The Wildcats had three wrestlers compete in the Division IV state meet held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum over the weekend. Charles Gardner, Jay Miller and Tytan Penrod each qualified for the state meet.
Gardner, competing in the 177-pound weight class went 1-2 in three matches. He started the tournament with a second round period pin by Alex Martinez from St. Augustine Catholic. He bounced back with a 10-8 three-round decision win over Maxon Landers from American Leadership Academy to advance in the consolation bracket. His tournament ended with a first-round pin against Emilio Mojorquez from Yuma Catholic.
Miller went 1-2 in the 146-pound weight class. He dropped his opening match to Kolttin Deskins from Benson losing a major decision 10-2 in three rounds. Miller bounced back with a third-round pin over Fermin Perez from Mountainside High in his second match. Match three, was a 6-1 loss to Jace Bowser from Wickenburg bringing Miller’s season to a close.
Penrod competed in the 167-pound class and, like his fellow teammates he went 1-2 at the state meet. He fell via pin in the first round to Xavier Urquiza from Baghdad. He came back with an 11-6 three-round decision win over Mark Wilson from Willcox. That win earned him a third match which ended by technical fall in the third round against Gavin Gaviria from St. Johns.
The Lady Wildcats were represented at the state wrestling meet by two competitors. Brooklyn Petersen, and Madison Faulkner each competed at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Friday and Saturday in the state tournament.
Petersen competed in the 122-pound weight class and went 0-2 in her two matches. Her first match in the bracket was against Theresa Etchen from Empire High School. Etchen won the match with a pin in the second period. Following that match Petersen fell in a close match to Payson Johns from Arizona Lutheran Academy. This match went the distance with Petersen falling just short in an 11-8 final score bringing an end to her state tournament run.
Faulkner went 0-2 in the 102-pound class. She fell by pin early in the first round against Laila Beltran from Mica Mountain, then lost her second match, also by pin in the first round to Krysta Delgaillo from Flagstaff High.
