For two days (February 23-24, 2024), student athletes in our broader community traveled north to compete for State honors in Wrestling and Swimming. Girls Wrestling proved to be the sport to watch. Here are some of the stories about how they fared.
Levi Gwaltney, Editor
lascrucesdigest.com
Source: New Mexico Activities Association via trackwrestling.com
Photo: Courtesy LCHS on Facebook
The brightest star to emerge over the weekend was Las Cruces High School’s Alyssa Sedillo. The “featherweight” wrestler felled Isabel Irvin of Artesia just over a minute into the second period. In fact, Sedillo pinned all four of her opponents in the 2024 NMAA State Championship. Her opponents never managed to reach a third period. Alyssa Sedillo dominated her weight division and left no doubt about her dominance, bringing home the only State Championship over the weekend.
Heartbreaker…
Bethany Sanchez of Organ Mountain High School faced heartbreak, losing her weight division’s championship match on the technical basis of “Ultimate Tie-Breaker”. Sanchez, who had wrestled to decision wins in her three previous matches, ultimately could not overcome the rules. After a combined 25:30 on the mats, Sanchez succumbed to Chelsea Rivera of Volcano Vista in a match ending 1-1. Under the rules of “Ultimate Tie Breaker”, Rivera was declared winner because she was first to score her point in the match. Bethany Sanchez brings home a hard-earned 2nd Place.
Noteworthy…
Jennifer Rico of Santa Teresa High School was felled in the second period of her final match by Emily Madrid-Kane (Goddard). Rico secured 2nd Place in her weight division. Of note, Rico had qualified for the 2024 NMAA State Championship after posting a qualifier-worst 8-10 record over the course of the season. Jennifer Rico’s ultimate rise to the Championship match demonstrated great growth, and showed how perseverance and dedication can ultimately produce results.
Boys Wrestling
The boys are not coming back to our broader community empty handed, yet they were unable to secure a championship. Mathius Soto (Gadsden) and Tristan Crosby (Santa Teresa) each bring home 2nd Place. Soto was felled (2:51) by Volcano Vista’s Jonathon Romero in the championship match, while Crosby was decisioned 3-2 by Jaylen Ignacio of Aztec High School.
Noteworthy…
Kolby Gonzales of Las Cruces High School brings home 3rd Place in the 5A 139 lb division. The manner in which he reached third position was a demonstration of grit and determination. Gonzales was decisioned (5-3) in his second match against Justin Owens of Carslbad. Bouncing back, Gonzales felled his next two opponents (Martinez/Atrisco Heritage and Cordova/Los Lunas) to face off a second time against Carlsbad’s Justin Owens. For 3rd Place honors, Gonzales garnered a Major Decision (11-2) win against Owens, earning the medal… and redemption for his earlier defeat.
It was a great weekend for Bulldawg Wrestling. Everyone wrestled their hearts out and had an outstanding showing at the State Tournament.
The girls team had 2 state placers.
Alyssa Sedillo took 1st place getting a pin in the finals and winning her 3rd straight championship.
Emberlynn Atma took 5th place in one of the toughest brackets in the tournament.
The boys team had 6 state placers and took 6th overall as team.
Zavier Udero took 6th place finishing his career with 102 wins.
Kolby Gonzales took 3rd place and finishing an amazing 8th grade season.
Mateo Montoya took 5th place wrestling back from a 1st round loss.
Daniel Amaro took 6th place wrestling at the one of the toughest weights in the state.
Alessio Cisneros took 6th place at his first state tournament.
Kash Alley took 4th place finishing his career with 126 wins and 2 state placings.
Congrats on a great season to all the wrestlers on the team. The future looks bright.
Go Dawgs!
Source: LCHS Facebook Page
Las Cruces Public Schools congratulates Alyssa Sedillo, a junior from Las Cruces High School for earning the title of 3x State Champion in wrestling. Alyssa pinned her final opponent from Artesia in (3:13). Her final 23-24 season record was 29 – 1. Las Cruces Public Schools Las Cruces High School – Home of the Bulldawgs #Wrestling
Photo credit: Tim Archuleta
Source: LCHS Facebook Page
Swimming
Swimmers from our broader community had a difficult time reaching the podium against the more storied and better supported teams from Albuquerque. Eldorado High School dominated the Boys events, and Albuquerque Academy dominated the Girls events. While Las Cruces High School’s Aneirin Hanan secured two 2nd Place finishes (Boys 200 Yard Freestyle and Boys 500 Yard Freestyle), he could not snatch gold from powerhouse Eldorado’s Nolan Arnholt.
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