Over the past weekend, the State tournament for wrestling was held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Two Copper Area schools were in attendance: Hayden and San Manuel. The Lobos had three wrestlers with them, while the Miners had five wrestlers. Wrestling for the Lobos in the boys Division IV was Johnathan Rutter at the 106 lb. weight class, Ben Quesada at the 285 lb. weight class, and Julius Pinkard at the 126 lb. weight class.
Hayden’s Johnathan Rutter takes on Benson. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Johnathan Rutter started off the day for Hayden, meeting up with Somerton High for his first match, which ended in a loss by pin in the first period. During his second match, his first consolation round, Rutter faced off against Benson. Rutter put up a tough fight, but unfortunately lost by pin in the second period, bringing his season to a close.
Hayden’s Ben Quesada wrestles Wilcox. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Ben Quesada met up with Wilcox for his first state match. The tough match tied at 1-1 after the third period, sending the match into overtime. Due to a takedown, and near-fall points, Wilcox claimed the win in the 1-6 decision. Quesada found himself in the Consolation round, facing off against Chinle. He suffered a tough loss, losing by pin during the second period, bringing his season to an end.
Hayden’s Julius Pinkard works the pin on St. Johns. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Julius Pinkard was the only Lobo wrestler to claim a win during the state tournament. During his first match, Pinkard went up against St. Johns, where he was able to win with a pin during the third period. Meeting up with Benson in the second round, Pinkard suffered a loss by pin during the second period. Entering the second round of consolation, Pinkard wrestled against Blue Ridge where he won by technical fall, advancing him into Saturday’s wrestling. Somerton High was Pinkard’s next opponent, and the match ended with an unfortunate loss by pin, bringing Pinkard’s quest for a state medal to a close, and the Lobos’ wrestling season to a wrap.
The five wrestlers from San Manuel were Jose Torres at the 106 lb. weight class, Brody Fletcher at the 126 lb. weight class, Derek Anaya at the 156 lb. weight class, Sean McDermott at the 175 lb. weight class for Division IV boys and Sienna Taylor at the 114 lb. weight class for Division II girls.
San Manuel’s Jose Torres vs Tuba City. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Jose Torres was the first Miner wrestler to hit the mat for the day. He wrestled against Tuba City during his first match, suffering a loss by 3-8 decision. His second match of the day was against Chino Valley, where he lost by technical fall during the third period, bringing his season to a close.
San Manuel’s Brody Fletcher vs Blue Ridge. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Brody Fletcher went up against Bagdad during his first match. Fletcher put up a fight into the third period, where he lost by pin. During his first round of consolations, he met up with Blue Ridge, where he once again went into the third period, but again suffered a loss by pin, concluding Fletcher’s season.
San Manuel’s Derek Anaya vs Camp Verde. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Derek Anaya found himself across from Valley Lutheran during his first match. Going all three rounds, Anaya lost in a 2-4 decision. Camp Verde was his next opponent, during the first consolation round. Anaya once again went all three periods, claiming the win in a 14-7 decision. In the next round of consolation he met up with Pima, where he suffered an unfortunate loss by pin during the first period, which brought his season to a finish.
San Manuel’s Sean McDermott vs Payson. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Sean McDermott took on Mogollon during his first match. The match ended during the second period when McDermott lost by pin. Going into the first round of consolation, he wrestled against Payson, claiming a win by technical fall during the third period. Going into the second round of consolations, McDermott met up with Benjamin Franklin. Putting up a fight, McDermott suffered a tough loss by pin during the second period, closing out his season.
San Manuel’s Sienna Taylor runs the half nelson on Moon Valley. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Sienna Taylor is one of the few Lady Miners who has been able to represent the red and blue and compete at state in the girls Division II. She found herself up against Moon Valley during the first round of wrestling, claiming a win by pin during the second period. In the next round, she faced off against Yuma Catholic, where she put up a tough battle, going all three periods but losing by a 2-8 decision. Hopping into the second round of consolations, Taylor met up with Holbrook, where she claimed a technical fall, 22-6, during the third period, making it into the second day of wrestling. To start off Saturday, she wrestled against Crimson, where she claimed a win by fall, sending her into the third place round. She met up with Parker to wrestle for third place. During the match, Taylor battled tough for all three periods, but lost by a 7-12 decision. Sienna Taylor claimed the fourth place title for the 114 lb. weight class for the girls Division II. Sienna Taylor makes San Manuel history as the first Lady Miner wrestler to bring home a medal from the girls state wrestling tournament. Congratulations Sienna, on a season well wrestled, and a place in San Manuel’s wrestling history!
San Manuel’s Sienna Taylor on the podium. Photo by Vince Majalca
San Manuel’s Sienna Taylor tries to bring Holbrook back to the mat. Photo by Nathaniel Lopez
Congratulations on a well fought season to both San Manuel and Hayden’s wrestling programs!