By Arnie Leshin
St. Michael’s High School will send a half dozen individuals to the 2018 State Wrestling tournament next weekend,
February 16-17, at the Santa Anna Star Center. Leading the Horsemen state qualifiers were seniors Dominic Smith and Sam
Baca bringing home individual gold medalist honors as district champions last Saturday at Tucumcari High School. Smith
advanced uncontested through the 138 bracket to the championship semis where he scored a fall over Pojoaque Valley’s Aaron
Ortiz at 3:58 and later claimed a 3-0 decision over 35 match winner Jonathan Garcia of Taos, for the 138 pound title.
Baca cruised to the 152 pound championship with a quarter-final walk-over, followed by a first period fall in the semi-finals over
Bernalillo’s Joaquin Romero-Mares and capped off his campaign with a fall at 2:31over Simon Ortiz of Tucumcari. Sam (31-8) will
make his 5th state appearance and for Dominic (32-5) it will be his second trip to the big show. Both are returning state bronze
medalists. Also earning all district finalist honors was junior Tao Reginald, finishing second at 275 to earn his first trip to state, along with
sophomore Kaleb Herndon with his best performance, highlighted by a couple big wins to place 4th in a tough 160 class. Sophomore
Karim Perez earns his second state birth with a dramatic win to place 5th at 195, with 8th grader Daymon Lujan finishing 5th at 120 to
round out St. Mike’s state qualifiers.
“It’s an incredible, fulfilling experience to mold young athletes and witness their transition.” commented St. Mike’s Head Coach
Tommy Trujillo. “Sam and Dominic embody what it takes to thrive in wrestling, both coachable, self sacrificing and leaders by
example. Watching the underclassmen struggle with their technique and then seeing them progress throughout the season, I literally
see the gleam in their eyes when they realize this growth. That is why I coach.”