Huskies boys take 16-6A opponents to the mat
For the first time in school history the Juarez-Lincoln boys wrestling team has won back-to-back district championships. Their impressive 49-point margin of victory over runner-up PSJA Memorial and 76-point margin over third place Nikki Rowe made it possible for the Huskies to add the District 16-6A title to the District Dual Meet, the Coyote Invitational and the Centex Wrestling Tournament championships they had previously claimed this season.
In addition to the team title four Huskies wrestlers claimed individual district championships during the two day meet held at Mission High School’s Neuhaus Gymnasium last Friday and Saturday. Seniors Esequiel Rodriguez, Andres Gonzalez, Rene Loredo and Edgar Delgado all swept the competition in their respective weight classes to take four of the 14 individual district championships.
As Juarez-Lincoln boys’ wrestling coach Armando Resendez shared, winning the district title is an achievement a year in the making.
“Winning back-to-back district championships was one of our goals ever since we won district last year,” Resendez said. “Palmview our sister school did that four years ago so that was our goal.”
Next up for the four newly-crowned district champs, and for all District 16-6A wrestlers that placed fourth or better at the district meet, will be the Region IV-6A meet which is taking place today and tomorrow at the Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio.
“Nine of our boys qualified for the regional meet and one will be going as an alternate,” explained Resendez. “We had four wrestlers that placed first, one that placed second, two that placed third and two that placed – all of whom qualified for regionals.”
As the district champion in the 160 lb. weight class, Andres Gonzalez will be competing at regionals for the second year in a row.
“Last year I placed second at district, fifth at regionals and I went to state as an alternate,” said Gonzalez. “Unfortunately the opportunity to wrestle at the state meet was not presented to me last year. That’s why my goals are to wrestle my best at regionals and advance to state again but not as an alternate this time.”
Having placed second at district his sophomore year and having just won his second district championship in a row Esequiel Rodriguez (145 lbs.) is now a three-time regional qualifier. The fact that he did not get to compete at last year’s regionals due to an injury has him setting his sights high in this his senior year.
“My goal is to place in the top three at regionals and hopefully advancing to state,” shared Rodriguez.
Rene Loredo, who placed third in 182 lb. weight class at district last year is competing in the 195 lb. class this year. Like his teammates he too is looking forward to placing high enough at regionals to qualify for state.
“Last year I missed qualifying for state by one place. It will be a great accomplishment for me to qualify this year because I’ve been trying for the past three years,” said Loredo.
Edgar Delgado, who fell one point short of earning a district title last year, had extra reason to celebrate his championship in the 220 lb. weight class this year.
“I was extremely happy to have won district this year,” expressed Delgado. “I wanted revenge this year and I got it.”
In addition to their four district champions Dimas Polomo, Pedro Perez, Rene Beas, Ricardo Villegas and Valentin Cervantes are all regional qualifiers for the Huskies while Manuel Corral will be making the trip to San Antonio as an alternate.
