Morenci heads to Globe, Willcox, Marana
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Casey Woodall-coached Morenci (11-2) heads to the Globe Multi-Meet on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Willcox Multi-Meet on Thursday, Dec. 11, and the 2-day Marana Duels on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13, before hosting the Morenci Christmas Clash on Dec. 20.
To date, the Wildcats are a collective 116-36 with 76 pins. The four senior team members are 32-8 with 22 pins; the four juniors are 17-3 with 12 pins; the sophomores are 52-17 with 40 pins; and the freshmen are 15-8 with 2 pins.
The seniors include Dean Chee (190, 8-5, 5 pins), Isaiah Cook (285, 9-2, 5 pins), Kiano Torres (144, 4-0, 2 pins), and Merrick Williams (138/144, 11-1, 10 pins); juniors Zahia Cano-Nabor (175, 2-0), Emerson Montes (150/157, 12-1, 10 pins), Jesse Strickland (157, 2-1, 2 pins), and Hector Vasquez (126, 1-0); sophomores Jeremiah Cano (120/126, 7-0, 5 pins), James Davis V (215, 9-4, 5 pins), Jase Morgan (126/132, 7-4, 5 pins), Ryder Nelson (120, 6-2, 5 pins), Joseph Rodriguez (144, 2-1, 1 pin), Anthony Sanchez (132/138, 9-3, 6 pins), Joshwa Sandoval (138/144, 2-0, 1 pin), and Rhyler Wyatt (113, 10-3, 7 pins); and freshmen Jacob Goodwin (165/175, 11-2, 8 pins), Marcus Morgan (132/144, 1-1, 1 pin), Damian Paz (144, 1-5), Joshua Roybal (285, 2-0, 1 pin), and Caden Woodall.
Nate Johnson Memorial Duels, Dec. 5-6
Morenci placed fifth of 25 teams with a 41-36 win over Chandler, Arizona College Prep.
The Wildcats were third in the Black Pool, defeating Red Mountain 49-30 during the first round, Yuma Catholic 37-36 during the second round, Mesa Dobson 66-6 during the third round, Scottsdale Horizon 48-23 during the fourth round, Chandler 46-33 during the sixth round, Anthem Boulder Creek 50-28 during the seventh round, and Phoenix Shadow Mountain 48-24 during the eighth round. The losses were 33-45 to Marana during the fifth round and 41-42 to Queen Creek Casteel during the ninth round.
Morenci earned 36 first-period pins, four second-period pins, four third-period pins, 11 technical falls (15 or more points), two major decisions (9-14 points), and two decisions (1-7 points). The 33 losses were 11 by first-period pins, 10 by second-period pins, three by third-period pins, five by technical falls, three by major decision, and one by decision. The Wildcats received 21 forfeits; yielded 19 forfeits, seven in 106, six in 175, five in 157, and one in 165 weight classes; and there were seven double forfeits as well.
Individually, Rhyler Wyatt (113) went 7-3 with 4 pins, Ryder Nelson (120, 3-2, 2 pins), Jeremiah Cano (120/126, 6-0, 4 pins), Jase Morgan (126/132, 6-4, 4 pins), Anthony Sanchez (132/138, 7-3, 4 pins), Merrick Williams (138/144, 8-1, 8 pins), Joshwa Sandoval (138, 1-0), Kiano Torres (144, 4-0, 2 pins), Damian Paz (144, 1-4), Joseph Rodriguez (144, 1-1, 1 pin), Marcus Morgan (144, 0-1), Emerson Montes (150/157, 9-1, 7 pins), Jacob Goodwin (165, 8-2, 6 pins), Lawrence Chee (190, 5-5, 3 pins), James Davis (215, 6-4, 4 pins), Isaiah Cook (285, 7-2, 4 pins), and Joshua Roybal (285, 1-0, 1 pin).
5th Place: Morenci – 41, Arizona College Prep – 36
Rhyler Wyatt (113, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned freshman Grady Jacobs in 1:25, Jeremiah Cano (126, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned sophomore Tanay Nimkar in 1:07, Anthony Sanchez (138, 1-0, 1 pin) posted a 19-3 technical fall over senior Joey Sano, Merrick Williams (144, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned sophomore Zachary Dietrich in 51 seconds, Emerson Montes (150, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned senior Aharnish Tripathi in 2:36, Jacob Goodwin (165, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned Dalton Ramiro in 1:39, and Isaiah Cook (285, 1-0, 1 pin) pinned sophomore Kellin Rogers in 1:16.
Arizona College Prep had sophomore Calin Kavanaugh (120) pin Ryder Nelson (120, 0-1) in 3:44, senior Noah Jimenez (132) pinned Jase Morgan (132, 0-1) in 3:45, senior Tony Morales (157) received a forfeit, senior Gavin Sisamout (175) received a forfeit, senior Sean Hakes pinned Lawrence Chee (190, 0-1) in 1:42, senior Sean Luedy (215) pinned James Davis (215, 0-1) in 26 seconds.
MORENCI Multi-Meet, Dec. 3
Morenci swept the meet by topping Bisbee 76-0, Andrada Polytechnic 64-12, and Benson 68-0; Benson defeated Andrada Polytechnic 52-21 and Bisbee 60-12; and Andrada Polytechnic edged Bisbee 37-36 on a tie-breaker after tying 36-36.
There were 42 possible individual bouts, with four double forfeits or no competitors on either team. The 19 Wildcats posted a 36-2 record with 25 pins, an injury forfeit, nine forfeits, and a decision.
Rhyler Wyatt (113) went 3-0 with three pins, Ryder Nelson (120, 3-0, 3 pins), Jase Morgan (126, 1-0, 1 pin), Jeremiah Cano (126, 1-0, 1 pin), Hector Vasquez (126, 1-0), Anthony Sanchez (132, 2-0, 2 pins), Marcus Morgan (132, 1-0, 1 pin), Merrick Williams (138, 3-0, 2 pins), Joshwa Sandoval (144, 1-0, 1 pin), Joseph Rodriguez (144, 1-0), Damian Paz (144, 0-1), Emerson Montes (150, 3-0, 3 pins), Jesse Strickland (157, 2-1, 2 pins), Jacob Goodwin (165/175, 3-0, 2 pins), Zahia Cano-Nabor (175, 2-0), Dean Chee (190, 3-0, 2 pins), James Davis (215, 3-0, 1 pin), Cook (285, 2-0, 1 pin), and Joshua Roybal (285, 1-0).
Morenci – 76, Bisbee – 0
Following a double forfeit at 106, Rhyler Wyatt (113) posted a 15-0 technical fall over senior Luis Saavedra, Ryder Nelson (120) pinned freshman Blaine Richardson in 1:26, Jase Morgan (126) pinned freshman Leandro Donahue in 18 seconds, Anthony Sanchez (132) pinned sophomore Daniel Abitia in 15 seconds, Merrick Williams (138) received a forfeit, Joshwa Sandoval (144) posted a 17-2 technical fall over senior Eliel Bonilla, Emerson Montes (150) pinned senior Ian Madrid in 34 seconds, Jesse Strickland (157) pinned sophomore Chris Bowman in 18 seconds, Jacob Goodwin (165) received a forfeit, Zahia Cano-Nabor (175) received a forfeit, Dean Chee (190) pinned sophomore German Tizoc in 1:08, James Davis (215) pinned senior Daniel Romero in 42 seconds, and Isaiah Cook (285) received a forfeit.
Morenci – 64, Andrada Polytechnic – 12
There was a double forfeit at 106, Wyatt (113) posted a 19-3 technical fall over freshman Paxton Mendoza, Nelson (120) pinned freshman Mayson Redgate in 1:19, Hector Vasquez (126) received a forfeit, Marcus Morgan (132) pinned junior Ramon Morales in 1:54, Williams (138) pinned freshman Grady Mogenson in 19 seconds, Montes (150) posted an 18-3 technical fall over junior Isaac Ochoa, Goodwin (165) pinned sophomore Augusta Jubela in 2:12, Cano-Nabor (175) received a forfeit, Chee (190) received a forfeit, Davis (215) received an injury forfeit from sophomore Robert Dickman, and Joshua Roybal (285) received a forfeit.
For Andrada Polytechnic, sophomore Alijah Reid (144) pinned Damian Paz in 2:42, and junior Diego Mercado (157) pinned Strickland in 1:42.
Morenci – 68, Benson – 0
There were double forfeits at 106 and 165.
Wyatt (113) pinned senior Mitchell Ingram in 3:05, Nelson (120) pinned freshman Jackson Garrett in 4:50, Jeremiah Cano (126) pinned junior Jesus Canez-Quesada in 36 seconds, Sanchez (132) pinned junior Jaydin Castagno in 41 seconds, Williams (138) pinned freshman Walter Kelly in 19 seconds, Joseph Rodriguez (144) received a forfeit, Montes (150) pinned junior Kolltin Deskins in 56 seconds, Strickland (157) pinned sophomore Aiden Cargile in 2:51, Goodwin (175) posted a 15-0 technical fall over freshman Elijah Crouse, Chee (190) pinned junior Aiden Brown in 53 seconds, Davis (215) decisioned junior Tyson Kilpatrick 4-0, Cook (285) pinned sophomore Mason Stanley in 1:46.
2026 MORENCI GIRLS
The Wildcats have competed in three meets to date, the Poston Butte-held Arizona Cup on Nov. 29, the Willcox Jamboree on Dec. 1, and the William Bell Invitational on Dec. 5-6.
Senior Cynthia Martinez (185) is 13-1 overall with 13 pins, freshman Lailani Strong (107, 12-3, 12 pins), sophomore Taytum Porter (152, 10-3, 8 pins), sophomore Peytin Colbell (126, 8-4, 8 pins), sophomore Izabella Marquez-Curiel (132, 2-4, 2 pins), and sophomore Aubry Porter (145, 1-11, 1 pin).
Morenci closes out December participating in the Coolidge Multi on Dec. 9 and the 2-day Marana-held Tiger Duels on Dec. 12-13.
William Bell Invitational, Dec. 5-6
Morenci finished fifth of 25 teams with 101 points; each of the Wildcats placed in the Top 8 of their weight classes, and five of six contributed team points.
The top three placers were Tucson Sunnyside scoring 264.5 points with 12 entrants, Tucson Salpointe Catholic second (152) with 11, and Vail Cienega third (145) with nine.
A total of 132 entrants were on hand, with the 132-pound class having 17; 120, 126, 138, and 145 with 13 apiece; 1-7 with 12; 114 with 11; 165 with nine; 100, 152, and 185 with eight; and 235 with seven.
For Morenci, Martinez (185) went 6-0 with six pins, added 32 team points, and placed first of eight; Colbell (126, 3-2, 3 pins) added 22 points and placed second of 13; Taytum Porter (145, 3-2, 2 pins) added 20 points and placed second of 13; Strong (107, 6-2, 6 pins) added 23 points and placed third of 12; Aubry Porter (152, 0-5) placed seventh of eight; and Marquez-Curiel (132, 2-4, 2 pins) added four points and placed eighth of 17.
Martinez pinned Ironwood Ridge freshman Raigyn Casimontes in 1:31 during the first round, Douglas sophomore Sofia Ramirez in 1:00 during the second round, Salpointe Catholic junior Renatta Peraza in 1:32 during the third round, Mica Mountain junior Priscilla Juarequi in 57 seconds during the quarterfinals, Sahuaro junior Lilian Vakatawa in 51 seconds during the semifinals, and Peraza in 2:49 for first place.
Corbell drew a first round bye, fell by pin in 1:30 to Sunnyside freshman Riella Garza during the second round, pinned Benson sophomore Monica Antonelli in 1:22 during the third round, Empire junior Theresa Ettchen in 36 seconds during the quarterfinals, Salpointe junior Zulay Osuna in 1:32 during the semifinals, and fell by a 2-11 major decision to Garza during the title match.
Taytum Porter drew a first round bye, pinned Skylynn Sanchez of Flowing Wells in 3:24 during the second round, fell by a 9-11 decision to Sahuaro senior Karlie Schneider during the third round, pinned Canyon del Oro freshman Ariza Chavez in 3:37 during the quarterfinals, decisioned Benson senior 10-3 during the semifinals, and succumbed in 5:33 to Sunnyside senior Jaylean Alfaro during the title match.
Aubry Porter was pinned in 1:01 by Cienega senior Lily Kestur during the first round, in 54 seconds by Salpointe senior Makayla Karkosky during the second round, in 2:42 by Fernanda Rojas Alvarez of Flowing Wells during the third round, in 37 seconds by Sunnyside senior Jazlene Wyatt during the quarterfinals, and in 1:24 by Karkosky during the consolation semifinals.
Marquez-Curiel drew a first round bye, pinned San Manuel freshman Maya Madrid on 58 seconds during the second round, Ironwood Ridge junior Adailyn Casimotes during the third round, was pinned in 2:00 by Salpointe junior Karilen Flores during the fourth round, drew a fifth round bye, was pinned in 23 seconds by Shadow Hills senior Jaslene Benavidez during the quarterfinals, in 1:11 by Areliana Coronado of Flowing Wells during the consolation semifinals, and in 3:20 by Mica Mountain sophomore Allison Hager during the seventh place match.
The individual champions were Shadow Hills junior Natalie Camarena (100, 6-0, 6 pins) and 28.5 team points, Sunnyside senior Isela Villalobos (107, 8-0, 7 pins) and 34 points, Sunnyside sophomore Arely Guadalupe Teran (114, 8-0, 8 pins) and 32 points, Pueblo sophomore Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith (129, 5-0, 5 pins) and 28.5 points, Sunnyside junior Reilla Garza (126, 5-0, 4 pins) and 28.5 points, Shadow Hills senior Jaslene Benavidez (132, 6-0, 6 pins) and 32 points, Canyon del Oro senior Taylor Wolf (138, 5-0, 5 pins) and 29.5 points, Sunnyside senior Jaylean Alfaro (145, 5-0, 4 pins) and 27.5 points, Sunnyside senior Jazlene Wyatt (152, 6-0, 6 pins) and 32 points, Sunnyside senior Alezandra Robles (165, 6-0, 6 pins) and 32 points, Morenci senior Cynthia Martinez (185, 6-0, 6 pins) and 32 points, and Cienega junior Daesiah Varner (235, 5-0, 3 pins) and 26 points.
The other team finishes were California Shadow Hills scoring 115 points with five entrants, Morenci fifth (101) with six, Vail Mica Mountain sixth (76) with nine, Tucson Canyon del Oro seventh (70) with five, Tucson Flowing Wells eighth (50) with six, Tucson Desert View ninth (48.5) with seven, and Tucson Magnet 10th (46.5) with five.
Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge was 11th (46) with eight, Douglas 12th (43) with seven, Benson 13th (35) with five, Tucson Pueblo with three and Tucson Sahuaro with four tied for 14th (34), Tombstone 16th (26) with four, Rio Rico 17th (24) with three, Rincon/University 18th (19) with six, San Manuel 19th (18.5) with four, and Tucson Catalina Foothills 20th (17) with four.
Tucson Magnet was 21st (15) with two, Nogales 22nd (11.5) with three, Tucson Andrada Polytechnic 23rd (4) with two, and both Tucson Amphitheater and Palo Verde Magnet tied for 24th (1) with one apiece.
Willcox Jamboree, Dec. 1
Willcox hosted 13 teams, including Douglas, Elfrida Valley Union, Morenci, Pima, Saint David, San Carlos, Thatcher, and Tombstone, as well as Tucson schools Empire, Rincon/University, Sahuaro, and Santa Rita.
Martinez (185, 3-0, 3 pins) pinned Sahuaro junior Lilian Vakatawa, Willcox sophomore Mikaela McClaine, and Willcox senior Kambryn Douglas;
Taytum Porter (152, 3-0, 3 pins) pinned Willcox junior Lilyana Millenaar, Sahuaro senior Karlie Schneider, and Tombstone senior Ella Sweeney;
Strong (107, 3-0, 3 pins) pinned Douglas sophomore Valeria Valdez, Thatcher freshman Alannah Simoneaux, and Rincon/University freshman Neveah Bannister; Corbell (126, 2-1, 2 pins) pinned Thatcher sophomore Alika Gonzales, was pinned by Pima sophomore Josie McEuen, and pinned Rincon/University junior Isabella Cortez;
and Aubry Porter (145, 1-2, 1 pin) was pinned by Sahuaro senior Karlie Schneider and Tombstone senior Pearl Luinstra, and pinned Valley Union freshman Ashaya Anderson.
