CHS Sends 14 Wrestlers to State

By Don Eskins

Ten Cavemen, headed by divisional runners-up Justin Owens, 138; Jay Norris, 157; and Juan Rubio, 215, qualified for state at the Southern Regional Championships in Albuquerque on Saturday, February 14.

In order to qualify for this year’s Big Dance, grapplers had to place among the top seven placers of each weight division or draw a wild card for their overall performance during the meet.

“Our goal was to get as many of our wrestlers to state as we could. Of the 12 we took, 10 will be moving on to state,” said CHS head wrestling coach Mark Pratt. “That’s made all of us both happy and proud.”

Also qualifying for state were third place, Francisco Calderon, 150; fourth place, Eddie Lopez, 175; fifth place, Jaxson Powell, 285; sixth place, Mathyis Meier, 144, and Xavier Huff, 190; seventh place, Phenyx Meier, 113, and William Graziano, 120.

As a team, the Cavemen placed sixth in a field of 15.

Accompanying the Cavemen at state will be four Cavegirls who qualified for the Big Dance at the Girls’ Southern Regionals in Roswell. They are Ellianna Campos, 125; Sophie Westfall, 170; Arianna Campos, 190; and Atria Wells, 235.

“We feel we’re sending a great group of young men and women to the state tournament,” said Pratt. “All we’re asking them is to go out and wrestle with aggressiveness, not to let their opponents dictate the tempo of the match, and as always, to be smart.”

The state tournament will take place at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho on Friday and Saturday, February 20-21.

The Cavemen will compete in a field of 33 Class 5A teams, and the Cavegirls will compete in a field of 67 teams ranging from Class A to Class 5A.

Boys’ Southern Regional Results:

Team: 6 of 15

Cavemen Results: 113, Phenyx Meier, 3-2, 7th; 120, William Graziano, 3-2, 7th; 126, Zair Cornejo, 0-2, DNP; 132, Guess Box, 1-2, DNP; 138, Justin Owens, 3-1, 2nd; 144, Mathyis Meier, 2-3, 6th; 150, Francisco Calderon, 4-1, 3rd; 157, Jay Norris, 3-1, 2nd; 175, Eddie Lopez, 3-2, 4th; 190, Xavier Huff, 2-3, 6th; 215, Juan Rubio, 3-1, 2nd; 285, Jaxson Powell, 4-2, 5th.