It took just 13 seconds for Landon Atencio to win a district title.
The Española Valley High School junior boasts an 18-2 record this year, and will look to improve on his fifth-place finish from last year’s state championship, now moving down to 106 pounds.
As the top seed at the district tournament, he had a bye in the first round. And in the final, against the second seed from Moriarty, the match was over as soon as it began.
“I didn’t underestimate him, I don’t underestimate anybody,” Atencio said.
Five Española Sundevils won district championships at the Feb. 12 district individual championships in Pojoaque. Pojoaque Valley High School junior Adryan Triana also won the championship in the 170-pound category.
“They performed like I expected,” said Española coach Aaron Salinas. “It’s good, it’s coming up. Hopefully the success we have this year influences a lot of the other kids at our school to join wrestling.”
Though despite the success, Salinas pointed out that many had a tougher time against wrestlers they beat earlier this season.
“I told them these matches are not going to be as easy as the last time,” Salinas said. “When your opponent loses, they don’t want to lose to you again, so they’re going to come out on fire.”
Sophomore Cruz Sandoval won in the final with an 8-3 decision in 126 pounds. Noah Maez won two matches to take the crown in 138 pounds, with a third-period pin in the final.
Kyle Coffeen, one of the top contenders on the team, won the title at 152 pounds, beating a strong Los Alamos wrestler in the finals with a 6-3 decision. In 220 pounds, Senior Jacob Martinez won with a first-period pin. Senior Adrian Padilla made the final in the heavyweight category, but was pinned in the third period.
“Everyone’s pretty excited,” Atencio said.
Junior Chiro Barrita made the final in 113 pounds, and was tied in the third period before a fall to the top seed.
Pojoaque freshman Alan Padilla made the final with a first-period pin, but fell in the second period of the final.
Triana advanced from the bottom of the bracket with a second-period pin over his Moriarty opponent. And he upset a senior from Los Alamos in the final with a 12-4 decision, scoring a nearfall in the first and second periods.
“Our team’s working hard and looking good,” said Pojoaque coach Johnny Tapia. “We’ve got a week until state, and hopefully we’ll show up over there and listen hard.”
While the year was challenging, Tapia was happy they had a more complete roster than last year, and they had fun competing.
And throughout the finals matches, the wrestlers from Española and Pojoaque were always cheering for each other.
“We want to see successful kids come out from all the district,” Salinas said.
All eight Sundevils qualified for the state championship on Friday in Rio Rancho, and Pojoaque will send six wrestlers. Pojoaque’s Izabela Lujan will also compete at the girls championship on Saturday.
“I’m working my butt off all the time,” Atencio said, and he said he hopes to win first place. “I’ve got to just work really hard at practice.”