The mix of experienced and inexperienced talent on the Mingus Union High School wrestling team has enjoyed a good season, learning and improving every week.
It competed at Camp Verde High School on Jan. 18. in a five-way dual meet.
The other three schools were Northland Preparatory Academy, Bradshaw Mountain High School and Mayer High School.
“We are having a really good season,” head coach Kirk Waddle said. “The kids exceeded my expectations and they exceeded their expectations.”
Marauders sophomore Trent Miller [138] had the match of the day, dropping a 6-5 decision to three-time state champion senior Hayden Uhler of Camp Verde. It was a significant improvement compared to the last time the two faced off.
“I was just glad I got that close because he’s just an awesome wrestler,” Miller said. “Me as a sophomore it was a great accomplishment. I’m definitely looking forward to state.”
At the Embry Riddle Multiple on Nov. 26, Uhler pinned Miller. Miller said that his goal this time around was not to get pinned and keep it close, and “definitely surpassed that goal losing by one point.”
“It was a good match, he needed a little bit more time and there would have been a different outcome,” Waddle said. “Those were two really skilled wrestlers wrestling really cautiously.”
Miller pinned his opponent in his other three matches, and other members of the team stood out as well.
Junior 152-pounder Nick Doerkson won all four of his matches, pinning three and taking a 5-3 decision against Camp Verde senior Oscar Berrelez.
Sophomore Michael Thurman [126] pinned his opponents from Mayer, Bradshaw Mountain and Northland Prep and was pinned by Kayden Uhler of Camp Verde.
Junior Lucas Svoboda [145] only wrestled twice, getting a pin against Bradshaw Mountain and a 8-3 decision against Camp Verde junior Daniel White.
Looking at team scores, the Marauders beat Mayer 54-18 and Northland Prep 48-30, and lost 48-24 to Bradshaw Mountain and 63-12 to Camp Verde. The team drops 24 points by forfeits in every dual.
On Jan. 13 and 14 half of the team traveled to the Doc Wright Invitational, where Svoboda took third place and Doerkson sixth.
Waddle noted that it is a competitive tournament that attracts wrestlers from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Nevada, and that after the second round the remaining competitors are all of a state-champion level.
One year ago, only one Marauder made it to day two of the tournament; this year four did.
“It bodes well for our sectionals,” Waddle said. “The kids got with it and got in shape, they just listen.”
As of Jan. 11, the Marauders had faced off with all of their section opponents after they traveled to Coconino High School for a three-way dual against Chinle High School, Monument Valley High School and the host Panthers.
While the wrestlers who will represent Division III, Section IV at the Arizona Interscholastic Association State Championships will be decided at the sectional championships on Feb. 4 at Payson High School, the Marauders now know what all of their competition looks like. The top four from each weight class qualify for state.
“I’m hoping our five guys make state,” Waddle said, referring to the only returning varsity wrestlers from a year ago.
The young wrestlers have made strides of their own.
“The guys are doing moves we were working on this week,” Waddle said. “They see that they work. We’re getting better as a team.”
The Marauders defeated Chinle, 48-36.
Svoboda, Doerkson and sophomore Cody Wager [160] each pinned their opponents. Sophomore Zachary Moreno [170] and freshman Bryan Griffin [195] were both pinned.
Against Coconino, Mingus fell 43-31.
Moreno, Miller and senior Charles Hardy [182] pinned their opponents. Svoboda got a major decision and Doerkson a decision while sophomore Nick Lodico [126] lost by a major decision, Thurman lost by a decision and Wager was pinned.
Mingus rounded out the meet with a 45-34 loss to Monument Valley due to forfeits.
Thurman, Miller, Doerkson and Griffin pinned, while Wager and Moreno and freshman Braden Arnold [106] were pinned. Svoboda earned a 15-5 major decision and Lodico lost in a decision, 7-5.
