Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Noah Torres (144, 5-0, 5 pins) works on pinning Tombstone senior Kazdyn Gowan on Dec. 13. The Morenci senior notched a second-period pin over Marana senior Dylan Brown during the Mile High Challenge championship bout on Dec. 30. Torres contributed 35.5 team points as the Wildcats finished second to Marana. Morenci host a second multi meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Casey Woodall-coached Morenci wrestlers host a second sectional multi-meet on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Scheduled to join the Wildcats are Benson, Tucson Catalina Magnet, San Manuel, and Thatcher. Weight-ins are at 2 p.m. and matches begin an hour later.
The Wildcats finish the week in the “Land of Enchantment” competing in the Rio Rancho Cleveland Conflict in Cleveland on Friday-Saturday, Jan. 5-6.
Morenci travels to Thatcher on Wednesday, Jan. 10, Winslow on Jan. 13-14, and Globe on Jan. 17 before hosting a dual with Saint Johns on Jan. 23.
The Wildcats are 21-2 overall in duels following six meets and fresh off of a second-place finish in the 32-team, 2-day Prescott-held Mile High Challenge on Dec. 29-30.
Morenci finished second to Marana, scoring 9.5 (191.5-201) fewer points. The Wildcats defeated the Tigers in duals 46-27 on Dec. 9 and 48-30 on Dec. 22.
The Greenlee County boys fielded a full team with 12-14 contributing to the scoring total, but only five Wildcats placed while Marana had 13-14 entrants scoring and seven placers. Third place Sahuarita Waldon Grove tallied 170 points with 10-13 entrants scoring and five placing.
Seniors Noah Torres (144, 5-0, 5 pins), John Provencio (150, 4-0, 4 pins), and Breck Williams (157, 5-0, 3 pins) were first; and junior Hollis Corbell (190, 5-1, 3 pins) and senior Austyn Nelson Porter (215, 5-1, 5 pins) third. Torres added 35.5 team points, Provencio 32, Williams 31, Porter 26, and Corbell 24.
Non-placers with their team point contributions included sophomore Isaiah Cook (285, 3-2, 3 pins) with 10 points, sophomore Matthew Hernandez (126 3-2, 1 pin) with nine, junior Trent Nelson (120, 2-1, 2 pins) with seven, sophomore Kiano Torres (132, 2-2, 1 pin) with six, sophomore Stosh Vineyard (165, 1-2) with five, freshman Mason Clark (106, 1-2, 1 pin) with three, and sophomore Antonio Aguirre (175, 1-2, 1 pin) with three.
Freshman Justice Bearden (113, 0-2) junior Omar Torres (138, 0-2), freshman Joel Baca (165, 1-2, 1 pin), and senior Derek Jones (152/165, 1-2, 1 pin) did not score team points.
Other class champions were Bullhead City Mohave junior Chrystian Owens (106, 5-0, 4 pins), Marana senior William Moore (113, 4-0, 4 pins), Gilbert Williams Field Izayah Magdaleno (120, 5-0, 3 pins), Waldon Grove senior Zachary Bates (126, 5-0, 5 pins), Walden Grove junior Pedro Mendoza (132, 5-0, 3 pins), Williams Field senior Samuel Kistling (138, 5-0, 5 pins), Waldon Grove junior Enzo Morales (165, 5-0, 3 pins), Prescott senior Ryan Rewerts (175, 5-0, 4 pins), Yuma Catholic senior Trenton Blomquist (190, 5-0, 5 pins), Tucson Canyon del Oro senior Kayden Luke (215, 5-0, 5 pins), and Marana Mountain View senior Jacob Acedo (285, 5-0, 4 pins).
Williams Field placed fourth with 163.5 points, Queen Creek Casteel fifth (156), Yuma Catholic sixth (152.5), Gilbert Perry seventh (144.5), Gilbert Mesquite eighth (135), Gilbert Campo Verde ninth (126), Tucson Mica Mountain 10th (124.5), Marana Mountain View 11th (103), and Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain 12th (102).
Chandler Hamilton and Heber Mogollon tied for 13th (96), Canyon del Oro was 15th (94.5), Chandler Basha 16th (87), Vail Cienega 17th (80), Mohave 18th (78), Maricopa 19th (74), Show Low 20th (66.5), Prescott 21st (64.5), and Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge 22nd (57.5).
Bagdad was 23rd (54), Payson 24th (48), Glendale Mountain Ridge and Tucson Magnet tied for 25th (47), Chino Valley 27th (45), Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin 28th (43), San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills 29th (38), Mohave Valley River Valley 30th (21), Mayer 31st (18), and North Canyon 32nd (17).
Morenci Girls Wrestling
Morenci sophomore Cynthia Martinez placed third in the two-day Prescott-held Mile High Challenge, posting a 4-1 record with four pins in the 165-lb weight class on Dec. 30.
Her wins were twice by a first-period pin and twice by a second-period pin. The loss was by a second-period pin.
Forty-five schools were represented and Martinez’s opponents were from Marana Mountain View, Phoenix Central, Prescott, Surprise Shadow Ridge, and Tucson Mica Mountain.
Martinez went 5-0 with two pins during the two-day Marana Duals on Dec. 8-9 and 2-1 with a pin during the individual portion, placing second.
Her opponents were from Basha, Cienega, Hamilton, Scottsdale Coronado, Marana Mountain View, Surprise Willow Canyon, and Yuma Gila Ridge.
The two losses were both to Marana Mountain View senior Lillian Gradillas-Flores.
