Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
After a second-place finish as a team at Pecos, the Tucumcari Rattlers varsity wrestling team prepares for their next competition in the midst of illnesses and injuries.
“We’ve got some sick, some hurt, right now were just trying to push forward,” said Eddie Encinias, wrestling head coach.
Encinias said on Jan. 13, the Rattlers scored 163 points, just three points behind first-place Cleveland and 50 points ahead of third-place Pecos. He said the team performed well at the Pecos Duals, placing seven in the top five with three of them in first place.
“Even though this is a team sport, each of us need to push ourselves to get better,” said senior Xavier Garcia.
At Pecos, Garcia 182-pound, senior Isiah Valverde 285-pound and junior Kaleb Hayes 220-pounds placed first in their weight class.
“It comes down to an individual drive to win, it’s all on you, no one can wrestle for you out on that mat,” Valverde said.
On Saturday the Rattlers will compete at the Gene Gagliard Invitational in Trinidad, Colorado.
“I am excited to compete against athletes we don’t normally see during the season,” Garcia said. “Every time you wrestle someone new you test your abilities while having the chance to learn something.”
Encinias said the Rattlers will go into the competition minus two wrestlers, Joe Martinez 152 pounds and Julian Vargas 132 pounds. He said Martinez is out due to a concussion and Vargas injured his shoulder. Both of the injuries occurred at Pecos, Encinias added.
“We are not at 100 percent, but the session continues,” Encinias said. “We have only two events until district, all the wrestlers can do is try to get, stay healthy while pressing forward.”