Cats' Madrid places ninth at state

RIO RANCHO – Four members of the Clovis High wrestling program represented the school over the weekend in state competition at Rio Rancho Events Center, and each came away with at least one win.

Senior Fidel Madrid led the way, earning ninth place with a 2-2 record in the boys’ 139-pound division. He lost in the opening round to sophomore Justin Owens of Carlsbad by major decision 9-0, then came back to pin Mayfield junior Chase Kaufman in the second period and defeat junior Bubba Marrujo of Roswell High 7-4 before being ousted in a second-period pin La Cueva junior Mohammad Rasheed 9-0.

“It’s a major accomplishment,” CHS coach Eric Zottneck said of Madrid. “It’s a reflection of the team’s success as well. Fidel’s success is due to his individual skill and hard work, and also to the training and support of his team.”

Also for the Wildcats, eighth-grader Leyton Collazo at 152 and junior Michael Weist both posted 1-2 records for the weekend.

Collazo won his first-round match against junior Samuel Harrison of Hobbs by third-period pin, then lost to La Cueva junior Jack Byers by first-period pin and to junior Oswaldo Valdez of West Mesa by technical fall at 19-3. Weist lost to Sandia sophomore Robert DeHerrera by second-period pin, then won by forfeit over Mayfield sophomore Joseph Aguilar before losing to Alamogordo senior Charles Hinson by first-period pin.

For the Lady Wildcats, sophomore Sophie Collazo won her first-round tilt against freshman Annika Villanueva of Hobbs by second-period fall, then lost by second-period pin to junior Jade Blackhart of Los Alamos and by third-period pin to junior Kelsi Brown of Piedra Vista.

Collazo became the Lady Wildcats’ first state qualifier in the three-year history of the program.

“Sophie demonstrated exceptional grit, determination and drive,” Zottneck said. “(She) has left a remarkable impression on her coaches, teammates, and the whole school community.”

Volcano Vista claimed the boys’ team title with 253 ½ points to 206 ½ for runnerup Rio Rancho Cleveland. The Storm won the girls’ team championship, finishing with 102 1/2 points to 95 for Atrisco Heritage.