Capital High wrestlers impressive Wednesday afternoon in 51-24 win over visiting Las Vegas Robertson

Capital High wrestlers impressive Wednesday afternoon in 51-24 win over visiting Las Vegas Robertson, claiming 10 of the 14 matches

Jaguars still have junior Jacob Jiron and sophomore Jonathan Romero on the injury list, but half of the victories over the Cardinals came from sophomores

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

It was the first time that Capital High lined up against Robertson in a wrestling dual meet, and it was an impressing showing by the Jaguars of head coach Marcos Gallegos.

“We had a good meet with them,” Gallegos said following a 51-24 win over the 8-time state 3A and 4A champions in the Capital gymnasium. “They had most of their top wrestlers, but they figure to be better as the season goes along.”

But this was the Jags’ time in their fourth meet of the campaign. They won 10 of the 14 bouts, and both teams came away with two forfeits each. The Capital strength was applied by victories from five sophomores, three seniors, and a junior and freshman.

Junior Jacob Jiron is still recovering from a broken thumb injury that came during the football season, and sophomore Jonathan Romero is also on the injury list, but the Jaguars still have reigning state champions in sophomore Jasper Mares and senior Ryan Romero.

Winning over the Cardinals is always special. Not only have they won team titles, but have had two 5-time individual champions, three who have won four times, and four victorious three times, including most recent Jonathan Trujillo, who won number three last year.

Last year, Robertson placed third in 4A, but Capital had its best-ever finish by taking the runners-up spot a year after coming in third. Now the Jaguars look to move up one more spot and win their first state championship.

“We’re doing good,” Gallegos said, “but we still have plenty of work to do.”

Junior Manuel Carrillo won via a forfeit in the 220 weight, as did sophomore Brian Gutierrez at 152. But sophomore Emma George, whose brothers wrestled for Santa Fe High and Capital, won on a 12-9 decision in the 106 weight, and Ryan Romero took a 2-0 decision at 120.

Then there was senior Andres Ryan winning at 126 on a fall in 4:31, and Mares victorious on a fall in 3:05 in the 132 weight. In the 145 match, sophomore Isiah Baldonardo won via a fall in 2:32, in the 170 bout, senior Lucas McNatt also emerged with a fall in 2:58 of 170, and there was freshman Julian Sanchez taking his 195 match with a fall in 2:54.

In the 182 weight, sophomore Abel Barraza won on a 8-3 decision.