By Don Eskins\
The always tough Las Cruces Wrestling Invitational got a lot tougher in 2024. This year, along with teams from Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, the City of Crosses tournament added a few teams from California.
The event—a big one—took place on Friday and Saturday, December 13-14.
“This year’s tournament was really a tough one for everybody on both sides of the bracket,” said CHS head wrestling coach Mark Pratt. “But despite the difficulty of the tournament, I feel like our kids wrestled well.”
That was especially true for Cavegirl Mya Cornejo. The CHS senior, wrestling at 132 lbs., battled her way to the tournament final before dropping a match. Overall, she registered a record of 4-1 en route to finishing as the tourney’s 132 runner-up.
“We’re especially proud of the effort we got from Mya,” said Pratt. “She’s one of our leaders, and she certainly showed why at Las Cruces.”
Andera Ramirez, who wrestles at 100 lbs., also turned in a good performance. A senior and team leader as well, she compiled a record of 4-2 and just missed the finals. Close behind Ramirez were Ellianna Campos at 126 lbs. and Arianna Campos at 185. Both grapplers posted records of 3-2.
Overall, the Cavegirls placed 12th in a field of 36. In the boys’ competition, the Cavemen placed 16th. Forty teams participated in the meet.
Guess Box, at 133, and Francisco Calderon, at 152, paced the Cavemen effort in Las Cruces. Both Box and Calderon posted 5-2 records. Jack Waters, at 160, went 4-2.
“We had to sit several of our front liners due to previous injuries, but the young kids who filled in for them—some of them eighth graders—did very well,” said the CHS coach. “We also had a couple of our kids sustain injuries in Las Cruces and had to take medical forfeits. But, in an exceptional field of wrestlers, our guys gave it their all.”
“Overall, I think the tournament was a very good one for both the boys and girls,” he said. “On the mats, they were very aggressive and in attack mode, which is exactly what we’ve been pushing them to do.”
The Cavegirls will see action next at the Rio Hondo Scuffle on Friday, December 20, at Roswell High School. The Cavemen will compete in the Scuffle on Saturday, December 21.
Team Results:
Placed 16th of 40
114- Aiden Rodriguez 1-0 (Med forfeit out); 121- Axel Rodriguez 0-2 (8th grader); 127- Mathyis Merir 2-2; 133- Guess Box 5-2; 145- Carter Pulice 2-2 (8th grader); 152- Francisco Calderon 5-2; 160- Jack Waters 4-2; 172- Xavier Huff 1-2 (Med. forfeit out); 189- Geremiah West 2-2; 215-Jaxon Powell 2-1. Team Results:
Placed 12th of 36
100- Andrea Ramirez 4-2; 114- Emily Fuentes 2-2; 120 - Breanna Trujillo 0-2; 126- Ellianna Campos 3-2; 132- Mya Cornejo 4-1, 2nd; 165- Jacklin Powell 1-2; 185- Arianna Campos 3-2.
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