Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Raymond Contreras decisioned Empire senior Patrick Kincannon during the home match on Feb. 2. The Safford freshman went 3-1 as the Bulldogs also went 3-1, defeating Amphitheater, Empire, and Florence, but succumbing to Morenci. Safford hosts the Division III – Section IV meet on Saturday, Feb. 12
Bulldogs add three dual wins during final home meet
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The Herman Andrews Jr.-coached Safford wrestlers will host the Division III – Section IV meet on Saturday, Feb. 12. The Division IV – Section IV meet is in Thatcher on the same day.
Part of the preparation for the state-qualifying meet included hosting a round-robin duals meet with Florence, Morenci, and Tucson schools Amphitheater and Empire on Feb. 2.
Safford topped Florence 66-9, Tucson Empire 63-12, and Tucson Amphitheater 72-12 in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium on Feb. 2. The lone loss was 19-51 to Morenci.
The Bulldogs posted wins in 20 of 31 head-to-head bouts, 18 by pins, and received 17 forfeits while yielding five. There were three double forfeits.
Individually, sophomore Gabriel Enriquez (120, 4-0, 2 pins), senior Zion Granados (132, 4-0, 2 pins), senior Dominic Johnson (152, 4-0, 2 pins), and sophomore Gary Smith (190, 3 pins) each went 4-0; junior Aidan Luz (106), sophomore Kody Gluyas (113, 1 pin), freshman Raymond Contreras (126, 1 pin), senior Ray Granados (138, 1 pin), freshman Micah Chaplin (165), and sophomore Trevor Sanchez (285, 2 pins) 3-1 apiece; and both freshman James Lujan (144, 2 pins) and senior Matthew Tavizon (215, 2 pins) were 2-2.
Bulldogs – 72, Panthers – 12
Eight pins, seven in the first period and one in the second period, along with four forfeits wins were posted by the Bulldogs against the Amphitheater Panthers.
Enriquez pinned freshman Humberto Hidalgo in 1:13, Zion Granados pinned sophomore Vincent Holcomb in 18 seconds, Ray Granados pinned junior Paulino Sanchez in 55 seconds, Lujan pinned senior Ashton Hayes in 1:37, Johnson pinned freshman Steven Anaya in 1:48, Smith pinned junior Damian Morgan-Goetz in 25 seconds, Tavizon pinned sophomore William Tubac in 42 seconds, and Sanchez pinned sophomore Xavier Cuevas in 2:44.
Luz, Gluyas, Contreras, and Chaplin received forfeits.
For Amphitheater, sophomore Maximus Munoz (157) and senior Ismael Hinojoso (175) both received forfeit wins.
Bulldogs – 63, Ravens – 12
Against the Empire Ravens a first-period pin, two second-period pins, a third-period pin, a decision, and six forfeits wins were posted by the Bulldogs. There was a double forfeit at 157.
Gluyas pinned junior Jordan Wallen in 2:25, Contreras decisioned senior Patrick Kincannon 9-6, Lujan pinned sophomore Adam Curry in 3:22, Johnson pinned sophomore Luke Lambert in 4:41, and Smith pinned sophomore Liam Radle in 33 seconds.
Luz, Enriquez, Zion Granados, Ray Granados, Chaplin, and Sanchez received forfeits.
For Empire, senior Jacob Lambert (215) pinned Tavizon in 1:37 and junior Rick Zwickl (175) received a forfeit win.
Bulldogs – 66, Gophers – 9
Four pins, two first period and two second period, along with seven forfeits wins were posted by the Bulldogs against the Florence Gophers. There was a double forfeit at 175.
Contreras pinned sophomore Caden Mosley in 3:53, Zion Granados pinned freshman Jerimiah Bazan in 3:04, Tavizon pinned freshman Garrett Raney in 1:49, and Sanchez pinned freshman Mishon Deal in 1:21.
Luz, Gluyas, Enriquez, Ray Granados, Johnson, Chaplin, and Smith received forfeits.
For Florence, senior Donovan Feeney (144) decisioned Lujan 9-7 and senior Mikey Martin (157) received a forfeit win.
Wildcats – 51, Bulldogs – 12
A first-period pin, a two-second period pin, and a major decision were recorded by the Bulldogs over the Morenci Wildcats. There was a double forfeit at 157.
Enriquez pinned junior Jordan Anaya in 3:16, Zion Granados defeated senior martin Smith by 13-4 major decision, Johnson pinned senior Kaden Summer in 1:22, and Smith pinned freshman Hollis Corbell in 1:22.
For Morenci, freshman Trent Nelson (106) pinned Luz in 3:11, sophomore Breck Williams (113) pinned Gluyas in 3:09, freshman Noah Torres (126) defeated Contreras by 13-4 major decision, freshman John Provencio (138) defeated Ray Granados by technical fall (16-1), senior Shawn Hudman (144) pinned Lujan in 2:40, senior Cody Torres (165) pinned Chaplin in 1:21, sophomore Andrew Chavez (175) received a forfeit win, Austyn Nelson (215) pinned Tavizon in 3:09, and senior Jericho Sanchez (285) pinned Trevor Sanchez in 2:27.
