by 
By Frank Smith
The San Manuel Miner wrestling team completed the first half of the wrestling season competing at the Arizona State University Steven Blackford Dual Championships during the holiday break on Dec. 28 and 29 in Mesa. Thirty-two of Arizona’s top teams were invited to attend this prestigious event named after ASU’s wrestler, Steven Blackford, who tragically died in a car accident.
The Miners wrestled well, finishing with a 3 – 3 record and taking third place in their pool. Individually, the Miners had two wrestlers go undefeated: Adrian Torres at 138 pounds and Gilbert Boyer at 220.
Team results, San Manuel went down to Horizon 23 – 51, had a close call against Highland losing 31 – 31 (32) on the judges criteria, took down Flowing Wells 52 – 21, handled Phoenix North 56 – 24, couldn’t hold down Mesa Red Mountain 21 – 33, and controlled Mogollon 48 – 24.
Individually, wrestling at 106 pounds, Frankie Tamayo lost by fall in 2:10 to Horizon, lost by decision 4 – 12 to Highland, won by fall in 3:12 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :32 over Phoenix North, lost by fall in :47 to Mesa Red Mountain, and lost by fall in 2:40 to Mogollon for a record of 2 – 4.
Wrestling at 113 pounds, Orlando Duarte lost by fall in 1:32 to Horizon, won by fall in 4:53 over Highland, lost by fall in 3:52 to Flowing Wells, lost by fall in 3:15 to Phoenix North, lost by decision 1 – 3 to Mesa Red Mountain, and won by decision 11 – 9 over Mogollon for a record of 2 – 4.
Wrestling at 120 pounds, Carlos Duarte won by decision 5 – 18 over Horizon, won by forfeit over Highland, won by fall in 2:21 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :35 over Phoenix North, won by decision 3 – 1 over Mesa Red Mountain, and won by forfeit over Mogollon for a record of 5 – 1.
Wrestling at 126 pounds, Anthony Lopez won by decision 16 – 0 over Horizon, won by decision 9 – 6 over Highland, won by decision 9 – 1 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in 1:14 over North Phoenix, lost by fall in 1:10 to Mesa Red Mountain, and lost by fall in :30 to Mogollon for a record of 4 – 2.
Wrestling at 132 pounds, Nathaniel Lopez won by fall in :45 over Horizon, lost by decision 2 – 5 to Highland, won by fall in 3:32 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :32 over Phoenix North, lost by decision 3 – 10 to Mesa Red Mountain, lost by fall in 1:26 to Mogollon for a record of 3 – 3.
Wrestling at 138 pounds, Adrian Torres won by fall :21 over Horizon, won by decision 9 – 0 Highland, won by fall in 4:39 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :36 over Phoenix North, won by decision 7 – 3 to Mesa Red Mountain , and won by fall in 2:48 over Mogollon for a record of 6 – 0.
Wrestling at 145 pounds, Colten Smith lost by decision 9 – 24 to Horizon, won by fall in 3:59 over Highland, won by fall in :51 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :33 over Phoenix North, won by decision 9 – 8 over Mesa Red Mountain, and won by decision13 – 9 over Mogollon for a record of 5 – 1.
Wrestling at 152 pounds, Martin Seballos lost by decision 0 – 12 to Horizon, lost by fall in 4:55to Highland, won by fall in 1:38 over Flowing Wells, won by decision 15 – 0 over Phoenix North, won by decision 10 – 4 over Mesa Red Mountain, and won by fall in 2:47 over Mogollon for a record of 4 – 2.
Wrestling at 160 pounds, Vincent Valdez lost by decision 7 – 23 to Horizon, lost by fall in :30 to Highland, won by fall in 1:20 over Flowing Wells, won by decision 11 – 6 over Phoenix North, lost by fall in 1:29 to Mesa Red Mountain, and won by forfeit over Mogollon for a record of 3 – 3.
Wrestling at 170 pounds, Shane Kelly lost by fall in :15 to Horizon, lost by fall in 1:07 to Highland, lost by fall in :31 to Flowing Wells, lost by fall in 3:25 to Phoenix North, lost by fall in :31 to Mesa Red Mountain, and won by forfeit over Mogollon for a record of 1 – 5.
Wrestling at 195 pounds, Anthony Salazar lost by decision 5 – 10 to Horizon, lost by fall in :30 to Highland, lost by decision 2 – 8 to Flowing Wells, won by fall in 4:39over Phoenix North, won by forfeit over Mesa Red Mountain, and won by forfeit over Mogollon for a record of 3 – 3.
Wrestling at 220 pounds, Gilbert Boyer won by fall in 2:49 over Horizon, won by forfeit over Highland, won by fall in 4:11 over Flowing Wells, won by fall in :37 over Phoenix North, won by fall in 3:12 over Mesa Red Mountain, and won by forfeit over Mogollon for a record of 6 – 0.
Head Coach Manny Yubeta said, “Gilbert really has solidified the line-up after sitting out most of the first part of the season. Colten Smith also had two great days of wrestling, finishing with a 5-1 record, losing a controversial match to the undefeated wrestler from Horizon High School. Colten pinned his opponent in the third period and was awarded the win, before the Horizon coach protested saying that a technical fall occurred before the pin. The referee sorted through the score and reversed his decision giving the win to the Horizon wrestler. Senior 120 pounds. Carlos Duarte wrestled tough, losing only one match; a decision to Horizon, finishing with a 5-1 record also.”
The Miners will take to the mat today at Empire High School in Vail to begin the second half of the season. Wrestling begins at 4 p.m.
by by