San Manuel freshman Gilbert Rodriguez (106) capped off a busy week by winning his weight class at last weekend’s William Bell Tournament at Sabino High School.
Rodriguez went undefeated (8 – 0) in the tournament and was one of seven Miners to place at the 16-team event, in which San Manuel went 5 – 3 and finished sixth as the only 2A school in the field.
Other Miners who placed include Saul Quijada (120 – 3rd), TJ Madrid (132 – 4th), Michael Martinez (170 – 5th), Ruben Hernandez (182 – 4th), Adrian Romero (195 – 6th), and Max Fisher (220 – 2nd).
Earlier last week, the Miners opened the 2017-18 season against Division II State Champion Marana Mountain View, which outmanned San Manuel, 58 – 15.
Even though the Miners were overmatched, they were not intimidated and battled and scrapped throughout the evening. Rodriguez and Hernandez were the only Miners to take away victories versus their Lions’ opponents.
Last Wednesday, the Miners battled their second-straight defending state champion from a year ago at the Morenci Multi-Meet, which also included Globe, Thatcher and Miami.
San Manuel went 2 – 2, defeating Globe (42 – 36) and Thatcher (36 – 21) while losing against Division IV Champion Morenci (58 – 9) and a beatable Miami (41 – 30) team.
On an inexperienced team that includes four freshmen in the starting lineup, a four-hour bus trip created a challenge for the Miners’ rookies.
Rodriguez and Romero both finished 4 – 0 at the meet. Fisher and Cisco Curry (160) finished 3 – 1. Quijada, Madrid and Hernandez each went 2 – 2.