Camp Verde High School will need far more help to overcome itself, much less the energy of Morenci Junior/Senior High School and other Division IV rivals.
Just seven wrestlers were eligible for the Cowboys’ first meet at home, as half a team wasn’t enough to overcome Morenci on Nov. 24.
“Morenci, they came all the way over here because they wanted us, and they called us, too,” said Mario Chagolla Sr., CVHS assistant wrestling coach. “They were loaded for buck, man.
“They defeated our JV. They did OK, but they wouldn’t have done it to our varsity. I feel sorry for them, the next time we play them.”
Chagolla saved his 195-pound grandson, Favian, for Verde Duals on Friday, Dec. 4, after he suffered a knee injury in practice.
“We didn’t have anybody at 106, 120, 126, 132 [or] 138,” Chagolla said. “We’re only waiting on one kid for Duals, but I don’t know what’s going on.”
Sophomore heavyweight Jesus Curiel had to come in before 5 a.m. just to make weight, Chagolla added — as he was 11 pounds over the 285-pound limit.
But at least four of the ineligible wrestlers are expected back Thursday, Dec. 3, for Verde Duals.
“Our studs are still studs,” head coach Tracy Tudor said. “They’re doing what it takes to get those grades up. We didn’t hurt at all. We feel pretty good.”
Senior Hawk Brown went 2-2 but impressed in his debut.
“He’s brand new, basically,” Chagolla said. “That kid lost 72 pounds this summer. He went on Tudor’s diet — it’s strict. It’s all proteins: No sweets, no salt.”
Brown rides his bicycle 10 miles round-trip to practice five days a week at the Sterrett Wrestling Complex.
“That kid, it could be raining and he’d still be riding his bike,” Chagolla said. “One of our parents saw him riding at night — he doesn’t have any reflectors or anything — and bought him a battery-powered light. That kid was so excited.”
At his weight, Brown was impressed most by his opponent from Mayer High School, but he managed to win against both of his opponents by pin using moves such as the bullride and an over-the-top cradle move.
“For some reason, I was just dragging him around,” Brown said of his opponent from Window Rock High School. “He was just balled up. I think he was just kind of panicking. I just went over the top and brought him back. He didn’t manage to get me.”
