Senior Night for the SHS wrestling teams

The Socorro wrestling teams had home meets against two different schools last week. They hosted Roswell on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 21. Two days later Belen visited on Friday evening. The Warrior and Lady Warrior wrestling teams are now preparing for districts at the end of this week, on Friday, Jan. 30. They will be heading right into regional and then state competition in the following weeks.

1/21 Socorro versus Roswell--Senior Night

Wednesday, Jan. 21, was senior night for the SHS wrestling teams and Official (Referee) Appreciation Night as Socorro hosted Roswell. The seven seniors honored were Mariana Perez, Iliana Perez, Maria Ruiz Jaquez, Julian Aldrich, Julian Adcock, Miguel Montano and RJ Gonzales. The referee honored was Ayden Lewis, a Socorro graduate and product of the Socorro wrestling program.

The Socorro Warriors team went first on Wednesday and won 41-36: Silvano Heras, six points; Estevan Robles, six points; Marius Lucero, five points; Miguel Montano, six points; Kade McNeil, six points; Kason Vanlandingham, six points; plus a forfeit in a higher weight class gave Socorro six more points for the night. Julian Aldrich then won an exhibition bout.

The Lady Warriors team were next and they won as well, by a score of 30-18: Arasely Moreno, six points; Kiara Martinez, six points; Max DeVries, six points; Alexa Moreno, six points (while managing a bloody nose); Maria Ruiz Jaquez, six points.

1/23 Socorro versus Belen

The Belen team was described as “stacked” by a Socorro wrestling fan on Friday, Jan. 23. The larger Belen school is in Class 5A for wrestling, while Socorro is in Class 4A. In addition to being a larger school, Belen also has a wrestling program that is just as dedicated as Socorro’s.

The Lady Warriors went first that evening. The Belen girls won, but the Socorro girls had a few notable finishes. 

The SHS girls finished with 24 points that night (unofficially, as scores had not been posted yet):

Kiara Martinez earned six team points with a pinfall.

Mariana Perez won in her weight class by forfeit and then went on to win an exhibition bout against an opponent from another weight class. 

Maria Ruiz Jaquez and Arasely Moreno also won their bouts by forfeit, as Belen did not have wrestlers in their weight classes that day.

The Warriors lost to Belen, but they had several strong bouts as well. 

Socorro finished with 17 points:

Marius Lucero earned six team points with a pinfall.

Kade McNeil also scored six team points.

Julian Aldrich earned five team points for a technical pinfall, having gained a 15-plus point advantage over his opponent.

SHS Wrestling upcoming events

1/30 District Duals at home, 11 a.m.

2/6-7 Girls Regionals in Roswell, times TBA.

2/13-14 Boys Region 2 Championships in Santa Teresa, times TBA.

2/20-21 State Championships at the Rio Rancho Events Center, times TBA.