CHS wrestlers fall at Roswell

ROSWELL — When he took the job as the coach of Clovis High’s first-year wrestling program, Eric Zottneck knew there would be some growing pains for his squads.

Tuesday night, the Wildcats took on an established Class 5A program and absorbed some lumps in a 58-15 loss to the Coyotes.

“It was a good opportunity for us to see an established program,” Zottneck said. “It was good to see (the Coyotes’) technique and for our guys to experience that.”

Clovis picked up a forfeit victory for eighth-grader Nolan Rodriguez at 126 pounds and two wins on the mat — junior 170-pounder Michael Tree scored an 8-2 triumph over Luis Tejada, while junior heavyweight Gregorio Cordova notched a first-period pin against the Coyotes’ Raymond Gonzales.

With only five seniors on 24-man roster which also includes four eighth-graders and eight freshmen, Zottneck is starting the process of turning the Cats into a competitive program. It will take some time.

“Their coach (Jesse Boggs) came up to me and said, ‘You guys are scrappers. I think you’ll be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years,” Zottneck said.

The Coyotes won 10 matches — nine by fall and a 12-4 major decision worth four team points at 195 pounds by senior Moises Rodriguez over the Cats’ Semaj Satcher.

Clovis, which won its first home dual on Jan. 8 against Artesia 52-21 at Rock Staubus Gym, figured to get a much tougher test on Saturday when they welcomed West Las Vegas to The Rock. As with Roswell High, no girls matches were expected.

The next competition on the schedule is District 4-5A duals at Roswell, slated for Feb. 5.