This past Saturday, the 4AI Team State Wrestling Tournament was held at Peoria High School. Pueblo was the 4th seeded team, based on the results from the individual state tournament held the week before.
Our first duel was against Flowing Wells High School, in which the Warriors were victorius by the score of 61 – 11. That win pitted us against the number 1 seed, Queen Creek. We knew we had a very good chance of winning, and by doing so, we would be in the finals!
We lost the first two matches and found ourselves behind by 7pts, but in the next match, Angel Felix pinned his opponent to make the score QC -7, Pueblo 6. Alex Valdez lost a close match and the score was now
QC-10, Pue -6.
Gerry Ramirez and Raymond Almader both pinned their opponents, making the score Pue -18, QC -10 and our State Champion, Nick Gonzalez, defeated his man with a Major decision increasing the lead by 4 pts. Pue -22, QC -10.
We lost the next 2 matches and QC closed the gap. Pue -22, QC 20. We traded the next two matches with pins and the score was pue -28, QC -26, with 3 matches to go. Martin Aguayo avenged his loss to the state champion in a hard fought match, making the score Pue -31, QC -26. Our man got pinned in the next match, which put QC ahead by 1 point, 32 to 31.
It came down to the Heavyweights. We had previously beaten their man the week before, so a victory seemed eminent. By the end of the second period, the score was tied 3 – 3 and the last period was starting. Our man was confident he could take his opponent down and score the points to win his match and give Pueblo a 34 – 32 victory, but alas, it was not to be and Queen Creek got the takedown, the victory and the right to wrestle for the State Title.
We had a very good season, we won the TUSD tournament and the Regional Title for the eighth year in a row, we had 7 state placers, including a State Champion. We are very proud of our young men and their accomplishments, so please take the time to congratulate them on a successful season.
Personal message from Coach Manny Galvan:
I would like to thank everybody who has supported us over past years. I retired in December after 25 years of teaching here at Pueblo and I’m not sure if I’ll be coaching next year, so if this is my last year, I wanted to let those of you who know me that it was a pleasure to have worked with such fine people and dedicated professionals.
You are the best and I miss Pueblo and the students already, but I asure you that I am having a wonderful time!
(Story contributed by Manny Galvan)
