Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Arianna Sarrett works on a pin during a recent session in Padilla’s Pit. The Morenci junior finished in fourth place at state.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
PHOENIX – Section I champion Arianna Sarrett (4-1) placed third during the state meet 100-pound class on Feb. 19. She placed fourth (101, 3-2, 2 pins) as a freshman and sixth (113, 3-3, 2 pins) last season.
The fourth-seeded lone Morenci junior standard-bearer tallied 16 points, allowing the team a 36th place finish with 74 points. The two-day meet was held in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Sarrett advanced with a first-round forfeit from Section III runner-up Tucson Canyon del Oro sophomore Luciana Chavez, decisioned fifth seed / Section IV champion Kayenta Monument Valley senior Jennifer Alcott 7-4 in the quarterfinals, was decisioned 3-10 by top seed / Section VII champion Peoria Liberty junior Isabella Bocanegra in the semifinals, decisioned seventh seed / Section VIII champion Yuma Gila Ridge freshman Kennedy Farrar 8-5 in the consolation semifinal, and decisioned second seed / Section VI champion Glendale Ironwood senior Emily Porras (3-2, 2 pins) 10-9 for third place.
Bocanegra (4-0, 2 pins) finished as the class state champion with a disqualification of Section III champion Tucson Sunnyside sophomore Tatiana Hernandez (3-1). Farrar (3-3, 2 pins) decisioned Alcott (4-2, 2 pins) 8-5 for fifth place.
En route to the final, Bocanegra defeated Section VIII runner-up Yuma sophomore Davina Diaz by a first-round 16-1 technical fall, Section II champion Phoenix North junior Akshaya Lord by quarterfinal pin in 5:17, and Sarrett in the semifinals.
Hernandez decisioned Section VII runner-up Phoenix Goldwater senior Amethyst Baek 7-6 in the first round, Section V champion Chandler Hamilton senior Anika Barker 9-5 in the quarterfinals, and Section VI champion Glendale Ironwood senior Emily Porras 9-5 in the semifinal.
The 10 non-placers were eliminated in four bouts, Lord (2-2, 1 pin) and Barker (2-2, 2 pins); in three bouts, Diaz (1-2, 1 pin), Section VI runner-up Glendale Raymond Kellis junior Raquel Nowakowski (1-2), Baek (1-2, 1 pin), and Section II runner-up Arizona Lutheran freshman Amy Ramirez (1-2); and four in two bouts, Section I runner-up Queen Creek Casteel freshman Mia Espalin (0-2-1), Chavez (0-2), Section IV runner-up Show Low junior Haley Heath (0-2), and Section V runner-up San Tan Valley Poston Butte freshman Kairi Kutyba (0-2).
Team champion Peoria Liberty totaled 93.5 points with four of six entrants placing first, second, fourth, and fifth. Runner-up Mesa Westwood had 87 points with three of five placing first twice and second; third place Queen Creek Casteel (82) had three of five in first twice and third, and co-fourth placers (84) Peoria had all three in second and third twice, and Chandler Hamilton three of four in first, second, and third.
Sixth place Winslow (64) had three of five in third, fourth, and sixth; seventh place Tucson Sunnyside (59) had two of five in first and second; eighth place Chandler Basha (57.5) had three of five in second, third, and sixth; ninth place Kayenta Monument Valley (51) had all three in third, fourth, and fifth; and tenth place Mesa (48.5) had three of four in fourth, fifth, and sixth.
The two other Morenci juniors bowed out during the sectional meet. Marissa Jacinto went three-and-out and Briseis Hudman two-and-out.
Morenci’s other state placer was Class of 2019 grad Nessa Martinez (145, 3-1, 1 pin) at third as a senior.
