Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Breck Williams positions Willcox senior Francisco Rivas for a pin. The Morenci junior pinned Rivas in 1:44 en route to the 144-pound section title. Williams went 3-0 with two pins and was one of three top-seeded Wildcats for the two-day state meet, beginning Friday, Feb. 17. Morenci earned its 11th section title in 13 years, qualifying 11 of 13 entrants on Feb. 10.
Thatcher is runner-up, Pima third, and Willcox fourth
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – It has never been the goal of the Casey Woodall-coached Morenci Wildcats to dominate opponents during the regular season. The meets attended are solely to prepare for the post-season, learning, improving, and getting better for that purpose.
Morenci earned its 11th section title in 13 years, qualifying 11 of 13 entrants, following the Thatcher-held Division IV – Section IV meet on Feb. 10. It is the eighth under 10th-year head coach Casey Woodall. There was no meet in 2021 because of the ongoing global health crisis or one in 2014 because of skin disease.
There were 125 participants from 16 different schools taking part in the sectional meet, 12 at 144; 11 at 113, 120, and 157; 10 at 126 and 190; nine at 132 and 150; eight at 165 and 285; seven at 138, 175, and 215; and five at 106. The top four in each weight class qualified for the two-day state meet in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 West McDowell Road in Phoenix, beginning on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 a.m.
Morenci totaled 236 points, or 57 more than runner-up Thatcher (179) and 66 more than third-place Pima (170). The Wildcats had six champions, three runners-up, a third placer, and a fourth placer.
Individually, freshman Merrick Williams (106, 2-0, 1 pin), senior Jaeden Seballos (120, 3-0, 2 pins), junior Michael Casillas (132, 3-0, 3 pins), sophomore Noah Torres (138, 3-0, 2 pins), junior Breck Williams (144, 3-0, 2 pins), junior John Provencio (150, 3-0, 2 pins) each emerged as champions; sophomore Trent Nelson (113, 2-1, 1 pin), sophomore Hollis Corbell (190, 2-1, 2 pins), junior Austyn Nelson (215, 2-1, 2 pins), were runners-up; freshman Kiano Torres (126, 3-1, 2 pins) was third; and junior Marcus Lucero (165, 2-2, 2 pins) fourth.
Freshmen Stosh Vineyard (157, 2-2, 1 pin) and Lawrence Chee (175, 0-2) did not qualify.
Casillas contributed 26 points, Breck Williams 25, both Provencio and Seballos 24, Noah Torres 23.5, Merrick Williams 22, both Corbell and Austyn Nelson 20, Trent Nelson 18, Kiano Torres 16.5, Lucero 13, Vineyard four.
Merrick Williams (106, 2-0, 1 pin) drew first and quarterfinal round byes pinned Thatcher freshman Kael Ray in 2:34 during the semifinal and decisioned Benson freshman Brax Cluff 11-5 for the title.
Seballos (120, 3-0, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Tucson Catalina freshman Aldabert Torres in 2:52 during the quarterfinals and Globe sophomore Gary Perkins during the semifinals, and decisioned Willcox sophomore Mario Fernandez 11-4 for the title.
Casillas (132, 3-0, 3 pins) drew a first-round bye and pinned Willcox freshman Travis Allred in 35 seconds during the first round, Pima sophomore Riley Flores in 26 seconds during the semifinals, and Thatcher junior Glen Soto in 29 seconds during the championship bout.
Noah Torres (138, 3-0, 2 pins) pinned San Carlos junior Gary Whiterock in 24 seconds during the quarterfinals and Benson junior Bodie Blalock in 1:12 during the semifinals and recorded a 16-0 technical fall over Thatcher sophomore Tristun Brown for the title.
Breck Williams (144, 3-0, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Willcox senior Francisco Rivas in 1:44 during the quarterfinals, posted a 9-1 major decision over San Manuel junior Jacob Tafoya during the semifinals, and pinned Globe senior Andrew Gonzales in 5:43 for the title.
Provencio (150, 3-0, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Thatcher freshman Vance Schill in 42 seconds during the quarterfinals and Willcox junior David Allred in 1:43 during the semifinals, and decisioned Globe senior Anasco Sanchez 9-5 for the title.
Trent Nelson (113, 2-1, 1 pin) drew a first-round bye, pinned Saint David freshman Nathan Cullen in 2:34 during the quarterfinals, decisioned Pima sophomore Aiden Espinoza 5-1 during the semifinals, and succumbed by a 5-13 major decision to San Manuel senior Raymond Garcia to finish second.
Corbell (190, 2-1, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic freshman Alex Martinez in 35 seconds and San Manuel junior Thomas Morris in 4:46 during the semifinals, and was pinned in 5:49 by Pima junior Pepper Hughes during the final.
Austyn Nelson (215, 2-1, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Bisbee senior Steven Madrid in 1:42 during the quarterfinals and Thatcher senior Hunter Saline in 4:38 during the semifinals, and was pinned in 3:58 by Willcox junior Ed Tingle to place second.
Kiano Torres (126, 3-1, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, posted a 21-10 major decision over Willcox freshman Joseph Sanchez during the quarterfinals, was pinned in 24 seconds by Globe senior Gabe Gonzales during the semifinals, recorded a 16-0 technical fall on San Carlos freshman Jacob Goseyun in the consolation semifinals, and pinned Sanchez in 56 seconds to finish third.
Lucero (165, 2-2, 2 pins) drew a first-round bye, pinned Catalina sophomore Diego Orozco in 1:44 during the quarterfinals, was pinned in 3:17 by Willcox junior Kash Macumber during the semifinals, pinned Pima freshman Brett Flowers in 49 seconds during the consolation semifinals, and was pinned in 3:44 by Thatcher freshman Josiah Matagaono to end fourth.
Vineyard (157, 2-2, 1 pin) drew a first-round bye, was disqualified against Pima junior Brock Bryce during the quarterfinals, pinned Elfrida Valley Union freshman Ivan Rosales in 25 seconds during the consolation second round, decisioned San Carlos junior Draven Longstreet 10-6 during the consolation third round, and was pinned in 1:48 by Thatcher sophomore Madden McGill during the consolation semifinals.
Chee (175, 0-2) drew a first-round bye, was pinned in 31 seconds by San Carlos senior Treavon Alvarado during the quarterfinals, drew a consolation second-round bye, and was pinned in 2:33 by Saint Augustine sophomore Henry Teich during the consolation third round.
The other eight section champions were San Manuel senior Raymond Garcia (113, 3-0, 2 pins), Globe senior Gabe Gonzales (126, 3-0, 3 pins), Willcox juniors Oren Allsup (157, 3-0, 2 pins), Kash Macumber (165, 3-0, 3 pins), and Ed Tingle (215, 2-0, 2 pins), Pima juniors Jaxon John (175, 3-0, 2 pins) and Pepper Hughes (190, 3-0, 2 pins), and Thatcher senior Scott Ambler (285, 3-0, 1 pin).
Thatcher Eagles qualified nine
Thatcher qualified nine of 13 entrants, with one champion, three runner-ups, three in third place, and two in fourth place.
Junior Cohen Soto (132, 2-1, 2 pins), sophomore Tritun Brown (138, 1-1, 1 pin), and senior Cooper Udall (175, 1-1, 1 pin) were second; sophomore Madden Magill (157, 3-1, 3 pins), freshman Josiah Montagaono (165, 3-1, 3 pins), and senior Hunter Saline (215, 3-1, 2 pins) were third; and both freshman Kael Ray (106, 1-2) and junior Ben Green (190, 2-2, 1 pin) fourth.
Pima Roughriders qualified 10
Pima had 10 of 12 qualify, with two champions, five in third place, and three in fourth place.
Sophomores Aiden Espinoza (113, 3-1, 2 pins), Jaxon McBiles (120, 3-1, 2 pins), Riley Flowers (132, 3-1, 3 pins), and Kodi Ferguson (138, 3-1, 2 pins), and senior Tucker Wilkins (150, 2-1, 1 pin) were third; and juniors Hayden Blair (144, 2-2, 1 pin) and Brock Bryce (157, 2-2), and sophomore Brock Haws (215, 2-2, 2 pins) fourth.
Willcox Cowboys qualified seven
Willcox had seven of 10 heading for the state meet, with three champions, one runner-up, a third place, and two fourth place.
Sophomore Mario Fernandez (120, 2-1, 1 pin) was second; senior Evann Truschke (175, 3-1, 3 pins) third; and both freshman Joseph Sanchez (126, 2-2, 2 pins) and junior David Allred (150, 2-2, 2 pins) fourth.
San Manuel Miners qualified five
San Manuel had five of seven qualify, with a lone champion, two runner-ups, and a two in third place.
Four juniors will represent the Miners in Phoenix. Andy Rodriguez (165, 2-1, 2 pins) and Aiden Lozoya (285, 2-1, 1 pin) as runners-up, and Jacob Tafoya (144, 3-1, 3 pins) and Thomas Morris (190, 3-1, 2 pins) in third place.
Globe Tigers qualified five
Globe had five of eight qualify, with a lone champion, two runner-ups, and two in fourth place.
Seniors Andrew Gonzales (144, 2-1, 2 pins) and Anasco Sanchez (150, 2-1, 2 pins) were second, and sophomores Gary Perkins (120, 2-2, 2 pins) and Esteban Garcia (132, 2-2, 2 pins) fourth.
Tombstone Yellow Jackets qualified four
Tombstone had four of eight qualify, with a runner-up, two in third place, and one in fourth place.
Junior Isaiah Noonan (157, 3-1, 1 pin) was second, freshman Eddie Wyatt (106, 1-2, 1 pin) and junior Jacob Weichell (285, 3-1, 2 pins) were third, and freshman Brock Santa Maria (113, 2-2, 2 pins) fourth.
Benson Bobcats qualified three
Benson had three of seven qualify, with a runner-up, and two in fourth place.
Freshman Brax Cluff (106, 1-2, 1 pin) was second, and junior Bodie Blalock (138, 2-2, 2 pins) and senior Nathan Beeman (285, 2-1, 1 pin) were both fourth.
Bisbee Pumas qualified one
Bisbee had one of five qualify, a runner-up. Sophomore Mason Richardson (126, 2-1, 2 pins) will represent the Pumas at the state meet.
Valley Union Blue Devils qualified one
Valley Union had one of five qualify, in fourth place. Sophomore Marshall Larson (175, 1-2, 1 pin) will represent the Blue devils in Phoenix.
