Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari High School wrestler Josh Pacheco, competing at 152 pounds, won all six of his matches at the Hiroshi Memorial Battle for Honor tournament Friday at Gallup.
Pacheco, who hasn’t lost a bout this season, defeated five opponents by pin less than two minutes into the match. His sixth victory was by forfeit.
Teammates Fernando Ureste, at 139 pounds, and Josiah Sanchez, at 145, won all four of the matches they competed in Friday.
THS coach Tim Clark said Ureste looked “really good” against tough competition from New Mexico and Arizona.
Tucumcari’s Justin Goen won all three of his matches at 160.
Isaiah Ureste of THS went 6-1 at the meet mostly at 215 pounds, losing only to Shiprock’s Gilbert Bunny. Five of the victories by Ureste were by pin.
Other Rattlers competing at the 17-team meet were Julian Brown at 114 pounds (3-3 record), Robert Gomez at 121 (3-3), Brandon Gonzales at 127 (4-2), Bryson Klinger at 133 (4-2), Diego Martinez at 160 (1-2), Maliki Alderete at 172 (3-3) and Benny Garcia at 172 (1-3).
The Tucumcari boys team won its Bronze Division at the tournament.
The Rattlers went 1-2 in the preliminary round in Pool A, but then swept three dual matches in its division.
In pool competition, Window Rock of Arizona edged Tucumcari 34-30. The Rattlers then breezed past Raton 60-12, but lost to host Miyamura 50-24.
“We had a good showing,” Clark said, noting his team notched a victory against district foe Raton.
He admitted his Rattlers started slowly against Window Rock, which he said might have been because of the extensive travel time to Gallup.
Clark said Miyamura is loaded with many senior wrestlers and probably will be a state contender.
In the Bronze Division, Tucumcari downed Shiprock 48-24, edged the Miyamura junior varsity 45-24 and blasted Wingate 60-11.
In girls action at the Hiroshi meet, Tucumcari’s Danielle Garcia finished second in the 120-pound weight class, winning three of four.
Garcia lost only to Valencia’s Abigail Vigil in the championship. Garcia won by pin in her other matches.
“She did great and was powerful,” Clark said of Garcia. “She wrestled very good, but made a mistake at the end.”
Tucumcari’s Sarah Sanchez (114 pounds) went 2-2 at the meet, losing in the quarterfinal round and the third round of the consolation bracket.
Other Lady Rattler wrestlers were Jocelyn Lopez (100 pounds), Lana Gomez (114) and Savannah Urquizu (132).
The Tucumcari girls team totaled 32 points at the meet, finishing 10th of 18 teams. Miyamura won the team title with 149 1/2 points, with Grants and Los Lunas finishing second and third respectively.
Tucumcari will host the annual Rattler Invitational tournament at Rattler Gymnasium starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.
A total of 19 teams have signed up to compete at the event, including several from Texas.
Clark said the semifinal rounds probably will begin at 3 p.m., with the finals at 4:30 or 5.
Tucumcari also will travel to Texas on Thursday to face teams from Tascosa, Bushland and Amarillo High.