Gutierrez and Estrada dominate at Socorro’s Wrestling Under the Lights

Defending state high school champions David Gutierrez Jr. and Isiah Estrada took down the championships of their division over the weekend at Wrestling Under the Lights at the Socorro Rodeo and Sports Complex.

As hosts of the event, the Warriors and Lady Warriors’ overall action was limited. Still, Socorro offered up some of its top wrestlers while others worked scoring tables, officiated junior matches, and helped with logistics.

Wrestling Under the Lights has become a premier event for summer wrestling, and 30 teams made the trip to Socorro to participate.

“It’s just unique, and I think it’s a signature event at this point. People know about it now,” Warrior wrestling coach Joel Partridge said. “The city staff was wonderful. They did a phenomenal job. They’re super helpful. There’s the three days of setting up and tearing down and just getting us everything we needed.”

During Friday’s dual matches, 3A Socorro faced defending state 5A champion Volcano Vista in the B Pool Gold’s firstplace match. With Volcano Vista’s roster of 75-80 wrestlers to choose from, it was an uphill battle.

“It was us and Volcano Vista for first and second. It was a competitive matchup, and you know, they didn’t have their exact lineup. We didn’t have our exact lineup, but it was competitive, every match was tough,” Partridge said.

Wrestling Camp Socorro’s first-ever free youth camp, held last week at Finley Gym, drew 127 athletes and will now become a yearly event.

“I’ll give credit where credit’s due. That’s coach (James) McNeil’s brainchild. He’s been on me about doing it for a few years now. He started talking about, and then COVID hit, and then we got back wrestling, and the wrestling room burned down,” Partridge said.

Parents provided lots of positive feedback, and the decision to make the camp mandatory for new wrestlers has taken hold because it helps streamline the wrestling process during the season.

“I wish we had done it sooner and acted upon it sooner, for sure. After we talked about it, the camp will definitely be a staple part of our program, where if you want to wrestle in the upcoming season, you either have prior experience or, at the very least, you attend our camp,” Partridge said.

Wrestling Under the Lights Results 6U GIRLS - 52/60 - 3rd Place - Lillyana Gonzalez of Socorro Jr. wrestling.

8 & UNDER – 58 - 3rd Place - Sterling Winders of Socorro Jr. wrestling; 3rd Place Match Sterling Winders (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Stetson Morales (Blackcat WC) (Fall 1:22). 8 & UNDER - 86-100 LT HWT - 4th Place - Israel Burleson of Socorro Jr. wrestling. 8U GIRLS - 75/85 - 2nd Place - Analeyah Gonzalez of Socorro Jr. wrestling; Round 1 - Analeyah Gonzalez (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Zakilah Romero (LA FAMILIA NM) (Fall 2:14).

10 & UNDER - 111-130 LT HWT - 2nd Place - Tanner Winders of Socorro Jr. wrestling; Round 1- Tanner Winders (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Zayden Naranjo (LA FAMILIA NM) (Fall 0:41); Round 2 - Tanner Winders (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Dominic Juarez Romero (Top Rank) (Fall 2:23)

10U GIRLS - 55/58 - 2nd Place - Aimree Chavez of Socorro Jr. wrestling.

12 & UNDER - 145/146 LT HWT - 3rd Place - Elianna Gonzalez of Socorro Jr. wrestling; 5th Place - Micah Burleson of Socorro Jr. wrestling; Round 2 - Elianna Gonzalez (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Brady Macias (Stars and Stripes) (Fall 2:38); Round 3 - Elianna Gonzalez (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by fall over Micah Burleson (Socorro Jr. wrestling) (Fall 0:47).

12U GIRLS - 161UP - 1st Place - Elianna Gonzalez of Socorro Jr. wrestling.

HIGH SCHOOL – 120 - 1st Place - Isiah Estrada of Socorro Jr. wrestling; 1st Place Match Isiah Estrada (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by decision over Urijah Garza (Top Rank) (Dec 7-2)

HIGH SCHOOL – 285 - 1st Place - David Gutierrez of Socorro Jr. wrestling; 1st Place Match - David Gutierrez (Socorro Jr. wrestling) won by injury default over Israyel Barraza (NM Beast) (Inj. 2:36)

Pool A Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place – STOUT; 2nd Place - TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK; 3rd Place – SOCORRO; 4th Place - SLVWC Round 1 - STOUT defeated SOCORRO 36-18; TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK defeated SLVWC 36-4.

Round 2 - TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK defeated SOCORRO 34-15; STOUT defeated SLVWC 24-18. Round 3 - SOCORRO defeated SLVWC 30-17; STOUT defeated TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK 24-18.

Pool B Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place - TAKEDOWN ELITE SILVER; 2nd Place - South Valley WC; 3rd Place – WOLFPACK. Round 1 - TAKEDOWN ELITE SILVER defeated South valley WC 21-18. Round 2 - TAKEDOWN ELITE SILVER defeated WOLFPACK 22-15. Round 3 - South valley WC defeated WOLFPACK 33-12.

Gold Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place – STOUT; 2nd Place - TAKEDOWN ELITE SILVER. 1st Place Match - STOUT defeated TAKEDOWN ELITE SILVER 36-12.

Silver Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place - TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK; 2nd Place - South Valley WC. 1st Place Match - TAKEDOWN ELITE BLACK defeated South valley WC 35-4. Bronze Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place – SOCORRO; 2nd Place – WOLFPACK. 1st Place Match SOCORRO defeated WOLFPACK 31-12.

GOLD Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place – Atrisco’; 2nd Place - St. Pius; 3rd Place - Socorro Round 1 - Atrisco defeated Socorro 21-18. Round 2 - St. Pius defeated Socorro 29-17. Round 3 - Atrisco defeated St. Pius 24-18. POOL A Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place - ; 2nd Place - St. Pius; 3rd Place - Mancos Misfits; 4th Place - Clovis Wildcats Round 1 - St. Pius defeated Clovis Wildcats 36-16; Volcano Vista defeated Mancos Misfits 40-12. Round 2 - St. Pius defeated Mancos Misfits 34-12; Volcano Vista defeated Clovis Wildcats 45-6. Round 3 -Volcano Vista defeated St. Pius 42-0; Mancos Misfits defeated Clovis Wildcats 27-18.

POOL B Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place – Socorro; 2nd Place – Atrisco; 3rd Place – Valley. Round 1 - Socorro defeated Valley 27-16. Round 2 - Socorro defeated Atrisco 27-16. Round 3 - Atrisco defeated Valley 30-12.

GOLD Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place -Volcano Vista; 2nd Place – Socorro. 1st Place Match -Volcano Vista defeated Socorro 36-16.

SILVER Results Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Clovis Wildcats; 2nd Place - St. Pius. 1st Place Match - Clovis Wildcats defeated St. Pius 30-23. BRONZE Results Guaranteed Places 2nd Place - Mancos Misfits; 2nd Place – Valley.