Regionals - Day 2

El Paso to send 19 boys to state wrestling meet

By Paul MacKinnon / Special to the Times

Posted: 02/13/2010 11:11:36 PM MST

EL PASO -- Defending Texas state champion Canyon Randall easily won the boys team title at Del Valle High School, but Saturday's finals of the 2010 Region I wrestling tournament definitely had a tinge of blue and gold to them.

That's because Eastwood High 145-pounder Andy Rico and 152-pound Bernie Gonzalez took home the city's only individual gold medals.

The Troopers' dynamic duo led a group of 19 local boys who qualified to advance to the state meet, set for Feb. 26-27 in Austin.

"All the guys are confident going to the state tournament," said Eastwood coach Roman Villa, whose team came within a whisker of a third individual gold when freshman Devin Vasquez nearly turned Randall's John Mark Avila in the final seconds of a narrow 3-2 loss. "Whether they finished first, second, third, wherever, they're confident they can make a run."

The 2009 135-pound state runner-up Rico was workmanlike, pinning every 145-pounder he faced over the two days, including just 55 seconds of work to get through Franklin's Johnny Gonzalez in the only all-El Paso finals.

"Practice, practice, practice, it all comes down to my practice," said Rico, who improved his record to 33-2 on the season. "You've got to get prepared mentally and physically."

Socorro three-time state qualifier Jonathan Sanchez defeated Canyon Randall's reigning 125-pound gold medalist Michiel Roberts inÊsemifinal action.

"I didn't know whether to yell or smile, or what. I felt like I'd already won first," said the silver medalist Sanchez, who lost an 11-3 major decision to Azle's Noah McKillip in the title match. "Now, I know I have the potential to become a state champion."

Hanks' Alec Silva (7-5 loss to Azle's Aaron Ryals at 119) also took home silver, along with first-time state qualifiers Lupe Sillas (Bowie, 13-5 loss to Randall's Marc Backus at 160), Franklin's Noah Earle (189 pounds, pinned by 2009 160-pound state champ Jace Bennett) and super heavyweight Kevin Muñoz (Americas, pinned by Amarillo defending regional champ Dalton Carter). But, everyone who qualified deemed themselves winners, as the top four finishers in each division advance to State.

"I was upset for just a little bit, but I knew I had to get my head on straight, because I had some must wins," said Burges three-time district champ Ricky Burns, who bounced back from a semis loss to Saginaw 135-pound runner-up Christian Moreno to eventually grab third place.

Regionals - Day 1

City's best wrestlers take aim at trips to state
By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times

Posted: 02/10/2010 10:56:41 PM MST

EL PASO -- For the second consecutive year, El Paso will host the best high school wrestlers in the area when they meet up at the Region I championship tournament on Friday and Saturday at Del Valle High School.

The grappling will begin at 9 a.m. both days, with finals set for 4 p.m. Saturday. The top four individual placers in each weight class will move on to the UIL State Championships on Feb. 26-27 in Austin.

Last year, Chapin placed second on both the boys and girls sides. While the Huskies are hoping for a repeat performance, coach Angel Nevarez is impressed with his girls, who are ranked No. 1 in El Paso.

"To tell you the truth, I think this is a stronger group than last year's," Nevarez said. "We are taking eight, instead of the last year's 10, but these eight are a stronger bunch."

Chapin was runner-up to Amarillo Caprock, which is expected to be in contention once again, along with Hereford and Amarillo Tascosa.

"Granted, (Caprock is) the seven-time state champions, but they aren't the same as they were last year," Nevarez said. "There will be tough teams there, but it always comes down to who wrestles their best."

Irvin coach Don Gwynn said this week's practices are mostly used for preparation.

"We cut our practices a little shorter to save their legs," Gwynn said. "You can't teach them anything new now; you've just got to fine-tune what they are doing."

Twelve of last year's state qualifiers on the girls side were underclassmen from El Paso, including three from Chapin.

The Eastwood boys team, ranked No. 1 in El Paso, has hopes of taking down Canyon Randall, which won the regional title last year.

"We got a handful of kids who have their sights set on state," Troopers coach Roman Villa said. "That would be the ideal way to end the season -- wrestling for a state title."

Leading the way will be junior Andy Rico. Last year, he was the state runner-up in the 135-pound division, but this year he is competing at 145. "Our kids are ready, I think. They are excited," Villa said. "We're hoping to take more than a couple to state."

The Troopers qualified 11 for the regional tournament, but Randall and Franklin each sent 14.

Franklin's SP Martinez and Justin Carreon qualified for state last year and are geared up to go back. "Our goal is to go in there and do our best to peak at the right time," Franklin coach Jesse Almodovar said. "We've got to have a good Friday and Saturday."

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at abracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6381.

Del Valle, Eastwood repeat as wrestling champs

By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times

Posted: 02/06/2010 11:36:10 PM MST

EL PASO -- The Del Valle High School girls wrestling team gave itself a nice surprise by winning the District 3 championship, while, as predicted, the Eastwood boys dominated the competition Saturday at Del Valle's Conquest Arena.

Despite being a young team, the Conquistadores girls made it back-to-back titles. The Eastwood girls finished second with 76 points and Hanks surprisingly fell to third with 65.

"It was huge, because we had some problems, because one of our girls didn't make weight," Del Valle coach Carlos Armendariz said. "Considering they're a real young team, they are real poised and strong."

Sophomore Mayela Rascon was jumping up and down upon hearing that her team repeated as district champs.

"Oh, it feels so cool," she said. "Well, a lot of our wrestlers are very inexperienced, so to be champs again is very good."

Rascon said this gives the Conquistadores motivation not only to do well at the Region 1 tournament Saturday at Del Valle, but also to repeat next season.

"At the beginning of the season, we were close to second-to-last place," she said. "To win when it counts the most feels so good."

Individually, Rascon was involved in the closest match of the day. She was edged 8-7 by Hanks' Darlene Fernandez in the 119-pound division.

Rascon had tied the match with 40 second left, but right before time expired, Fernandez scored an escape point for a narrow win.

"I knew time was almost up because the time keeper was right there," Fernandez said.

"So I knew I had to do something."

The close victory only made the gold medal that much sweeter.

"I think it was won with heart, because you've got to have heart in wrestling," Fernandez said. "It feels pretty good, because I never won district before."

It was a busy day for Eastwood, as the championship mat usually had at least one Trooper competing on it at all times.

"Everything went according to plan," Eastwood coach Roman Villa said. "The kids are real supportive of each other as a group."

Eastwood finished with 217.5 points, while Hanks was the closest competitor in second place with 166.5. Parkland was third with 94.

The whole team rallied for freshman Devin Vasquez as he defeated Hanks senior Ryan Martinez via decision in the 130-pound final.

"That was the match that might of swayed some of the momentum toward Hanks, if he lost," Villa said. "They were 2-2 against each other this season going in. The guys got excited on the sideline during that match and helped Devin through it."

Eastwood leader and returning state runner-up Andy Rico set a standard with a first-place finish in the 145-pound division. With a chance to go to state just days away, Rico said the Troopers are ready to go.

"I say top two or three at regionals," Rico said. "We are a really good team and at the state duals we got fourth, so I think we'll do good at regionals."

In the 125-pound division, Parkland's Damien Petta defeated Eastwood's Brandon Matthews in an 11-10 decision that saw several lead changes in the final period.

"Me and my coach had a game plan and stuck to it," Petta said. "I love wrestling and love the competition because there is no one out there but you."

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at abracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6381.