The Española Valley wrestling team is finally nearing full strength after its wrestlers completed their weight assessments and competed Jan. 8 and 9 at the Pagosa Springs Invitational in Pagosa Springs, Colo.
The Sundevils placed sixth out of 18 teams at the meet, scoring 117.5 points. Centauri High School, the defending Colorado Class AAA champions, placed first with 176 points. Bloomfield High School finished fourth with 143.5 points and Aztec High School ninth with 101 points to complete the scoring for New Mexico teams. The field included schools from New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.
The Sundevils competed in 11 of the 14 weight classes and had seven wrestlers place among the top six in their respective classes. Chris Esquibel, Española’s 119-pound wrestler, did not travel to Pagosa due to illness, and Española does not have a wrestler in the heavyweight class.
Senior Mariano Montoya led the way for the Sundevils, going undefeated and shutting out his opponents at 145 pounds.
Monotya defeated Taylor Fwanengyr, of Colorado’s Bayfield High School, 8-0 in the finals.
Montoya is undefeated (22-0) so far this season. He finished third at last year’s Class AAAA state wrestling meet in the 145-pound class and is seeking a state championship to finish his high school career (see related story on page B2).
Senior Ryan “Big Show” Gurulé, who was Española’s heavyweight wrestler last season, has lost weight and now competes at 215 pounds. Gurulé placed second after being pinned by Chance Wyatt, of Colorado’s Ignacio High School, in the championship match.
“He’s realizing he has to adjust to a faster style at 215 pounds,” assistant coach Aaron Salinas said. “He’s going for the takedown and having more success. Once he puts someone on their back it’s over.”
Junior Dino Gipson placed second in the 125-pound class. Sophomore Corey Atencio was fourth at 140 pounds. Paul Bustamante was fifth at 130 pounds, while Isaiah Martinez and Jaime Esquibel were sixth at 135 and 160 pounds, respectively.
The Sundevils will be competing at the Joe Vivian Classic hosted by Cibola High School Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque.. There are 32 teams participating representing all three classes (AAAAA, AAAA, A-AAA) of high school wrestling in the state. Salinas considers it the top meet in the state, surpassing even the state championship.
“The winners at the Joe Vivian are true state champions,” Salinas said. “The top six seeds in each weight class are all potential state champions. Whoever wins at the Joe Vivian should be the top seed at state.”