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Gilbert Rodriguez 1st in weight class
San Manuel freshman Gilbert Rodriguez (106) capped off a busy week by winning his weight class at last weekend’s William Bell Tournament at Sabino High School.
Rodriguez went undefeated (8 – 0) in the tournament and was one of seven Miners to place at the 16-team event, in which San Manuel went 5 – 3 and finished sixth as the only 2A school in the field.
TJ Madrid
Other Miners who placed include Saul Quijada (120 – 3rd), TJ Madrid (132 – 4th), Michael Martinez (170 – 5th), Ruben Hernandez (182 – 4th), Adrian Romero (195 – 6th), and Max Fisher (220 – 2nd).
Ruben Hernandez
Earlier last week, the Miners opened the 2017-18 season against Division II State Champion Marana Mountain View, which outmanned San Manuel, 58 – 15.
Even though the Miners were overmatched, they were not intimidated and battled and scrapped throughout the evening. Rodriguez and Hernandez were the only Miners to take away victories versus their Lions’ opponents.
Max Fisher
Last Wednesday, the Miners battled their second-straight defending state champion from a year ago at the Morenci Multi-Meet, which also included Globe, Thatcher and Miami.
Daniel Garcia
San Manuel went 2 – 2, defeating Globe (42 – 36) and Thatcher (36 – 21) while losing against Division IV Champion Morenci (58 – 9) and a beatable Miami (41 – 30) team.
On an inexperienced team that includes four freshmen in the starting lineup, a four-hour bus trip created a challenge for the Miners’ rookies.
Rodriguez and Romero both finished 4 – 0 at the meet. Fisher and Cisco Curry (160) finished 3 – 1. Quijada, Madrid and Hernandez each went 2 – 2.
Adrian Romero
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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