Arianna Sarrett (100, 2-0, 2 pins) is participating in her fourth state meet, which began at noon Friday, Feb. 17. The Morenci senior is a 3-time section champion. It was the first time three entrants placed and the first two qualified as champions.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
WINSLOW – Three Morenci girls entered the Northwest Section (VIII) meet in Winslow on Feb. 4. Each of them placed and contributed team scoring. Senior Arianna Sarrett and freshman Cynthia Martinez emerged as champions, and senior Briseis Hudman placed fourth. Morenci scored 58 points to finish sixth. Martinez provided 26 points, Sarrett 22, and Hudman 10.
The state meet will include the top three placers from each weight class, beginning at noon on Friday, Feb. 17. The previous meets had only the top two.
Sarrett is a three-time section champion, finishing first as a freshman (101, 2-0, 2 pins), junior (100, 1-0, 1 pin), and senior (100, 2-0, 2 pins). There was no section meet in 2021. At the state meet, she placed fourth (101, 3-2, 2 pins) in 2000, sixth (113, 3-3, 2 pins) in 2021, and third (100, 4-1) last season.
The fourth-year participant pinned Holbrook freshman Peyton Trujillo in 18 seconds during the semifinals and Eagar Round Valley senior Lexi Salazar in 1:23 for the title.
After drawing a first-round bye, Martinez (165, 3-0, 3 pins) pinned Tuba City freshman Haylie Jim in 15 seconds during the quarterfinals, Page senior Angel Clark in 58 seconds during the semifinals, and Round Valley junior Seneca McCall in 1:38 for the title.
Hudman (114, 2-2, 2 pins) was pinned in 3:02 during the quarterfinals by Becynthia Bryant of Shonto Prep, pinned Flagstaff Coconino freshman Addison Copeland in 1:35 during the consolation first round and Snowflake junior Kali Westover in 31 seconds during the consolation semifinal, and finished fourth with a 12-14 sudden victory loss to Bryant. The second-year participant went two and out at 120 last season.
Other section champions included Chino Valley freshman Lilliana Rodriguez (107), Page senior Tea Nockideneh (114) and sophomore Leyonna Sombrerro (138), Holbrook junior Rutjann Ikelang (120) and senior Sierra Aho (145), Round Valley senior Jaden Finch (126), Winslow sophomore Tatum Estrada (132) and Charry Benecke (235), Chinle senior Kyra Warren (152), and Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa junior Lyla Tree.
Section champion Round Valley scored 165 points with eight qualifiers of 11 entrants. Winslow was second (133) with 4-12, Page third (131) with 4-8, Holbrook fourth (117) with 6-9, Chino Valley fifth (72) with 3-6, Kayenta Monument Valley seventh (49) with 2-8, Red Mesa eighth (48) with 1-3, Chinle ninth (44) with 2-3, and Shonto Prep 10th (40) with 2-5.
Snowflake was 11th (25) with none of nine, Payson 12th (22) with 1-2, Coconino 13th (20) with none of three, Joseph City 14th (17) with none of three, Show Low 15th (16) with 1-1; Lakeside Blue Ridge and Ganado tied for 16th (10) with none of four and none of three, respectively; Flagstaff 18th (7) with none of two, Keams Canyon Hopi, Tuba City, and Fort Defiance Window Rock tied for 19th (4) with none of one, none of three, and none of two, respectively; and Cottonwood Mingus 22nd (3) with none of four.
The other placers were from Holbrook (100), Winslow (107, 138, 145), Page (120, 132, 165, 185), Snowflake (126), Coconino (152), and Chinle (235).
A total of 105 entrants competed in the sectional meet from 22 different schools, with 14 at 126, 12 at 132, 11 at 145, 10 at 138, nine at 165 and 185, eight at 114; seven at 100, 120, and 152; six at 235, and five at 107.
