Criminals hopeful about chances at Div. III state

Shamrocks, Rams, Warriors ready for Div. IV tourney

The Yuma High wrestling team’s secondplace finish at the AIA Division III State Tournament was its best finish in 25 years, and Jonathan Ruiz won an individual title, the Criminals’ first in more than two decades.

Now, Ruiz returns for a hopeful back-to-back showing, now as a 113-pounder, and him getting an individual title at this year’s D-III meet — which begins with day one of two today at the Prescott Valley Event Center — is the first checkmark on Yuma High’s list to win a team title for the first time since 1963.

“He’s the No. 1 seed, so we’re expecting him to obviously go and compete for the state title again,” Yuma High coach Jeff Welsing said of Ruiz. “And I think it’s realistic considering who he’s wrestling against.”

In addition to Ruiz, top-seeded 126-pounder Jose Bugarin and 2-seed heavyweight Oscar Vega are on the shortlist of title hopefuls for the Criminals.

Welsing wants to see multiple wrestlers reach the finals and multiple in the semis in order for Yuma High to have a chance to win it all. He said it will be a four-team race between them, Show Low, Safford and Walden Grove. Show Low and Walden Grove, like Yuma High, are sending 12 wrestlers to state. Safford has 10.

But as much as the high-end wrestlers will be the backbone of a title push, the real difference will be how well the team’s depth shows.

“That’s our best bet, that we have those guys come back and obviously come through the loser’s bracket and consolation to place,” Welsing said. “Beating people with depth, like we have been all year, that’s what you’ve got to have happen.”

The Criminals have three 3-seeds: Leo Velasquez (132 pounds), Aidan Irwin (152) and Jacob Sanchez (170).

Erick Cervantes (7-seed, 145), Mario Bugarin (8, 106), Carlos Nunez (9, 182), Shane Garcia (9, 220), Sevando Campos (11, 160) and Jayden Dobson (11, 195) round out Yuma High’s dozen