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San Manuel Junior High School eighth-graders Raymond Garcia (93), Vicente Curry (111) and Aiden Lozoya (245) won the championships of their respective weight divisions at the Central Junior High League Wrestling Championships, which took place at San Manuel Jr/Sr High School on Thursday, Jan. 16.
In addition to the three champions, four other Jr. Miners placed at the annual event, where SMJHS finished third as a team. Seventh-grader Sean McDermott (88) placed third while eighth-graders Elmer Smith (125), Richard Ivy (133) and Augustine Romero (142) placed second, third, and second, respectively.
“For being such a small team of seven wrestlers, these kids had the fight of three teams,” San Manuel Sr. High head coach Michael Borg told the Miner. “There was no stopping them from practice to dual meets and tournaments; they were always prepared for war.
“These young men represented the school and their coaches very well, bringing the hard-nosed action of San Manuel wrestling with them every match they wrestled. Miner Pride was exhibited in every one of these young wrestlers.”
The Jr. Miners will travel to Prescott Valley to compete at the Arizona Junior High School Wrestling State Championships Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2020.
Richard Ivy working to take his opponent. Photo by Pacey Smith-Garcia 
San Manuel Junior High School Wrestling Team. Photo by Bino Sanchez
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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