Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari wrestler Sarah Vallejo took home a gold medal on Saturday from the Spencer Cole Memorial Invitational in Las Vegas.
Two Rattler wrestlers finished second in the boys competition of eight-team tournament.
Vallejo, a junior in the 114-pound weight class, made three straight pins during the tourney, including in the title match against Henissy Gomez of West Las Vegas.
Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said Vallejo is concentrating more on using technique during her bouts, and it showed.
“She’s looking for opportunities for reversals,” he said. “I was truly impressed.”
Tucumcari’s MiKayla Klinger went 3-2 over the weekend and finished third in the 145-pound class. Naomi Garcia finished fifth for the Lady Rattlers.
Despite having only three wrestlers competing (Amaya Infante was sidelined with an injury), Tucumcari finished third in the team standings with 33 points.
Goddard won the team title with 66 points, and Valencia finished runner-up with 52 points.
In boys competition, 114-pounder Fernando Ureste and 172-pounder Xzander Garcia each finished second at the Spencer Cole Memorial Invite.
Ureste’s only loss was to Noah Gurule of Las Lunas in the final. Garvia fell to Johnathan Trujillo of Las Lunas in his championship bout.
Las Lunas dominated the meet with 219 points in the team standings. West Las Vegas was runner-up with 117 1/2 points.
Goddard was third was 92 points, and Tucumcari finished fourth with 76 points. Other teams at the event included Santa Fe, Pojoaque Valley, Valencia and Bernalillo.
“They wrestled really well except against Las Lunas,” Clark said of his athletes, “and they’re a 5A powerhouse and are proficient. A tactician will always win. We’re still trying to get there (with proficiency).”
For Tucumcari, 139-pounder Josiah Sanchez and 152-pounder Ayden Otero each finished third. Joshua Pacheco (145 pounds) and Antonio Gonzales (189) each finished fourth.
Tucumcari 48, Bernalillo 12
Despite the lack of bodies, Tucumcari dominated Bernalillo 48-12 in a district dual match Friday at a neutral site at Las Vegas.
Tucumcari wrestler Billy Otero still was out with an injury, and the Rattlers also lack a heavyweight wrestler this season.
Despite that, the Rattlers won nearly all their head-to-head matches.