Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior Ruben Casillas (145/152) relaxes between matches during the season-opening meet Nov. 28. Morenci downed Tombstone 82-0, Benson 45-28, and San Manuel 64-12. The Wildcats received 20 forfeit wins.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Morenci opened its 2019 campaign with three dual wins following a seven-team home multi-meet Nov. 28. The Wildcats topped Tombstone 82-0, Benson 45-28, and San Manuel 64-12.
Miami also went 3-0, downing San Manuel 66-17, Benson 42-37, and Tombstone 72-12; Globe (2-1) defeated Tombstone 30-21 and San Manuel 42-18; and single wins were posted by Benson (72-12 over Thatcher), Thatcher (42-18 over San Manuel), and Tombstone (36-30 over Thatcher); and San Manuel was 0-3.
Morenci went 14-8 in 22 head-to-head bouts, posting nine first period pins, two wins by technical fall (16 or more points), two wins by decision (1-8 points), a win by major decision (9 or more points), and 20 forfeit wins. The losses were by a first-period pin twice, second-period pin once, third-period pin once, and four by decision.
Individually, 17 Wildcats were able to get in matches with freshmen Tony Roybal (106) and Cody Torres (160), sophomores Marcus Morales (113) and David Marquez Jr. (195), and juniors Steven Roybal (182) and Omar Ortega (285) each going 3-0. Freshmen Kaden Summer (138) and Arthur Vance (145) plus sophomore Conrad Aguallo (120) went 1-0 apiece;
Tony Roybal earned a first period pin, a 9-1 decision, and a forfeit win; Torres a first period pin and two forfeit wins; Morales two first period pins and a forfeit win; Marquez three forfeit wins; Steven Roybal a first period pin and two forfeit wins; Ortega a first period pin and two forfeit wins; and Summer a first period pin, and both Vance and Aguallo a forfeit win.
Seniors Ruben Casillas (152, 145) and Nathan Willey (220), juniors Calvin Dunning (120, 126) and Carlos Bray (126, 132); sophomore PaulDaniel Moreno (132, 138), and freshman Josh Luna (170) each were 2-1; senior Nessa Martinez (152) 1-1; and freshman Seth Hudman (138) 0-1.
Casillas had a 16-0 technical fall, a forfeit win plus a loss by 4-6 decision; Willey two forfeit wins plus a loss by 1-2 decision; Dunning two first period pins plus a loss by second period pin; Bray a 9-6 decision and a forfeit win plus a loss by 1-3 decision; Moreno a 24-5 technical fall and 18-4 major decision plus a loss by third period pin; Luna two forfeit wins plus a loss by first period pin; Martinez a forfeit win plus a loss by first period pin; and Hudman a loss by 7-11 decision.
“I tried to get in as many as I could,” sixth-year Morenci head coach Casey Woodall said. “There were some (matches) we wish we could have back.”
Morenci is entered in two meets, the Mesa Red Mountain Invitational and the Gila Valley Invitational, Friday (Nov. 30) and Saturday (Dec. 1).
The Wildcats are in the Pima Multi-meet (Dec. 5), the two-day Show Low Invitational (Dec, 7-8), and in a dual with Saint Johns (Dec. 11) before hosting Safford for a dual (Dec. 27).
