NHSCA Nationals

Eastwood freshman takes 8th at nationals

By Paul MacKinnon \ Special to the Times

Posted: 03/31/2010 09:38:14 PM MDT

EL PASO -- For the city's top talents, the high school wrestling season concluded a good month ago. But, for those even fewer elite grapplers, exit time was just a weekend ago. And, now, it's time to train.

While it may still be too soon to label Eastwood 130-pounder Devin Vasquez as elite, the 5-foot-6-inch freshman certainly has the early results to back it up.

After improving on his runner-up status at the Region I meet with an impressive fourth-place finish at the Texas state meet, the soon-to-be 15-year-old saved his best for last. He attained All-American status with an eighth-place finish among freshmen at the National High School Coaches Association Tournament, which ran March 24-27 in Virginia Beach, Va.

"That was about a 10, (the) toughest tournament I've ever been to in my life," said Vasquez of his 20-wrestler, freshman bracket. "At first, I thought I was going to do pretty good. That's what I thought. They didn't wrestle like freshmen. They wrestled like seniors. Big wake-up call."

City wrestling tournament director Ron Dentinger, said, "(The NHSCA) is like a who's who, the equivalent of the Nike tournament for basketball. For (Vasquez) to place in the top eight in a major competition like that means he's probably already a Division I athlete for his age group."

Vasquez opened by pinning New Jersey's Zachary Alto in less than two minutes. But, New Mexico's Anthony Abeyta turned the tables on Vasquez, pinning the El Pasoan 1 minute, 2 seconds into the second round.

"That hadn't happened to me in my whole first year of high school," Vasquez said.

Eastwood coach Roman Villa added, "For both Devin and (Texas State 145-pound champion) Andy Rico, (the city's only other competitor at Nationals), that was the first time that either of them got pinned this year. And we had a long talk over dinner about how they would bounce back."

Vasquez bounced back quite well, dominating Maryland's Matt Capobianco (4-0), Ohio's Michael Snyder (pin, 3:42), and New York's Joe Mastro (7-1) before getting decisioned by Connecticut's Miguel Calixto, 3-2.

"I really have high expectations for Devin, he doesn't know how good he is; he's like a little kid, very humble," said Rico, who was among his division's final 24 wrestlers until the nation's second-ranked Joey Kielbassa of Illinois eliminated him, 4-3.

"It's been a great season for both (Vasquez and Rico), not a lot could've gone better," Villa said. "They've had some good wins, tough losses. I'm encouraging them both to take a week off."

But, Vasquez doesn't appear to be having any of that.

"I'm gonna train harder, because now, there are a lot of expectations," he said. "I think I can make it to the finals, at least, next year. I want to train hard, maybe win state."

And maybe take a crack at sophomore Nationals, where eighth will not be enough.

Andy Rico Wins State

State Finals Recap

State - Day 2

Eastwood's Andy Rico wins gold in state wrestling

By Lenny Jurado / El Paso Times

Posted: 02/27/2010 11:27:48 PM MST

Andy Rico shot through the wrestling state championships Friday and Saturday as you might imagine from a returning silver-medalist.

Four opponents, four pins.

The Eastwood High School junior pretty much had his way in crushing the 145-pound weight division at the Austin ISD Delco Center.

"This is awesome, really awesome," he said. "I've been wanting this since I was a freshman."

Rico was El Paso's lone gold-medalist, but three others also finished top three.

Franklin senior Alba Mendoza took silver at 110 pounds, while Irvin senior Byelka Soto and Americas junior Valerie Rosales were third at 148 and 165, respectively.

This was Mendoza's third trip to state and second silver medal, which she earned in 2008.

"I was hoping to place higher, but I'm proud of myself," Mendoza said.

El Paso was well-represented in the girls' ranks, as four others placed fifth and five were sixth.

Team-wise, Eastwood's boys placed ninth with 53 points. Freshman Devin Vasquez helped the Troopers' cause by taking fourth at 130 pounds.

Franklin's Gary Martinez (125 pounds) and Hanks' Ryan Martinez (130) joined the pair in the all-state ranks (top six) with fifth-place finishes.

For his bold performance, Rico was named Outstanding Boy Wrestler of the Meet. No wrestler lasted to the third period in four matches (3 minutes, 40 seconds; 0:45; 0:57; 2:54).

Coincidentally, Rico's championship match came against Flower Mound's Drake Dudley, whom he had beaten before.

"Coach (Roman Villa) had started me in the neutral position (in the second period), so I got the takedown and after that, I got the crossface and I just locked his leg and locked my arms (for a cradle) and held on for dear life."

When victory came, it came with powerful emotion.

"I wanted to cry," Rico said. "I was just so happy. I saw my dad (Luis), and he embraced me so hard. It got me teary-eyed."

Earlier in the day, Mendoza had herself quite the challenge.

Mendoza had outlasted Hanks' Jordanne Diaz, 5-0, in the semifinals, then drew defending state champion Shelby Morrison (Bushland), who also is ranked No. 3 in the nation.

Mendoza was pinned midway through the third period, but the loss did not mar her experience.

"It was tough these two days, but I was proud I got to the finals," she said.

Meanwhile, Soto took third by hanging on against Arlington Bowie's Tess Vaughn in triple overtime.

"I was hungry for it; I wanted it all," Soto said. "I didn't even get tired, even though we went to overtime."

This was Rosales' third trip to Austin but her first time making all-state. She pinned Skyline's Cassandra Stealy in 3:32 for bronze. "I'm overwhelmed. I'm just excited and shocked. It was a good day."

Lenny Jurado may be reached at ljurado@elpasotimes.com; 546-6167.

State - Day 1

Eastwood High School's Andy Rico, Devin Vasquez reach wrestling semifinals

By Lenny Jurado / El Paso Times

Posted: 02/26/2010 10:44:57 PM MST

EL PASO -- The state wrestling championships got under way Friday, and nine girls and two boys will represent El Paso in the semifinals today in Austin.

Eastwood junior 145-pounder Andy Rico, a state runner-up last year, pinned both of his first-day opponents, while freshman teammate Devin Vasquez won two decisions at 130 pounds.

"They're wrestling really well," said Troopers coach Roman Villa, whose team currently is in ninth place. "Physically, they look like they're in the best shape of the year."

Rico earned his first win in 3 minutes, 40 seconds and the second in 45 seconds. Vasquez's decisions were 11-6 and 11-1.

"I was just focused," Vasquez said. "I had the matches in my head, already knew what I was going to do, so I just went out there and wrestled."

In the girls' ranks, El Dorado and Hanks each have two girls in the semifinals: Aztecs Akira Peña (95 pounds; pin 1:16, decision, 6-4) and Sarah Gonzalez (138; medical forfeit, 8-2); Knights Jordanne Diaz (110; 7-6, 6-5) and Darlene Fernandez (119; 4:56, 10-8).

"We're going to have a really tough match for both our girls," El Dorado coach Freddy Flores said. "If they continue to stay focused like they have been, then they have a good shot of entering those finals."

Also advancing to semifinal action are Franklin's Alba Mendoza (110; 3:16, 8-2), who next will wrestle Diaz, Irvin's Byelka Soto (148; 1:54, 1:33), Jefferson's Yvonne Galindo (148; 2:32, default), Americas' Valerie Rosales (165; 1-0, 8-0) and El Paso High's Ann Marie Uribe (185; 14-3, 11-2).

"At first I was real nervous because I didn't know what kind of girls to expect," Soto said, "but once I got to the mat, the nerves went away, and I gave it my all."

El Dorado currently is in eighth place, Hanks in 10th.

The championship round for girls will begin at 3 p.m. today, followed by the boys at 6 p.m.

Lenny Jurado may be reached at ljurado@elpasotimes.com; 546-6167

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.