ performance.

“They looked good,” he said. “To be able to take just seven guys and get a tie, that’s unusual. I called them afterwards ‘The Magnificent Seven’; they all did the job they were supposed to. Even in their losses, they didn’t get stuck (with a pin). That helps a lot.”

Tucumcari coach Eddie Encinias said Dyson Clark, wrestling at the heavyweight division instead of his usual 220-pound class, secured the tie by pinning his 284-pound opponent during the third period.

Encinias also cited efforts by Antonio Gonzales at 160 pounds, Dillon Apodaca at 220, Xzander Garcia at 182 and Reyes Garcia at 195 during the match.

Encinias also expressed hope Charles Prieto, who is wresting at 132 pounds but probably will be at 126 soon, will soon have big meets.

“I’m waiting for Charles to break out,” he said. “Charles is a better than what he’s been wrestling. I think a lower weight class would help him a lot.

Encinias said two of his girl wrestlers — Sara Vallejo at 120 pounds and MiKayla Klinger at 160 — also went 1-1 during their matches Saturday.

“They really looked good for their first outing,” he said.

Tucumcari has a big meet coming Friday for the district duals at Robertson. He said the host team is favored to win, and the Rattlers will be unable to fill four weight classes during the event.

“For us to ever have a chance, everyone’s going to have to win,” Encinias said.