Socorro brings home three state wrestling titles

Faced with the biggest challenges in its seven-year history, the Socorro High School wrestling program rose to new heights over the weekend to bring home three individual state championships from the New Mexico National Guard State Championships in Rio Rancho.

Defending state champion David Guiterrez Jr. repeated in the 285 division, freshman Isiah Estrada won his first, and junior Sasha Gonzalez completed a 35-0 undefeated season with a championship in the 120 division. Adding to Socorro’s hardware were eighth-grader Kadeyn McNeil and senior Jada Castillo, who had third- and fourth-place finishes.

Socorro’s 2023-24 wrestling season is a story of rising from the ashes to reaching the pinnacle of success.

“A lot of things went on this year that were out of our control that made it very difficult on us, but the kids pushed through. We’ve got a great group of young kids coming through next year,” Socorro head coach Joel Partridge said.

The program lost its wrestling room to an arson fire on Easter day last year. The blaze was a total disaster, with the team losing its equipment and practice mats.

“Since our room burned down, it’s been a rough year. It was tough. We only came with seven kids. We finished six out of 49 teams.

We had seven kids who gave everything they had. It was a pretty special year,” Partridge said. “We now have 12 total state champions, and we never left this tournament without a state champion. I don’t know how many schools or teams can say that, and we’re not wrestling little schools. It’s a testament to the coaches, my assistants, the parents and the kids themselves.”

There were lots of backstories heading into this year’s tournament, like Gonzalez’s undefeated journey back to state. It was the same story last year, but Gonzalez came up short in the finals, and she emerged with the resolve that this year would be different.

“I told myself I have to do better than last season, and that was going to be hard because I went undefeated and took second, which meant this year I had to go undefeated and take first. That’s exactly what I did,” Gonzalez said. “I credit all of my coaches and my teammates. If not for them, I would never be where I am now.”

Estrada’s story has a familiar ring, just like Guiterrez’s tale last year. Estrada finished second at last week’s Region 2 meet and was visibly disappointed he didn’t take the crown.

“I realized I still had a week left for practice. I worked hard to get my head straight and clear. The idea was to forget last week and focus on this weekend,” Estrada said. “David helped me get my mind in the right place.”

As a defending state champion, Guiterrez has had a target on his back all season, and he’s very good at focusing on the tasks ahead. Before his matches, he dons wireless headphones and begins pacing back and forth like a Jaguar behind iron bars, just waiting for an opportunity.

The music flowing into his ears is not some blood-pumping rock-and-roll or hard-beating rap, but the soothing rhythms of Grammy award winner SZA’s Good Days.

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What was going on inside Guiterrez’s mind as minutes ticked down to his first-place match?

“That it’s just another match. No one’s going to beat me,” Guiterrez said. “Now, my goal is to return for my senior year and win it again.”

After winning his semifinal match by fall at 5:18, Guiterrez’s fans barely had time to start cheering during the championship match, with Valley’s Juan Vigil going down by fall in only 38 seconds.

Guiterrez celebrated his repeat by throwing Partridge to the mat, and his head coach’s smile lit up the Rio Rancho Events Center.

The quick victory didn’t surprise Partridge.

“David is the best. There’s nobody better than David. I’m not surprised that Isaiah won. I’m not surprised that Sasha won. They are the best,” Partridge said. “Watch out for Kadeyn; he will bring home gold medals. Jada had a great season and finish.”

Girls 100 – Arasely Moreno (18-12); Champ. Round 1 – Kaydence Stover (Farmington) 25-7 won by fall over Arasely Moreno (Socorro) 18-13 (Fall 0:21); Cons. Round 1 – Mia Saiz (Moriarty) 29-10 won by all over Arasely Moreno (Socorro) 18-14 (Fall 2:34).

Girls 107 – Jada Castillo (26-6); Champ. Round 1 – Isabelle Jaramillo (Miyamura) 25-15 won by decision over Jada Castillo (Socorro) 26-7 (Dec 4-2); Cons. Round 1 – Jada Castillo (Socorro) 27-6 won by fall over Nissie Frazier (Centennial) 14-13 (Fall 4:19); Cons. Round 2 – Jada Castillo (Socorro) 28-6 won by fall over Audrey Swiderek (Eldorado) 28-7 (Fall 3:53); Cons. Round 3 – Jada Castillo (Socorro) 29-6 won by fall over Ariana Martinez (Atrisco Heritage Academy) 18-14 (Fall 3:21) Cons. Semi – Jada Castillo (Socorro) 30-6 won by medical forfeit over Elena Cordova (Rio Rancho) 28-5 (M. For.); 3rd Place Match – Maile Maldonado (Academy) 34-6 won by fall over Jada Castillo (Socorro) 30-7 (Fall 4:58).

Girls 120 – Sasha Gonzalez (31-0); Champ. Round 1 – Sasha Gonzalez (Socorro) 32-0 won by fall over Yenesis Serrano (Hobbs) 26-13 (Fall 3:54); Quarterfinal – Sasha Gonzalez (Socorro) 33-0 won by fall over Rylie Spires (Centennial) 26-15 (Fall 0:32); Semifinal – Sasha Gonzalez (Socorro) 34-0 won by fall over Leslie Nayarez (Atrisco Heritage Academy) 26-8 (Fall 4:44); 1st Place Match – Sasha Gonzalez (Socorro) 35-0 won by fall over Harley Rightmire (Bloomfield) 25-14 (Fall 5:54).

Girls 126 – Jayden Kayser (27-10); Champ. Round 1 – Myranda Pena (Santa Fe) 27-8 won by fall over Jayden Kayser (Socorro) 27-11 (Fall 5:11); Cons. Round 1 – Jayden Kayser (Socorro) 28-11 won by fall over Audrey Moreira (Belen) 27-14 (Fall 2:04); Cons. Round 2 – Jayden Kayser (Socorro) 29-11 won by fall over Evelyn Auzenne (Kirtland Central) 34-10 (Fall 2:09); Cons. Round 3 – Jessia Armendariz (Albuquerque) 25-10 won by fall over Jayden Kayser (Socorro) 29-12 (Fall 2:32).

Girls 132 – Kalena Vanlandingham (10-10); Champ. Round 1 – Madelyn Quintana (Eldorado) 24-11 won by fall over Kalena Vanlandingham (Socorro) 10-11 (Fall 3:11); Cons. Round 1 – Solis Medrano (West Las Vegas) 25-12 won by fall over Kalena Vanlandingham (Socorro) 10-12 (Fall 2:08).

Girls 138 – Chloe Etsitty (18-14); Champ. Round 1 – Katie Booth (Valencia) 27-6 won by fall over Chloe Etsitty (Socorro) 18-15 (Fall 1:41); Cons. Round 1 – Chloe Etsitty (Socorro) 19-15 won by forfeit over Jorden Garcia (Volcano Vista) 25-17 (For.); Cons. Round 2 – Abigail Rael (St Pius X) 18-11 won by fall over Chloe Etsitty (Socorro) 19-16 (Fall 2:29).

Girls 152 – Maria Ruiz-Jaquez (9-17); Champ. Round 1 – Aaliyah Sabado (Cleveland) 20-15 won by fall over Maria Ruiz-Jaquez (Socorro) 9-18 (Fall 1:13); Cons. Round 1 – Ioanna Ueanimatang (Farmington) 27-15 won by fall over Maria Ruiz-Jaquez (Socorro) 9-19 (Fall 0:24).

Boys 107 – Marius Lucero (17-16); Champ. Round 1 – Gunner Samora (Bloomfield) 42-6 won by fall over Marius Lucero (Socorro) 17-17 (Fall 1:28); Cons. Round 1 – Ashton Macfarlane (Silver) 29-13 won by fall over Marius Lucero (Socorro) 17-18 (Fall 2:26).

Boys 114 – Isiah Estrada (38-7); Champ. Round 1 – Isiah Estrada (Socorro) 39-7 won by fall over Braelyn Urban (Ruidoso) 26-14 (Fall 3:11); Quarterfinal – Isiah Estrada (Socorro) 40-7 won by fall over Richard Madrid (Valencia) 37-12 (Fall 4:51); Semifinal – Isiah Estrada (Socorro) 41-7 won by fall over Bryce Lance (Bloomfield) 29-15 (Fall 4:42); 1st Place Match – Isiah Estrada (Socorro) 42-7 won by decision over Austin Lopez (Miyamura) 39-8 (Dec 10-4).

Boys 133 – Angel Perez (29-14); Champ. Round 1 – Aeneas Lewis (Miyamura) 32-21 won by decision over Angel Perez (Socorro) 30-15 (Dec 10-4); Cons. Round 1 – Angel Perez (Socorro) 31-15 won by fall over Manuel Lerma (Deming) 23-18 (Fall 4:47); Cons. Round 2 – Nico Ulibarri (West Las Vegas) 36-14 won by decision over Angel Perez (Socorro) 31-16 (Dec 6-4).

Boys 139 – Kadeyn McNeil (33-7); Champ. Round 1 – Kadeyn McNeil (Socorro) 34-7 won by fall over Allen Potts (Academy) 20-17 (Fall 1:54); Quarterfinal – Kadeyn McNeil (Socorro) 35-7 won by fall over Delano Black (Aztec) 32-9 (Fall 0:26); Semifinal – Valentine Popadiuc (St Pius X) 48-2 won by tech fall over Kadeyn McNeil (Socorro) 35-8 (TF-1.5 5:58 (17-2); Cons. Semi – Kadeyn McNeil (Socorro) 36-8 won by fall over Ashdyn Urban (Ruidoso) 26-13 (Fall 2:34); 3rd Place Match – Kadeyn McNeil (Socorro) 37-8 won by decision over Delano Black (Aztec) 32-9 (Dec 3-2).

Boys 145 – Patrick Ware-Moya (20-16); Champ. Round 1 – Adam Szilagyi (Taos) 28-14 won by fall over Patrick Ware-Moya (Socorro) 20-17 (Fall 2:36); Cons. Round 1 – Corey Reza (Valley) 16-17 won by fall over Patrick Ware-Moya (Socorro) 20-18 (Fall 1:56);

Boys 152 – Patrick McBride (12-21); Champ. Round 1 – Cruz Martinez (West Las Vegas) 46-3 won by fall over Patrick McBride (Socorro) 12-22 (Fall 1:52); Cons. Round 1 – Mateo Marquero (Del Norte) 16-19 won by fall over Patrick Mcbride (Socorro) 12-23 (Fall 3:48).

Boys 285 – David Gutierrez (45-3); Champ. Round 1 – David Gutierrez (Socorro) 46-3 won by fall over Blaine Nelson (Shiprock) 34-16 (Fall 1:10); Quarterfinal – David Gutierrez (Socorro) 47-3 won by injury default over Taye Silversmith (Miyamura) 35-17 (Inj. 0:45); Semifinal – David Gutierrez (Socorro) 48-3 won by fall over Jhalil Denetclaw (Gallup) 32-3 (Fall 5:18); 1st Place Match – David Gutierrez (Socorro) 49-3 won by fall over Juan Vigil (Valley) 22-9 (Fall 0:38).