The district looks much different now.
For the first time, in 2023 the classifications for 4A and A-3A combined, and so District 2 included not just Española, Pojoaque, Taos, Moriarty and Los Alamos, but also St. Michael’s Robertson, and West Las Vegas; the latter two finished third and first at the 2022 state championships, adding to the level of competition.
Española Valley finished second for the second-straight year at the district team championships, going 6-1 over the weekend, losing only to Robertson — the district champion. They defeated both Moriarty and Los Alamos in upset wins despite having less than a full team and having to forfeit weight classes in every dual at the Feb. 3-4 tournament held in Moriarty.
“We’ve been grinding all season, grinding in the wrestling room, putting in the extra work,” said Española junior Noah Maez. “It’s finally paying off.”
“They all had a part in making this happen today,” said Española coach Emilio Atencio. “That was a great feeling for us. As head coaches, it’s always great to see the kids do well.”
Pojoaque finished fifth, defeating St. Michael’s and Taos but finishing 2-4. The district duals do not affect state qualifiers, but could impact seeding and the brackets.
Maez led the way with a 7-0 weekend; he scored pins in six of his seven matches, while the closest was against Robertson. Maez finished sixth at the state championships a year ago, but looks poised to improve on that with a 32-7 record so far this season, and has not felt overshadowed by three teammates coming off state runner-up finishes.
The key, he said he learned, is confidence.
“Mental is like 75 percent of this,” he said. “If you go out there thinking you’re going to beat somebody, then you’re going to beat them. If you go out there scared, and with the thought that you’re going to lose, then you’re probably going to lose … I had just figured that out last year, if I go in there with confidence, then I’m more than likely going to win. I always end up losing by like one or two when I’m scared.”
Maez was one of the only Española wrestlers to win against Robertson, and it came with dramatics, a late reversal (worth two points) gave him a 4-3 win.
“Noah has improved very well,” Atencio said. “He wrestles until the last whistle blows.”
Cruz Sandoval was 5-0 total, not including two forfeit wins, and all of his matches ended with a pin. Landon Atencio, Kyle Coffeen and Chiro Barrita were each 4-1.
Adryan Triana of Pojoaque was 4-0, all with pins, two of them coming in the first 30 seconds.
Throughout the day, Emilio Atencio had to be strategic and creative with assigning wrestlers to weight classes for the best possible matchups, while forfeiting points against the top teams.
Against Moriarty, Española forfeited four classes and needed to rally from behind. A key win came from Barrita in 121 pounds, as he scored five points in the third period for a decision victory, and Española won the dual 39-34. A similar strategy also prevailed 48-30 against Los Alamos for the Sundevils’ third straight win against the longtime district stalwart. And against West Las Vegas, who did not field a full team either, five Sundevils secured key pins for a 36-30 win.
“When we come to district duals, it’s about strategy, it’s about aligning your wrestlers with common opponents,” Emilio Atencio said. “As a coach, it’s a chess match.”
In their lone loss, Española could not compete against the depth and also the enthusiasm Robertson had; many of the team’s top competitors lost in decisions. Española lost 46-15 while struggling to gain any momentum in that match.
Next week, Española will take on the regional tournament at Kirtland Central, where the top seven wrestlers from each weight class qualify for state at both of the two regionals.
“It’s become a brotherhood,” Maez said. “Like a family in the wrestling room.”