Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari wrestler Josh Pacheco won all five his matches during a rugged season-opening Tom Torres Duals on Saturday at Los Lunas.
The Rattlers squad won two of five dual matches during the 14-team event. In early pool play, Tucumcari lost to Atrisco Heritage 58-12 and was edged by Organ Mountain 35-34.
In seeded matches, Tucumcari downed Sandia 36-33, swamped Bernalillo 60-17 and lost to Valencia 48-30 to secure second place in its bracket.
Former Tucumcari wrestling coach Eddie Encinias came out of semi-retirement to guide the boys squad while THS coach Tim Clark oversaw the Lady Rattlers the same day at the Highland Girls Invitational.
“I think they looked really good, considering the competition,” Encinias said of the boys team, noting many of the competing squads were from much larger enrollments.
Encinias said Pacheco, who competed at 152 pounds, looked impressive all weekend.
“He pinned everybody,” he said. “He’s a top-notch wrestler. It’s a word of difference from last season.”
One of Tucumcari’s other top wrestlers, Fernando Ureste at 139 pounds, won most of his matches during the weekend. Encinias said he was leading another but made a mistake, allowing his opponent to rally for the victory.
Other THS wrestlers who notched victories over the weekend were Maliki Alderete, Josiah Sanchez, Justin Goen, Brandon Gonzales, Isaiah Ureste and Zoriah Phillips.
At the girls tournament, Sarah Sanchez finished fourth in the 120-pound division for the Lady Rattlers. She went 2-2 on the weekend, losing a 4-3 decision in the third-place match.
“She did really well,” Clark said. “She battled hard all day long.”
Clark said Sanchez’s loss during the third-place match was controversial, with the referee stopping the match when Sanchez was gaining control, ruling a stalemate.
Danielle Garcia at 126 pounds also wrestled well for Tucumcari, going 2-2. In her consolation semifinal, she lost by sudden death in overtime.
Clark said the Highland tournament also presented tough competition to his wrestlers, with many of them from Albuquerque or Las Cruces schools.