Aztec brings home team wrestling title; Los Lunas wrestler finishes off perfect season
It’s the first championship for the school since 2002
RIO RANCHO — Not even a few unruly fans — who created a virtual melee in the middle of the Class 5A state wrestling tournament — could dampen the collective spirit of the Aztec High wrestlers on Saturday night.
Barely two months after a campus shooting led to the deaths of two students, rocking both the school and the town, the Tigers were the most emotional team champion this weekend, claiming the 5A title at the Santa Ana Star Center.
It is Aztec’s first title since 2002. “We’ve had a rough year,” said Aztec senior Josiah Griego, whose dramatic victory in the 120-pound final — he won the match in the final 10 seconds — was crucial for his team. “We’re very grateful to take this back to Aztec.”
The Tigers scored 194½ points, nine ahead of runner-up Los Lunas. Two-time defending champion Belen was a distant third (151).
“We came in with some fill-in guys, and they wrestled their butt off,” Aztec coach Monte Maxwell said. “It’s a very special group.”
The evening’s festivities were marred in the middle of the third period of the 160-pound final between Belen’s Rowdy Robinson and St. Pius’ Diego Pavia.
There was a delay of about five minutes when some fans watching that match became unruly; the exact cause is uncertain.
Security personnel from multiple agencies hurriedly climbed into the stands to try and gain control, and the Journal witnessed multiple fans being physically — even forcibly — removed from the building. An unknown number of total fans were ejected.
When the Robinson-Pavia match resumed, Robinson held on for a 3-2 victory, avenging a three-overtime loss to Pavia last week in their district tournament. It was a takedown by Robinson with 1:10 left in the third period that broke a 1-1 tie.
“I was worried going into the match, I knew he was a great wrestler,” said Robinson, who won state last year at 182 pounds for the Eagles. “It was a 50-50 toss up who would come out on top.”
Del Norte had two state champions, with top-seeded James Ortega winning at 132 pounds and No. 2 seed Frankie Baca the winner at 113 pounds.
Baca avenged his only loss this season, edging St. Pius’ Steven Sanchez 2-1 in their tight match.
“I thought about him every single day,” said Baca, who lost to Sanchez late last month at the metro championships. “I just wanted it more. It’s always been my dream to be a twotime champ.”
Belen also had state champs in Danny Evans at 138 pounds and Lano Luna, who repeated at 170 and won all four matches this weekend by pin.
Kyler Gonzales of Los Lunas, a state runner-up for Rio Rancho two years ago, finished off an undefeated season at 152 pounds (he was the No. 2 seed), decisioning top-seeded Jorge Lopez of Valencia 7-5 in the final.
Other metro-area champs from 5A included Robbie Jaramillo from Valencia at 195 pounds (his only loss this season was a forfeit), and Los Lunas heavyweight Matt Castillo.
Roswell’s Christian Sanchez finished 38-0 this year and was the 220-pound state champion.
Class 4A
Silver devoured the field, scoring 270 points. The Colts had four state champions, four runners-up, and four third-place wrestlers.
“On Day 1, we went 23-1 with 22 pins, and we just got going,” said Silver coach Luis Alvarado. “These kids did a fantastic job of showing up at the right time.”
Robertson’s Jonathan Trujillo went up two weights, but still claimed his fourth individual state title, taking the 145-pound division with very little resistance in his four victories this weekend.
Trujillo’s brother Andrew and his cousin Tristan were also No. 1 seeds that won repeat state titles Saturday for the Cardinals.
All 14 No. 1 seeds won their brackets at state. Cobre (176) and Taos (153) also won team trophies.