CHS Wrestlers Finish 10th at State Meet

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High’s Cavemen and Cavegirl wrestlers closed out the 2025-26 season with identical 10th-place finishes at the NMAA State Tournament on February 20-21 in Rio Rancho.

“Although winning state has always been one of our goals, I knew doing it this year in either our boys’ or girls’ programs probably wasn’t going to happen,” said CHS head coach Mark Pratt. “Along with some youth and inexperience, we just had too many open weight classes.

“But we did feel like we had the capability to place among the state’s top 10 schools,” he said. “So, when that happened in both our boys’ and girls’ programs, we were all really proud of what they had been able to accomplish. That’s especially true for our girls, who had just four participants in this year’s tournament.”

Caveman Jay Norris, a senior who wrestled at 157 lbs., led all Cavemen entrants with a third-place finish. At the tourney, he posted a record of 4-1.

“Jay, coming off a second-place finish at regionals, had a great meet. However, at state, he unfortunately drew a fourth seed. His only loss of the tournament came against the number one seed and three-time state champion in the semis,” said Pratt. “Although wrestling tough, he lost.

“Following that loss, battling his way back for a third-place finish took an awesome effort,” said the CHS coach. “No doubt, it was his best effort of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Also placing for the CHS boys were, at 150, Fernando Calderon, 3-2, fifth; 138, Justin Owens, 2-3, sixth; 144, Mathyis Meier, 3-3, sixth; and 215, Juan Rubio, 3-2, fifth.

Leading the CHS girls’ effort was 125 lb. Cavegirl Ellianna Campos, who placed second. Campos, a regional champion, posted a record of 3-1, losing the tournament final in overtime by a single point.

“Ellianna had a great tournament. Unfortunately, though, in the final, things just didn’t go her way,” said Pratt. “Tied up at 3-3 at the end of regulation, she wound up losing in overtime 4-3.

“It was a very disappointing loss for her, but only a junior, she’ll get another shot at the state title next year,” said the CHS coach. “Our most consistent wrestler this season, we expect to see a lot more from her next year.”

Senior Atria Wells, who, at 235 lbs., logged four wins vs. two losses to finish third, also enjoyed a great tournament.

“Although a senior, this was Atria’s first year to wrestle. For her to place third is almost unbelievable,” said coach Pratt. “However, we’re talking about an exceptional young lady whose toughness, athleticism, and pedigree kept her alive and competing all week. She may have surprised a lot of people at state, but not us.”

CHS’s grapplers performed and represented the Cavern City well at the state tournament.

“Overall, our kids pushed themselves hard and did almost everything we had asked of them at state. They were aggressive, attacked, and wrestled tough for all six minutes of their matches,” said Pratt. “We took 10 boys, and five of them placed, four girls, and two of them placed, so we feel like, for the most part, our kids’ efforts at the state tournament were full of positives. No coaches could be more proud of their kids’ efforts than us.”

NMAA State Wrestling Results

Cavemen: 10th of 27 teams

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

Cavegirls: 10th of 60 Class A through 5A teams

Individual Results: 125, Ellianna Campos, 3-1, 2nd; 170, Sophie Westfall, 2-2, DNP; 190, Arianna Campos, 2-2, DNP; and 235, Atria Wells, 4-2, 3rd.