SHS wrestlers heading to State Championships

The SHS Warriors wrestling team traveled to Santa Teresa, NM, on Feb. 13-14 for the Boys Region 2 Championships. Seven Warriors qualified for state with their performances at the regionals: Estevan Robles, Marius Lucero, Miguel Montano, Isiah Estrada, Kade McNeil, Kason Vanlandingham and Julian Aldrich.

“We’re ready. We’re excited,” Head Coach Joel Partridge said. “Something special about this time of year.”

Individual results:

Weight class 113: First Place Match - Johnaven “Estevan” Robles (Socorro) 22-6 won by fall over Yovan Suarez (Valencia) 31-5, (Fall at 4:33).

120: First Place Match - Marius Lucero (Socorro) 28-9 won by tech fall (TF) over Dane Padilla (St. Pius X) 38-9, (TF-1.5 at 3:11, score of 17-1).

126: First Place Match - Isaiah Ruiz (Bernalillo) 23-4 won by decision over Isiah Estrada (Socorro) 22-5, (Decision 9-8).

132: Miguel Montano qualified for state.

144: First Place Match - Kadeyn Mcneil (Socorro) 27-4 won by decision over Mycah Gachupin (St. Pius X) 38-2, (Decision 5-2).

150: Fifth Place Match - Kason Vanlandingham (Socorro) 19-15 won by fall over Mario Gutierrez (Belen) 30-18, (Fall at 2:18).

190: Fifth Place Match - Julian Aldrich (Socorro) 25-12 won by fall over Dominic Otero (Grants) 20-12, (Fall at 4:43).

As a team, the Warriors finished fourth out of 19 teams at the regionals. Partridge said that those kids who did not qualify for state have still been practicing with the team every day, drilling with their teammates and cheering them on. Practices are still just as difficult, and the wrestlers have great attitudes.

Partridge also said that all the coaches have been fantastic. He once again specifically acknowledged the major contributions of time and effort given by assistant coaches David Gutierrez and Jada Castillo.

“[We] owe them a debt of gratitude,” Partridge said of Castillo and Gutierrez. “ We leaned on them a lot this year, and they didn’t waver.”

Previously, at the Girls Regionals on Feb. 6-7 in Roswell, four Lady Warriors had advanced to the upcoming State Championships with their wins: Arasely Moreno, Kalena Vanlandingham, Maria Ruiz Jaquez and Tatum Rosales.

These 11 total wrestlers will represent Socorro in the State Championships at the Rio Rancho Events Center on Feb. 20-21. Weigh-ins start at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning, and Session 1 of wrestling begins at 10 a.m.

The wrestlers will have a formal escort out of town on Thursday, Feb. 19. They depart from the wrestling gym at the NW corner of the Plaza at 5:30 p.m. and then head north on California St. Partridge asks that fans wear Warrior colors and come out to support the state-bound SHS wrestlers.