Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The team is working against slow starts seen at Vegas district dual.
Despite a district win last week against West Las Vegas, the Tucumcari Rattlers need to be more aggressive, focused for their upcoming home tournament, said Eddie Encinias, head wrestling coach.
“We are going to have some of the toughest competition from New Mexico and Texas at this tournament; the boys can’t afford to start off slow,” Encinias said.
Encinias said during the district dual on Dec. 13 with the West Las Vegas Dons, the Rattlers came out flat in the first period. He said the sluggish start led to a situation where pin fall victories were vital.
The Rattlers won 45-35 in a contest that came down to wrestlers pinning their opponents for the win including 160-pound senior Xavier Garcia, 285-pound senior Isaiah Valverde and 182-pound junior Kaleb Hayes.
“We wrestled sloppy, I can honestly say I had an off day,” Garcia said. “Everyone has bad days, but I, the team cannot afford to have the same sluggish start during our own tournament.”
Garcia said each year the tournament brings an assortment of talented wrestlers in every weight class to the Snake Pit in Tucumcari. He said the tournament is not just a great way for the Rattlers to see where they stack up. It also gives all the teams a measuring stick before the Christmas break.
In the past the tournament has featured athletes from high school teams from New Mexico’s 4-6A and teams from the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma.
“We are expecting another large tournament, an opportunity for these young athletes to get some experience on the mats,” Encinias said.
The Rattlers wrestling tournament will be held at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Snake Pit in Tucumcari.