Encinias reaches Hall of Fame

Longtime Tucumcari High School coach Eddie Encinias was inducted Saturday into the New Mexico Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The honor came during the New Mexico Activities Association's annual wrestling clinic in Albuquerque.

Encinias, entering his 19th season of guiding the Rattlers wrestling team, was named NMAA's Coach of the Year in 2004, Tucumcari Elks Lodge's Citizen of the Year in 2006, won two district championships, placed twice for the state team title and guided 18 individuals to state championships, including Kaleb Hayes last season. Over the years, the Air Force veteran also has coached football, track, basketball and baseball.

Kendra Parker, Encinias' daughter who is an elementary school teacher in Canyon, Texas, gave the introductory speech before his induction.

She said her father has "touched hundreds of lives" and "bleeds purple and gold. No one loves Tucumcari like he does."

Parker repeated what her father has said about coaching: "You are a part of developing kids' lives. Coaches are a big influence on kids - for some kids, the most influential person. So love them, care for them and teach them. Remember, you are influencing someone who will be a husband, a father and a leader one day."

Accepting his Hall of Fame plaque, a moved Encinias said: "It seems impossible. ... I never could say I coached a state champion. I never wanted to take away from who he was."

Encinias also said other coaches and assistants influenced what he did as a coach himself.

A few hours after the ceremony, Encinias said he learned about a month ago he was nominated to the Hall of Fame by Los Lunas wrestling coach Steve Chavez, who admired what the Tucumcari coach achieved with his program. Tucumcari remains the smallest school in New Mexico with a wrestling program.

"It was a shock," Encinias said of learning his impending induction. "It was really unbelievable."

Encinias singled out others for his success, including former Tucumcari schools superintendent Felix Jimenez, current superintendent Aaron McKinney and current athletic director Wayne Ferguson, for having faith in him - especially during the program's lean early years when it appeared he might not have enough athletes for a team.

"The honor is based on what my past wrestlers and current wrestlers have done and definitely the assistant coaches," he said. "I think I've done nothing magnificent. All I've had are the keys to the gym."