Sectional and state wrestling titles are still Camp Verde High School’s to lose.
After all the ineligibilities and injuries that seemingly rocked the CVHS varsity wrestling program to its core headed into its Division IV, Section II meet in Buckeye, by three points, the Cowboys still emerged victorious.
In what assistant coach Mario Chagolla Sr. described as “nothing short of a miracle,” nine out of 10 Cowboys finished in the top four Saturday, Feb. 6 — three of them bringing home individual titles — to defeat Arizona Lutheran Academy, 170-167, and advance to the Division IV state championships.
“It really was impressive,” head coach Tracy Tudor said. “We peaked at the right time and came together as a team.”
But another sectional title did not appear in the cards for CVHS this year after repeated ineligibility forced Tudor to release four varsity wrestlers prior to the meet at Youngker High School.
“Those are four of our studs,” Tudor said. “They would’ve really put us over the top if we would’ve had them for State.”
To add injury to that academic insult, senior Alex Casillas, a three-time state champion, dislocated his shoulder at a Page High School meet the week before, leaving him out for the season.
“He is devastated and heartbroken,” Chagolla said. “He hugged his brother with emotions high and asked him to carry on the torch of victory for him.”
Which junior Ezekiel Casillas would, at 120 pounds. Junior Hayden Uhler and senior Matt Mejia would sweep through the 126- and 132-pound competitors for individual titles.
Junior Daniel White provided the surprise of the meet, wrestling 25 pounds above his weight to make a run to the championship match at 138 pounds.
“I’ve got to admit, he just beat them on technique,” Tudor said. “Those guys had him outmuscled, and he is a meek, mild kid.
“It honestly just looked like the guy knew his stuff better. He’s getting more confident, more skilled.”
Otherwise, it was all sophomores and junior varsity players who, in Chagolla’s words, “stepped up to the plate and came out swinging. It was amazing.”
Heavyweight Jesus Curiel, a sophomore, also made a run to the championship before getting pinned.
Two of Chagolla’s family, nephew Anthony and grandson Favian, also had top three finishes.
“He never really wrestled a full season before,” Tudor said of Anthony Chagolla, a 160-pound junior transfer from Peoria. “So this is his first full season this year.”
Freshman Favian Chagolla battled his way to the 195-pound championship match despite sustaining a meniscus injury a few weeks ago that lingered throughout sectionals, Tudor said.
“He didn’t want to go to the doctor,” he said. “He didn’t want to miss this opportunity.”
With the previous 145- and 152-pound starters ineligible and subsequently dismissed, junior Jay McFarland and sophomore Kevin Oothoudt were pulled up from junior varsity. While they lost their third-place matches, they combined for four wins and valuable points.
“Our opponents were at our heels all the way through the tournament,” Mario Chagolla said. “They quickly took note that we were missing seven critical starters and came out of the starting gate in full pace.”
So every point would count, as the lone Cowboy not to place and advance, senior Hawk Brown, would nevertheless pin Jose Diaz, from Parker High School, in 2:18 in the consolation round to provide the narrow margin of ultimate victory at 220 pounds.
“That is why you coach,” Tudor said. “You hear that canned phrase all the time, ‘It isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish.’ What’s special about this year is it’s true. We’ve never felt better, even if we hadn’t come out champions.”
The Cowboys face an uphill battle, still, to win their fourth Division IV state championship in four seasons.
Second-place Arizona Lutheran will bring 13 wrestlers to Prescott Valley and “could finish strong,” Tudor said.
Florence, Morenci, St. Johns and Winslow high schools will bring similar numbers and should pose the rest of the challenge to four-peat.
“I will always think we’re the favorite going in,” Tudor said. “Anything can happen. It’s going to be pretty close.
We’re going to need a little bit of help. We’re going to beat each other up and see how it comes out.”
The only other Verde Valley wrestler who will travel to the state wrestling tournament is Mingus Union High School freshman Trent Miller. Miller wrestled up a weight class at 132 pounds to finish runner-up at the Division III, Section I meet Feb. 6 at Bradshaw Mountain High School on what was otherwise “not a good day” for the Marauders, head coach Tim McKeever said.
For more photos and full Cowboys sectional finishes, please see the Wednesday, Feb. 10, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
