Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci 11-year head wrestling coach Casey Woodall embraces Breck Williams, left, John Provencio, and Noah Torres. The three Morenci Class of 2024 members were each 3-time state champions and 4-time placers, collectively posting a 48-3 record at four state meets and helping the Wildcats earn three consecutive state team titles in the same span.
Class of 2024 trio writes own chapter in school history
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Class of 2024 members John Provencio, Noah Torres, and Breck Williams penned their own chapter in the annals of school sports history. Each was a 4-time state meet placer and 3-time state champion combining for a 48-3 record, and helping earn three consecutive state team titles during four trips to the state tournament. The trio earned 318 of 871 team points over the course of their prep careers. Each was on the 2021 team scoring a state record-setting 301 points.
“The numbers are staggering,” 11-year Morenci head coach Casey Woodall said. “How do you measure a legacy?”
“It goes deeper than that,” he said. “They didn’t miss practice, ever. They showed up to the weight room and every off-season trip/event. They didn’t take days off, they didn’t make excuses, they bought into and believed in the process. They were always willing to do what was asked of them.”
“The team lost some key starters to injuries late in the season of their junior year (2023),” Woodall said. “It looked like it was going to be nearly impossible to repeat as state champions. All three of them voluntarily changed weights two days before the sectionals to give their team a better chance at bringing home its third consecutive state title.”
“Coaches around the state were in utter shock when we rolled into the sectionals with all three of them at weights they had not wrestled all year long,” he said. “Rival coaches said they had never heard of anything like it, not just one, but three defending state champions willing to set aside what was best for them to do what was best for the team. It worked out. Morenci won its third consecutive state title that year.”
“Throughout their careers, these three have embraced what we want Morenci wrestling to be about,” he said. “Accepting challenges head on, not shrinking from adversity, and working hard to be not only great wrestlers but, more importantly, great human beings. They were tough as nails on the mat and great kids off the mat.”
“Their teachers loved them, they got good grades and were kind to their peers, and they were good kids out in the community,” the 2-time collegiate All-American and 3-time Academic All-American said. “They embody everything that we want our program to represent. They have raised the bar and set a new standard for those that come behind them to strive for.”
Morenci’s wrestling team held its end-of-season awards banquet on May 13, nearly three months after the state meet concluded. The off-season workouts were held four days a week since then and it was the first chance to have it.
Senior members were asked to give their impressions of the sport near the conclusion of the banquet. The trio recalled positive memories they experienced along the way in the sport. Each shared numerous memories.
In the Fall, the three young men will continue to make positive memories together as each has signed letters of intent to attend Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado on wrestling scholarships. John Provencio will be studying business, Noah Torres Kinesiology, and Breck Williams is undecided, but probably one of the two mentioned.
John Provencio
Provencio placed third (145, 5-1, 1 pin) in 2021, first (138, 4-0, 2 pins) in 2022, first (150, 4-0, 2 pins) in 2023, and first (138, 4-0, 4 pins) in 2024 for a 4-year state meet mark of 17-1 with nine pins and 103.5 team points.
The son of Lisa and Phillip Provencio placed at the USA Wrestling Folk Style Nationals, becoming the second All-American from Morenci, and the first to earn the National High School Coaches Association’s national champion. John ended his four years with a 122-9 overall individual record.
Noah Torres
Torres finished third (113, 4-1, 4 pins) in 2021, first (126, 4-0, 1 pin) in 2022, first (138, 4-0, 3 pins) in 2023, and first (150, 4-0, 3 pins) in 2024 for a 4-year mark of 16-1 with 11 pins and 104.5 team points.
The son of Vanessa and Travis Torres took a 52-0 season record into his senior year state meet, emerging unscathed with a 56-0 overall record.
Additionally, Noah was the school’s initial NHSCA All-American and repeated that performance to become a 2-time All-American. Torres ended his four years with a 126-11 overall individual record.
Breck Williams
Williams ended first (106, 4-0, 3 pins) in 2021, first (113, 4-0, 3 pins) in 2022, second (144, 3-1, 2 pins) in 2023, and first (157, 4-0, 4 pins) in 2024 with a 4-year mark of 15-1 with 12 pins and 110 team points.
The son of Jessica and Tim Williams scored a takedown in the closing seconds of his sophomore state finals match with a Yuma Catholic opponent to lock the team state title for Morenci.
In addition to being the second in his class with a 4.0-grade point average, he graduated from Eastern Arizona College with the highest honors for an associate of general studies degree two weeks before his high school ceremony. Breck ended his four years with a 150-11 overall individual record.
