Two THS wrestlers win titles at Vegas tourney

One boy and one girl from Tucumcari High School’s wrestling teams each won a title Saturday during the Spencer Cole Invitational tournament in Las Vegas.

Sophomore Fernando Ureste (20-2) notched five victories by pin at the six-team tourney, including against Nico Ulibarri of West Las Vegas in the final of the 133-pound class.

“He’s like a magician,” Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said of Ureste. “He’s down, and the next thing you know, the other kid is on his back.”

It was the third tournament crown that Ureste has won this season.

In girls competition, THS senior Sarah Vallejo (13-4) notched four victories by pin, including against West Las Vegas’ Henissy Gomez in the final of the 114-pound weight class.

“She went in and took names, took care of business,” Clark said. “The other girls were like, ‘Yeah, that girl is pretty tough.’”

The Rattler boys also boasted a second-place finish from Josh Pacheco (21-6) in the 152-pound class. He lost by major decision to West Las Vegas’ Korbyn Harvey in the championship round.

These wrestlers also scored team points for Tucumcari: William Turpin (third, 107 pounds), Zion Martinez (third, 114), Isaiah Jimenez (third, 121), Zoriah Phillips (fourth, 127), Justin Goes (third, 160), Benny Garcia (third, 189) and Isaiah Ureste (fourth, 285).

The Tucumcari boys scored 88 points at the meet, good for third place.

Taos won the team title with 188 1/2 points, and West Las Vegas was runner-up with 163 1/2 points.

Thanks to Vallejo’s strong finish, the Lady Rattlers finished second in the girls team standings with 18 points.

Capital won the girls team title with 25 points.

Tucumcari travels to Albuquerque Academy for a district meet on Wednesday, then to the Cardinal Classic duals in Las Vegas on Saturday.