by 
By Frank Smith
On December 5 the Miners traveled over to Thatcher to take part in a Multi-Meet to start sectional competition against Morenci, Pima and Thatcher. San Manuel started the day off with beating the Morenci Wildcats 40 – 32, the defending sectional champions who placed third at state in 2012. Colten Smith majored defending state champion R.J. Dalton 13 – 2.
The Miners then faced off against Pima crushing the Rough Riders 60 – 12.
The last dual of the night was against host Thatcher, the matches went back and forth throughout the duals, the score ended up in a tie 39 – 39 but the tie breaker went to the Eagles based on the criteria that Thatcher had one more pin than the Miners.
Individual results against Pima: wrestling at 106lbs Carlos Salas –open; wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs – Martin Rodriguez won by fall over Chris Cain in 1:10; wrestling at 132 lbs Gary Maestas – open; wrestling at 138 lbs Bryce Main – open, wrestling at 145 lbs Mario Sanchez – open; wrestling at 152 lbs Colten Smith –open; wrestling at 160 lbs Adrian Torres – open; wrestling at 170 lbs – Nick Wright won by decision over Paul Espiniza 9 – 4; wrestling at 182 lbs – Roberto Guerrero lost by fall to James Calvin in : 40; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso won by decision over Aaron Larson 2 – 0; and wrestling at 285 lbs Michael Sanchez – open.
Individual results against Thatcher: wrestling at 106 lbs – Carlos Salas lost by fall to Kason Bryce in :47; wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs – Martin Rodriguez won by decision over Vinny Quintana 1 – 0; wrestling at 132 lbs – Gary Maestas lost by fall to Caleb Radley in 3:55; wrestling at 138 lbs Bryce Main – open; wrestling at 145 lbs Mario Sanchez – open; wrestling at 152 lbs – Colten Smith won by fall over Shawn Junley in 1:36;wrestling at 160 lbs – Adrian Torres lost by decision to Heath Motes 11 – 17;wrestling at170 lbs Nick Wright – open, wrestling at 182 lbs – Roberto Guerrero won by fall over Dagan Allen in 3:12; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso lost by fall to K. Kellwood in 1:25, and wrestling at 285 lbs – Michael Sanchez lost by fall to Tyler Jensen in 2:15.
Individual results against Morenci: wrestling at 106 lbs – Carlos Salas lost by fall to Joe Guerra in : 39; wrestling at 120 lbs – Anthony Lopez won by fall over Clayton Breshears in 1:08; wrestling at 126 lbs – Martin Rodriguez won by fall over Darrin Gonzales in 4:35; wrestling at 132 lbs – Gary Maestas lost by technical fall to Steven Gutierrez 0-15; wrestling at 138 lbs – Bryce Main lost by decision to Chris Barnett 3 – 7; wrestling at 145 lbs – Mario Sanchez lost by fall to Derrik Rios in : 55; wrestling at 152 lbs – Colten Smith won by decision over RJ Dalton 13 – 2; wrestling at 160 lbs – Adrian Torres won by fall over Ramiro Gonzalez in 2:44; wrestling at 170 lbs Nick Wright – open; wrestling at 182 lbs – Roberto Guerrero lost by fall to Matt Miller in 2:46; wrestling at 220 lbs Manny Reynoso – open; and wrestling at
285 lbs Michael Sanchez – open.
Head Coach Daniel Najera said “We’re challenging the best teams in our section with a very young squad. We’re giving up a few weight classes and have a lot of freshman getting Varsity experience. It’s going to be interesting once we have a full line up. We have a big test this weekend in Camp Verde. The boys are ready for it.”
The Miners tied up at the at the 17th Annual Verde Duals Invitational in Camp Verde on December 7th and 8th, San Manuel faced some tough competition with Camp Verde placing 2nd at state in 2012, also in attendance were some top teams in Division II, III and IV.
After seven team duals, the top four wrestlers in each pool qualify for an eight man bracket Tournament. The Miners finished with a 4 – 3 dual record and a 7th overall placing. San Manuel had a strong showing as 10 Miner wrestlers came home with a medal.
In the final team results the Miners took down Sunnyslope 45 – 27, beat River Valley 60 – 24, fell to Chino Valley 32 – 41, lost to Verrado 33 – 45, were out manned against Marana Mt.View 16 – 61, and redeemed themselves over Mingus 48 – 24.
In the Individual Results, Colten Smith took 2nd place at 152 pounds, Adrian Torres took 2nd place at 160 pounds, Martin Rodriguez took 4th place at 126 pounds, Michael Sanchez took 4th place at Heavy Weight, Anthony Lopez took 5th place at 120 pounds, Shane Kelly took 6th place at 152 pounds, Nicholas Wright took 6th place at 170 pounds, Bryce Main took 7th place at 138 pounds, Jared Gonzales took 7th place at 145 pounds, and Carlos Salas took 8th place at 106 pounds.
Coach Najera said, “This was a very tough tournament, every wrestler had seven to nine matches. We were able to bring five JV wrestlers who were able to wrestle for an all star team made up of wrestlers from other schools, two of our JV wrestlers placed in this tournament. Wrestling against top competition helps us gauge where we’re at and where we need to be. We’re continuing to improve but there’s a lot of room for improvement. We’re very proud of our boys.
Adrian Torres was chosen as the wrestler of the week and finished with a 10-2 record this week. Adrian, one of our team captains is ready to wrestle every time he steps on the mat. He’s very physical, coachable and one of the top wrestlers in the state. He hasn’t missed a practice this year and his success speaks for itself. His leadership is impressive. Adrian comes to practice early and stays late to help our young wrestlers improve their technique. Adrian is the type of wrestler every coach wants on their team.”
The Miners hosted a Multi-Meet on December 11th taking on Morenci, Benson, Cienaga, Hayden and Tohono O’ Odham.
San Manuel defeated Tohono O’ Odaham 72 – 6, shut out Hayden 78 – 0, handled Benson 50 – 18, fell to Cienaga 24 – 60, and got slammed by Morenci 9 – 63.
Individual results against Tohono O’ Odaham: wrestling at 106 lbs Marco Salas – open; wrestling at 113 lbs Frankie Tamayo – open, wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs Patrick Lopez – open; wrestling at 132 lbs – Cisco Medina won by fall over Lillian Matte in 1:19; wrestling at 138 lbs Bryce Main – open; wrestling at 145 lbs Shane Kelly – open; wrestling at 152 lbs Jared Gonzales – open; wrestling at 160 lbs Adrian Torres – open; wrestling at 170 lbs – Antonio Montes lost by fall Troy Garcia in 2:26; wrestling at 182 lbs Roberto Guerrero – open; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso won by fall Rodrick Manuel in 1:08; and wrestling at 285 lbs Michael Sanchez – open.
Individual results against Hayden: wrestling at 106 lbs Marco Salas – open; wrestling at 113 lbs Frankie Tamayo – open; wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs Patrick Lopez – open; wrestling at 132 lbs Cisco Medina – open; wrestling at 138 lbs Bryce Main – open; wrestling at145 lbs Shane Kelly – open; wrestling at 152 lbs Jared Gonzales – open; wrestling 160 lbs Adrian Torres – open; wrestling at 170 lbs Antonio Montes – open; wrestling at 182 lbs Roberto Guerrero – open; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso won by fall Juan Hernandez in 3:55; and wrestling at 285 lbs – Michael Sanchez won by fall Francisco Moreno in 3:07.
Individual results against Benson: wrestling at106 lbs – Marco Salas lost by fall to Chance Sutton in 3:39; wrestling at 113 lbs – Frankie Tamayo lost by decision to Logan Moncada 6 – 11; wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs Patrick Lopez – open; wrestling at132 lbs Cisco Medina – open; wrestling at 138 lbs Bryce Main – open; wrestling at 145 lbs – Shane Kelly won by technical fall over Pirrah Maakestad 16 – 0; wrestling at 152 lbs – Jared Gonzales lost by decision to J. Owen 14 – 16; wrestling at 160 lbs – Adrian Torres won by decision over Kieran Maakestad 10 – 2; wrestling at 170 lbs – Antonio Montes lost by fall to Joey Simpson in : 17; wrestling at 182 lbs Roberto Guerrero – open; wrestling at 220 lbs Manny Reynoso – open; wrestling at 285 lbs Michael Sanchez – open.
Individual results against Cienaga: wrestling at 106 lbs – Marco Salas lost by fall to Jason Salas in : 39; wrestling at 113 lbs Frankie Tamayo – open; wrestling at 120 lbs Anthony Lopez – open; wrestling at 126 lbs – Patrick Lopez lost by fall to Brandon Cross in : 37; wrestling at 132 lbs – Cisco Medina lost by fall in 1:39; wrestling at 138 lbsBryce Main – open; wrestling at 145 lbs – Shane Kelly lost by fall to Angelo Castagnaro in 3:20; wrestling at 152 lbs – Jared Gonzales lost by fall to RJ Brown in 3:03; wrestling at 160 lbs – Adrian Torres won by fall over Enrique Quirque Quiroz in 2:40; wrestling at 170 lbs – Antonio Montes lost by fall to RJ Gudeman in : 23; wrestling at 182 lbs – Roberto Guerrero lost by fall to Jesus Longo in 3:12; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso lost by fall to Will Walker in : 46; and wrestling at 285 lbs – Michael Sanchez lost by fall to Adrian Hinojos in 3:00.
Individual results against Morenci: wrestling at 106 lbs – Carlos Salas lost by fall to Joe Guerra in : 54; wrestling at 113 lbs – Frankie Tamayo won by decision over Cota 7 – 6; wrestling at 120 lbs – Anthony Lopez lost by fall to Breshears in 2:52; wrestling at 126 lbs – Patrick Lopez lost by fall to Darrin Gonzalez in 1:44; wrestling at 132 lbs – Cisco Medina lost by fall to Steven Gutierrez in 1:20; wrestling at 138 lbs – Bryce Main lost by decision to Chris Barnett 1 – 4; wrestling at 145 lbs – Shane Kelly lost by fall to Derrick Rios in: 46; wrestling at 152 lbs – Jared Gonzales lost by fall to RJ Daltonin:13; wrestling at 160 lbs – Adrian Torres won by fall Rivera in 4:47; wrestling at 170 lbs – Antonio Montes lost by fall to Espinosain:42; wrestling at 182 lbs – Roberto Guerrero lost by fall to Miller in 2:07; wrestling at 220 lbs – Manny Reynoso lost by fall to Frank Ogas in: 15; and wrestling at 285 lbs – Michael Sanchez lost by fall to Robledo in: 23.
Coach Najera said, “The Wrestler of the week is Bryce Main, Bryce has shown improvement every time he steps on the mat this season. His senior leadership and positive attitude has helped himdevelop into a respectable young man. Bryce is always asking the coaching what he can do to get better. Bryce takes on all challengers and has a heart of a lion. He’s been a great asset to our team. ”
The Miners will head over to Marana Dec 21-22 to take part in the Marana Mountain View Duals Tournament.
To comment on this article and others visit the Copper Area News Facebook or send us an email at CBNSun@MinerSunBasin.com
by by