2018-2019 NHSCA NM All-Americans

These days there are multiple national wrestling championship tournaments around to compete in. This past weekend New Mexico added four All-Americans to its list at one of the longest-standing national tournaments to date. NHSCA Nationals is known to be one of the toughest national tournaments to compete in and is notable for its flock of college coaches looking for talent to pick up.

In the freshman division, Las Cruce wrestler Avery Atma continues to impress with an 8th place finish. Atma forced is way into the 5A state finals this year with a second-place finish. Overall Atma had a tremendous performance gaining a lot of experience with the mat time he got. Atma pinned his first two opponents in the second period then won his next two matches by decision. Advancing to the quarter-finals Atma lost to the third-seeded wrestler in his bracket. Bouncing back strong in his first consolation match Atma won a decision that secured his position as an All-American. Wrestling a total of eight matches with an 85 man bracket on the national scene you can bet Atma will be a favorite to take home a state title next season.

In the senior division 4X, New Mexico State Champion Javier Tapia out of Pojoaque High School entered the tournament in the 160-pound weight class. After winning his 4th state title this year Tapia tested his skill at the national level with some success. Tapia started the tournament off with momentum pinning his first opponent. In his second match, Tapia had to grind out a close decision win. Continuing his momentum Tapia then pinned his next opponent advancing to the quarter-finals. Defeated in a close decision in the quarters Tapia advanced to the consolation side of the bracket. Bouncing back strong Tapia won a close decision to solidify All-American honors. Advancing to the next round Tapia took on fellow New Mexican Fabian Padilla. With a very exciting match for New Mexico Wrestling fans, Tapia lost a close one to Padilla. In the medal round, Tapia dropped a close decision where he finished 8th place out of 77 wrestlers in the 160-pound weight class. We look forward to seeing Tapia wrestle at the next level.

Senior Fabian Padilla also competed in the 160-pound weight class wrestling out of Carlsbad High School. Padilla started the tournament off with three decision wins advancing himself into the quarterfinal round where he lost his first match of the tournament. Recovering strong on the backside Padilla won his first match which guaranteed him a spot in the medal rounds. Padilla's next match could very well have been a match to decide New Mexico's best wrestler for the 2018-2019 season. Coincidental not quiet, Padilla and Tapia almost set this matchup as a semi-final showdown, however, both wrestlers did not advance. You can say this was a match up for New Mexico wrestling fans to enjoy. Padilla did come away with a close decision win in there battle. Padilla dropped a close decision in the medal round to place 6th. Padilla had a great tournament and season. Will be excited to see him wrestle at the next level if he pursues it.

Next up the hammer out of Cleveland High School senior Austin Roman wrestled his way to some hardware in the heavyweight division. New Mexico's big boy was on a tear this year in New Mexico hardly getting tested in any of his matches within the regular season. Roman pinned the first two opponents he faced before he lost his first match in the quarter-finals. Roman fought hard on the backside pinning his first opponent, then wining a decision to secure a spot in the medal rounds. After dropping his next two matches Roman earned a 6th place finish. The Hammer had an amazing season it will be exciting to see him pursue his career at the next level.