Local wrestlers qualify for regional meet
There was plenty of action on the mats last week as La Grulla and Nikki Rowe high schools hosted the 16-4A and 16-5A District Wrestling meets. Mission and Veterans Memorial High boys and girls competed at La Grulla Thursday while La Joya, Juarez-Lincoln, Palmview and Sharyland High boys and girls competed at Nikki Rowe Friday and Saturday. All for the right to claim district championships and/or advance to each district’s respective regional meets this weekend.
Nykea Salinas emerged as the only district champion for the Lady Eagles as she claimed the title in the 128 lb. weight class. Several of her teammates however qualified for the regional meet by finishing in the top four of each of their weight classes. Those included Stephanie Cedillo (3rd, 110 lbs.), Diana Espinoza (4th, 119 lbs.), Sara Castillo (3rd, 138 lbs.), Sally Ochoa (3rd, 185 lbs.) and Vaneliy Guerrero (3rd, 215 lbs.)
Andrew Mercado (160 lbs.) and Sabas Garcia (170 lbs.) both claimed district titles for the Eagles boys. Other regional qualifiers for Mission included Luis de la Fuente (second, 113 lbs.), Daniel Pena (third, 126 lbs.), Adrian Silva (fourth, 152 lbs.), Fernando Tovar (fourth, 195 lbs.), Jonathan Mares (fourth, 220 lbs.) and Esteban Garcia (third, 285 lbs.)
The Lady Patriots’ Jaqueline Gonzalez won her 16th match in a row this season as she took the district championship in the 165 lb. weight class and prepares for a return trip to the state meet where she won the silver medal last year. Joaida Tornes improved her record to 7-3 as she took the district title in the 95 lb. weight class for the Veterans Memorial girls. Other regional qualifiers for the Lady Patriots were Destiny Garza (second 128 lbs.), Alyssa Davidson (second 148 lbs.) and Klarissa Blanco (second 185 lbs.).
Despite having seven regional qualifiers, the Patriots’ boys did not claim a single district title this year. The Veterans Memorial boys that will be making the trip to the AISD Delco Activity Center in Austin for the regional meet are Armando Bustillos (fourth, 106 lbs.), Jonathan Mora (fifth, 113 lbs.), Pedro Garza (fourth, 120 lbs.), Bobby Tovar (third, 138 lbs.), Marco Ruiz (third, 145 lbs.), Bernabe Lopez (third, 195 lbs.) and Jeramy Aubry (second, 285 lbs.).
Juarez-Lincoln Wins District
With 234.5 points, the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys’ team took the 16-5A district championship at Nikki Rowe High School last week. Esequiel Rodriguez (145 lbs.) and Vicente Garcia (285 lbs.) earned district titles for the Huskies while Jesus Cantu (third, 120 lbs.), Luis Villalobos (second, 132 lbs.), Dimas Palomo (fourth, 138 lbs.), Andres Gonzales (second, 152 lbs.), Rene Loredo (third, 182 lbs.) and Edgar Delgado (second, 220 lbs.) all qualified for the regional meet.
District 16-5A
Like their male counterparts, the Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies wrestled their way to the top of the district competition to claim the team district championship at the 16-5A meet. Leslie Oliva (95 lbs.), Mayra Becerra (110 lbs.) and Danae Sanchez (148 lbs.) all earned district titles for the Lady Huskies while Stephanie Escobedo (third place 165 lbs.), Yaritza Colunga (second 185 lbs.) and Brianna Martinez (second 215 lbs.) qualified for the regional meet.
With 168 points, the Sharyland Rattlers boys’ team placed third at the district meet with Shane Foley (152 lbs.) winning his 30th, 31st and 32nd matches in a row to earn the Rattlers only district title of the meet. Other regional qualifiers for Sharyland were Isaac Cavazos (fourth, 106 lbs.), Luis Hinojosa (fourth, 113 lbs.), Isaac Bazan (fourth, 120 lbs.), Ruy Troche (third, 138 lbs.), Vicente Gamez (second, 160 lbs.) and David Rodriguez (fourth, 285 lbs.).
The Palmview boys had four regional qualifiers as Isai Martinez (third, 113 lbs.), Jeramiah Esquivel (second, 120 lbs.), Faud Chagoyan (third, 126 lbs.) and Abraham Mata (third, 145 lbs.) will all be making the trip to San Antonio this weekend.
The Palmview Lady Lobos tied for second at the district meet with the Weslaco Lady Panthers. Regional qualifiers for the Palmview girls are Alyssa Salinas (second, 95 lbs.), Prisma Hernandez (second, 102 lbs.), Leslie Rosas (fourth, 110 lbs.), Priscilla Hernandez (fourth, 138 lbs.), Yajaira Aguilar (fourth, 148 lbs.) and Keyla Guitierrez (fourth, 215 lbs.).
As the La Joya Coyotes’ only regional qualifier, James Muzquiz earned the district championship in the 113 lb. weight class. Four Lady Coyotes qualified for the regional meet with Daisy Ramirez taking the district title in the 165 lb. weight class while Jackie Alanis (128 lbs.) and Yahida Tavarez (148 lbs.) both placed second and Maria Rios (138 lbs.) placed third.
