Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari boys wrestling team finished eighth Saturday at the 16-team Sammy Vivian Invitational tournament at Socorro that was studded with larger-enrollment schools.
The Rattlers finished with 76 points in the team standings. Miyamura High School of Gallup cruised to the title with 196 points, and Socorro was runner-up with 138 1/2 points. Espanola Valley finished third with 126 points.
The top wrestler Saturday for Tucumcari was Fernando Ureste, who finished third in the 114-point weight class. Ureste went 4-1 during the weekend.
“He gave it his all,” Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said of Ureste. “He’s coming on strong. He’s intense.”
Joshua Pacheco (145 pounds) finished fourth in his weight division for the Rattlers. Pacheco went 3-2.
Xzander Garcia (172 pounds) advanced to the third-place match, but he and his opponent couldn’t wrestle because both reached the five-bout limit for the day. Garcia went 4-1 on Saturday.
Socorro also hosted the Lady Warrior Invite, with featured 20 teams from across the state.
Tucumcari, taking five athletes, finished 14th in the team standings with 14 points.
Las Cruces took the team title with 119 points, edging runner-up Miyamura’s 115 points and third-place Goddard’s 110.
No Lady Rattler earned a medal during the highly competitive event.
MiKayla Klinger, wrestling at 152 pounds, finished 2-2 on Saturday and advanced to the consolation semifinal before losing.
Amaya Infante (132 pounds) advanced to the quarterfinals and consolation round before her elimination.
Ruidoso, Roswell duals
On Wednesday, Tucumcari’s boys team lost a 42-33 dual-meet decision to district foe Ruidoso.
Clark said his squad was hampered by the absence of Billy Otero and Nick Romero due to injuries. The Rattlers also have lacked a heavyweight grappler all season.
In girls competition, Clark said all five of his Lady Rattlers defeated their Ruidoso and Roswell junior-varsity opponents.
“They girls were on it,” he said. “They took care of business. I’m really proud of them.”