Socorro wrestling heads to state

The Socorro girls wrestling team had five girls qualify for state during competition Thursday, Feb. 10.
Greg Byrd | El Defensor Chieftain

Five Socorro girls and 13 boys qualified for the state wrestling championship set for Friday and Saturday in Rio Rancho.

The girls state qualifier was Thursday, Feb. 10. The Warriors had eight girls wrestle. The Lady Warriors took second in their district out of 32 teams. Highlands High School took first, and Las Cruces High took third.

Girls State Qualifiers

107 lbs- Jada Castillo (2nd place)

114 lbs – Jaydan Kayser (2nd place)

120 lbs – Sasha Gonzalez (3rd place)

126 lbs – Chailynn Amaro (District Champion)

138 lbs – Shaydan Castillo (4th place)

The girls wrestlers also included eighth grader Mariana Pero, sophomore Anissa Armijo and freshman Jennette Otero.

Thirteen Socorro boys qualified for state.

Boys State Qualifiers

113 lbs- Terrell Padilla (2nd place)

120 lbs- Isaiah Ocampo (district champion)

126 lbs-  Angel Perez (district champion)

132 lbs – Joel Partridge III (district champion)

138 lbs- Jordan Armijo (3rd place)

145 lbs- Brian Armijo (district champion)

152 lbs- Sean Mcneil (district champion)

160 lbs- Garrick Gutierrez (district champion)

170 lbs- Warren Kurtnaker (district champion)

182 lbs- Orion Rottman (district champion)

195 lbs- Caden Moreland (2nd place)

220 lbs- David Gutierrez Jr. (2nd place)

HWT – Xamian Aguilar (2nd place)

Warrior Wrestling is the district 3A-2 Team Champions for the 2021 to 2022 season. This is the first district championship in the program’s history.

Preparing for the state tournament is mental at this point, said wrestling coach Joel Partridge.

“All year long you’re wrestling, you’re competing, you’re practicing on the mat with the hope of getting to that tournament and it’s go for broke,” said Partridge.

However, they place, the team is prepared and will try their hardest, he said. Partridge encourages his athletes to approach the tournament by focusing on one match at a time.

“Go out one match at a time and one moment at a time and find a way to enjoy this process. The process of being a high school athlete, whatever you do, it goes quickly, and you probably won’t get to do it again.”