Veterans setting the individual pace
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Casey Woodall-coached Morenci Wildcats unveiled a 25-man roster during the initial 2025 weigh-in, with seven having participated in the 2024 state meet and three others in the sectional meet.
Morenci hosted three teams to start the season on Dec. 4 and headed to Mesa for a 2-day meet on Dec. 6. The Wildcats (10-3) will participate in the Willcox Multi on Dec. 11 and the 2-day Marana Duels on Dec. 13-14 before hosting a second meet on Dec. 20. The scheduled Morenci meet participants are Division 1 – Section I Marana and Division III – Section II American Leadership – Gilbert North.
Sixteen Wildcats represented the school during the first week of competition, with seniors numbering three, juniors three, sophomores four, and freshmen six. They posted collective records of 10-3 for duels and 134-48 with 72 pins for individual bouts. The head-to-head pin percentage was 74 (64-86).
Seniors Trent Nelson (126/132, 10-3, 8 pins), Omar Torres (150/157, 6-7, 2 pins), and Hollis Corbell (190/215, 12-1, 9 pins) went a combined 28-11 with 19 pins; juniors Mathew Hernandez (126, 2-1), Kiano Torres (138/144, 9-3, 5 pins), Merrick Williams (132, 9-1, 8 pins), and Isaiah Cook (285, 12-1, 8 pins) were 23-5 with 13 pins; sophomores Mason Clark (106, 11-2, 2 pins), Emerson Motes (144/150, 10-3, 8 pins), and Joel Baca (165, 9-4, 1 pin) were 39-10 with 19 pins; and freshmen James Davis (190/215, 12-1, 3 pins), Ryder Nelson (113, 11-2, 5 pins), Anthony Sanchez (120, 10-3, 8 pins), Jace Morgan (138, 1-2), Treyson Scalise (157, 3-8, 1 pin), and Luz Hernandez (175, 7-6, 4 pins) 44-22 with 21 pins.
The other 10 in the program not getting in on varsity matches include senior Anthony Heathman, Marques Varela, and Jonathan Vasquez; junior Stosh Vineyard; sophomore Hector Vasquez; and freshmen Jeremiah Cano, David Licano, Nathan Medina, Joshwa Sandoval, and Rhyler Wyatt.
During the 2024 state meet, Morenci returnees Hollis Corbell (215, 3-0, 1 pin) was a state runner-up (189, 3-1, 3 pins), Trent Nelson placed third (113, 5-1, 2 pins), and Williams placed fifth (120, 3-2, 3 pins). The non-placers included Mason Clark (106, 1-2), Kiano Torres (132, 2-2, 1 pin), Omar Torres (144, 2-2, 2 pins), and Isaiah Cook (285, 0-2).
Section non-placers included Matthew Hernandez (126 2-2), Stosh Vineyard (165, 0-2), and Joel Baca (175, 3-2, 3 pins).
Four state placers graduated, and three are on scholarship, competing at the next level for the same school.
There have been 10 team state champions with 75 individual champions during the 51 seasons (1974-2024) of fielding a wrestling program.
Morenci has finished in the Division IV Top 5 during each of the most recent 14 (2011-24) state meets. The Wildcats ended fifth in 2014, third (2012-13, 2019, 2024), second (2011, 2015, 2018, 2020), and first five times (2016-17, 2021-23).
The percentages are 63 (85-134) placers of qualifiers, 32 (27-85) champions of placers, and 45 (5-11) team champions during 11 seasons (2014-24) under Woodall.
Nate Johnson Memorial Duels
Morenci placed fourth as 15 Wildcats received mat time during the 2-day, 20-team Mesa Red Mountain meet concluding on Dec. 7. The cross pool pairing with the Red Pool Surprise Waddell Canyon View Jaguars ended in a 37-38 loss.
The 2-pool format had the Wildcats placing third in the Black Pool with a 7-2 record. After succumbing 36-42 in the opener to the Division I Marana Tigers, the Wildcats topped the Stallions of Division I Surprise Shadow Ridge 55-24, the Jaguars of Division I Anthem Boulder Creek 50-25, the Bulldogs of Division II Phoenix Barry Goldwater 76-6, the Padres of Division III Tempe Marcos de Niza 66-19, and the Jaguars of Division II Waddell Canyon View Black 65-12 on Dec. 6,
The Mountain Lions of Division I Red Mountain were defeated 66-18 before a second loss, 27-51, to the Toros of Division I Mesa Mountain View occurred, followed by a 74-5 win over the Coyotes of Division III San Tan Valley Combs to complete pool pairings on Dec. 7.
Morenci won 63 head-to-head bouts, earning 26 first-period pins, 17 second-period pins, three third-period pins, eight technical falls (15 or more points), two major decisions (8-14 points), six decisions (1-7 points), and a win by injury. The Wildcats also received 34 forfeits.
The 43 losses were 21 by first-period pins, seven by second-period pins, three by third-period pins, seven by technical falls, two by major decisions, two by decisions, and one by sudden victory.
Individually, Williams (132, 8 pins), Davis (190/215, 2 pins), Corbell (190/215, 8 pins), and Cook (285, 7 pins) each posted 9-1 records; Clark (106, 2 pins) and Ryder Nelson (113, 4 pins) both went 8-2; Sanchez (120, 5 pins), Trent Nelson (126, 5 pins), and Motes (144/150, 5 pins) each went 7-3; Kiano Torres (138/144, 6-3, 4 pins), Baca (165, 6-4), Luz Hernandez (175, 5-5, 3 pins), Omar Torres (150/157, 4-6, 1 pin), Scalise (157, 2-6), and Morgan (138, 1-2).
Williams (9-1) had four first-period pins, four second-period pins, a forfeit win, and a loss by first-period pin; Davis (9-1) had a first-period pin, a second-period pin, a 12-8 decision, six forfeit wins, and a loss by first-period pin; Corbell (9-1) racked up six first period pins, a second-period pin, a 19-3 technical fall, a forfeit win, and a loss by first-period pin; Cook (9-1) totaled five first period pins, a second-period pin, a 19-4 technical fall, two forfeit wins, and a loss by first-period pin;
Clark (8-2) netted two 15-0 technical falls, decisions of 16-3 and 10-3, four forfeit wins, and a first-period loss; Ryder Nelson (8-2) had two first-period pins, a second-period pin, a third-period pin, and four forfeit wins along with losses by 1-19 technical fall and 11-15 decision;
Sanchez (7-3) recorded three first-period pins, a second-period pin, a 15-0 technical fall, and two forfeit wins in addition to losses by first-period pin twice and by a 4-17 major decision; Trent Nelson (7-3) logged a first-period pin, a second-period pin, a third-period pin, technical falls of 19-1 and 18-3, and two forfeit wins plus losses by a second period pin, a 5-20 technical fall, and a 3-7 decision; Motes (7-3) had wins of first-period pin twice, second period twice, 19-2 technical fall, and forfeits twice as well as losses by a first-period pin, third-period pin, and 3-6 sudden victory;
Kiano Torres (6-3) had four second-period pins, a 15-5 major decision, and a forfeit win, along with losses by first-period pin twice and by a second-period pin; Baca (165, 6-4) posted 15-13 and 11-9 decisions, an injury win, and two forfeits along with losses by a first period pin, a second-period pin, a third-period pin, and a 2-18 technical fall;
Luz Hernandez (5-5) had wins of a first-period pin, a second-period pin, a third-period pin, a 12-4 major decision, and a forfeit, as well as losses by first-period pin twice, a second-period pin, and technical falls of 3-19 and 0-17; Omar Torres (4-6) had a first-period pin, an 8-7 decision, two forfeit wins, and losses by second-period pin thrice, by first-period pin once, by 0-15 technical fall, and by a 2-11 major decision;
Scalise (2-6) received two forfeit wins, lost five by first-period pins and one by 1-16 technical fall, and Morgan (1-2) had a win by forfeit and two losses by first-period pins.
Mountain View defeated Queen Creek Casteel 46-22 to place first, Tempe Corona del Sol defeated Marana 42-21 for third, Surprise Waddell Canyon View defeated Morenci 38-37 for fifth, Yuma Catholic defeated Boulder Creek 51-30 for seventh, Red Mountain defeated Phoenix Mountain Pointe 51-26 for ninth, Surprise Willow Canyon defeated Shadow Ridge 38-30 for 11th, Sahaurita Walden Grove defeated Marcos de Niza 54-18 for 13th, Prescott defeated Canyon View Black 47-22 for 15th, Combs place 17th, and Goldwater defeated Phoenix Maryvale 23-18 for 19th.
Black Pool placements were Mountain View (9-0) first, Marana (8-1) second, Morenci (7-2) third, Boulder Creek (6-3) fourth, Red Mountain (5-4) fifth, Shadow Ridge (4-5) sixth, Marcos de Niza (3-6) seventh, Canyon View Black (2-7) eighth, Combs (1-8) ninth, and Goldwater (0-9) 10th.
The Red Pool results were Casteel (8-1) first, Corona del Sol (8-1) second, Canyon View (8-1) third, Yuma Catholic (6-3) fourth, Mountain Pointe (5-4) fifth, Willow Canyon (4-5) sixth, Walden Grove (3-6) seventh, Prescott (2-7) eighth, Chandler Seton Catholic (1-8) ninth, and Maryvale (0-9) 10th.
Eight teams had less than a full team as Marcos de Niza and Prescott both fielded 13; Seton Catholic and Walden Grove 12 each; Canyon View Black, Maryvale, and Walden Grove 11 apiece; and Goldwater with seven.
Morenci Multi-meet
The season-opening duels had Benson, Bisbee, and Tucson Andrada Polytechnic joining Morenci in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium on Dec. 4.
Morenci defeated Benson 65-15 and both Bisbee and Andrada Polytechnic by identical 77-6 scores. The Wildcats recorded 18 pins in 23 head-to-head bouts, with 11 first period, four second period, and three technical falls. A total of 19 forfeits were awarded to the Wildcats.
The five losses were by a first-period pin, two by a second-period pin, one by a third-period pin, and by a 4-9 decision.
Individually, 10 Wildcats posted 3-0 records, including Clark (106, 3-0), Ryder Nelson (113, 3-0, 1 pin), Sanchez (120, 3-0, 3 pins), Trent Nelson (132, 3-0, 3 pins), Kiano Torres (138, 3-0, 1 pin), Motes (144, 3-0, 3 pins), Baca (165, 3-0, 1 pin), Davis (190, 3-0, 1 pin), Corbell (215, 3-0, 1 pin), and Cook (285, 3-0, 1 pin).
Matthew Hernandez (126, 2-1), Omar Torres (150, 2-1, 1 pin), and Luz Hernandez (175, 2-1, 1 pin) each won two of three bouts while Scalise (157, 1-2, 1 pin) won one of three.
Clark (3-0) was awarded three forfeit wins; Ryder Nelson (3-0) had a first-period pin and two forfeit wins; Sanchez (3-0) posted three first-period pins; Trent Nelson (3-0) had a first-period pin and two-second period pins; Kiano Torres (3-0) posted a 15-0 technical fall and two forfeit wins;
Motes (3-0) had two first-period pins and an 18-1 technical fall; Baca (3-0) notched a second-period pin and two forfeit wins; Davis (3-0) posted a first-period pin and two forfeit wins; Corbell (3-0) had a first-period pin two forfeit wins; and Cook (3-0) got a second-period pin two forfeit wins.
Matthew Hernandez (2-1) had two forfeit wins and a loss by a 4-9 decision; Omar Torres (2-1) had a first-period pin, a forfeit win, and a loss by second-period pin; Luz Hernandez (175, 2-1, 1 pin) had a 16-1 technical fall, a forfeit win, and a loss by third-period pin; and Scalise (1-2) had a first-period pin as well as losses by a first period pin and a second-period pin.
The Benson Bobcats downed the Bisbee Pumas 47-24 and the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks 47-24, while the Pumas slipped past the Mavericks 30-24.
Benson fielded a 9-member roster with a senior, a junior, five sophomores, and two freshmen; Bisbee had eight with two seniors, two juniors, and four freshmen; and Andrada Polytechnic had six with a senior, a junior, and four sophomores.
