Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: John Provencio (8-1, 2 pins) had an advantage over Yuma Catholic junior Jose Macias but was decisioned 10-9 Feb. 20. The Morenci 145-pound freshman defeated Thatcher junior Joseph Howard by a 12-0 major decision on Feb. 17. The Wildcats triumphed in both home duals, 43-22 over Yuma Catholic and 62-18 over Thatcher. Morenci hosts Eloy Santa Cruz on Wednesday (Feb. 24) and Saint David on Saturday (Feb. 27).
Wildcats host Dust Devils, Tigers during final regular season pairings
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The regular season concludes this week as Morenci hosts Eloy Santa Cruz on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and Saint David on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The Wildcats (10-0 overall) are following the directions given, being aggressive early and fighting hard, in topping the Thatcher Eagles 62-18 (Feb. 17) and the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks 43-22 (Feb. 20), both in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium.
The Wildcats’ win percentage was 68 (17-25) in head-to-head bouts and 65 (11-17) in wins by pins. The other wins were four by major decision (8-14 points) and two by decision (3 or fewer points). Morenci’s eight losses were five by pins, one by major decision, and two by decision. Additionally, the Wildcats were awarded three forfeit wins and yielded none.
“We had it all (fight) the way up and down the line-up,” eight-year Morenci head coach Casey Woodall said.
Individually, 20 Wildcats have represented the school during varsity bouts with 15 competing last week.
Freshman Noah Torres (113, 8-1, 4 pins), sophomore Solomon Lucero (120, 8-1, 4 pins), senior Marcus Morales (126/132, 8-0, 3 pins), senior Conrad Aguallo (138, 2-2, 1 pin), junior Cody Torres (152, 8-2, 5 pins), junior Shawn Hudman (160, 8-1, 4 pins), freshman Austyn Nelson (195, 5-2, 1 pin) and sophomore Arturo Rodriguez III (220, 7-0, 4 pins) went 2-0 apiece; freshman Breck Williams (106, 8-1, 2 pins), freshman Michael Casillas (132/138, 7-3, 6 pins), freshman John Provencio (145, 8-1, 2 pins), and junior Jericho Sanchez (285, 9-1, 3 pins) 1-1 each; senior Jarrett Saiz (170/182, 3-2, 1 pin) and sophomore Andrew Castillo (182/195, 3-3, 1 pin) 0-1; and junior Kaden Summer (170, 2-3, 2 pins) 0-2.
Junior Martin Smith (126/132/138, 5-0, 4 pins), senior PaulDaniel Moreno (170, 0-1), sophomore Jordan Anaya (126, 0-1), and freshmen Albert Cobas (220, 2-0) did not compete in varsity bouts last week.
Morenci – 43, Yuma Catholic – 22
The unbeaten Shamrocks (11-1) pitted a team of three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and three freshmen against a Morenci roster of two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and five freshmen.
Morenci triumphed in nine of 14 head-to-head bouts, with three first-period pins, a third-period pin, a technical fall (15 points), two major decisions (8-14 points), and two decisions. The five losses were by a first-period pin, a second period, a major decision, and two by decision.
First period pins were posted by Lucero (120) over Yuma Catholic freshman Frank Valenzuela, Casillas (132) over Yuma Catholic sophomore Easton Jones, and Rodriguez (220) over Yuma Catholic sophomore Seth Stoner; a third-period pin by Cody Torres (152) over Yuma Catholic sophomore Tevon Mellor; an 18-3 technical fall by Noah Torres (113) over Yuma Catholic sophomore Joshua Rodriguez; a 17-4 major decision by junior Hudman (160) over Yuma Catholic freshman Vincint Saucedo; a 10-1 major decision by Aguallo (138) over Yuma Catholic junior Devon Dupree; a 6-2 decision by Nelson (195) over Yuma Catholic senior Jacob Bernal; and a 7-6 decision by Morales (126) over Yuma Catholic senior Jacob Navarro.
For Yuma Catholic, senior Jayden Dobson (285) pinned Sanchez in the first period, sophomore Lorenzo Duran (182) pinned Castillo in the second period, freshman Trenton Bloomquist (170) defeated Summer by an 8-0 major decision, junior Mikey Doerr (106) decisioned Williams 7-2, and junior Jose Macias (145) decisioned Provencio 10-9.
Morenci – 62, Thatcher – 18
Two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen came to Morenci from Thatcher.
The Wildcats prevailed in 8-11 head-to-head bouts with the Eagles, posting three first-period pins, a second-period pin, two third-period pins, and two major decisions (8-14 points). The three losses were by pins, in the second period, the third period, and in overtime. Additionally, the Wildcats were awarded three forfeit wins.
Morales (126) pinned freshman Carter Peck, Aguallo (138) pinned Thatcher sophomore Brandyn Willey, and Rodriguez (220) pinned Thatcher sophomore Alec Judd in the first period; Williams (106) pinned Thatcher senior Landon Bryce in the second period; Cody Torres (152) pinned Thatcher sophomore Cooper Udall and Hudman (160) pinned Thatcher junior Jesse Green in the third period; Provencio (145) defeated Thatcher junior Joseph Howard by a 12-0 major decision and Nelson (195) defeated Thatcher junior Clayton Allred by an 11-2 major decision; and Noah Torres (113), Lucero (120) and Sanchez (285) each received forfeits. For Thatcher, senior Mason Underwood (170) pinned Summer in the second period, freshman Erick Carrasco (132) pinned Casillas in the third period, and junior James Green pinned Saiz (182) in overtime.
