2019 NM HS Girls State Wrestling Tournament Results

The 2019 New Mexico High School Girls State Tournament featured some exciting wrestling this season. The Atrisco Heratiage Jaguares had four state champions allowing them to take home team gold. Through out the tournament had some exciting matches, and the results are in. 

In the101-pound finals match senior Jennsis Martinez of Manzano took on freshman Santll Santiago from Atrisco Heritage Academy. Midway through the first period, Santiago scored a takedown from a missed headlock attempt by Martinez. Santiago quickly winged an arm after the takedown and stepped over to score three near-fall points. Martinez chose bottom in the second, a few seconds in Santiago hit a quick standing reversal and went to work on top. After taking control of her position Santiago bulldogged the right arm of Martinez while then strapping it against her back allowing her to score more back points with an easy cross body tilt. Santiago then re-positioned herself with a sneaky step over adjusting a tight wing driving Martinez to her back, finishing the match with a fall. 

The 106-pound finals match featured freshman Yalixza Gonzalez out of Atrisco Heritage Academy and junior Alexandra Ruvalcaba out of Hobbs. In the first period, where most of the action came in the closing seconds of the match Gonzalez hit a head and arm driving Ruvalcaba to her back with a takedown adding two near-fall points. Ruvalcaba took bottom in the second quickly scorning an escape to narrow the margin. Immediately after Gonzalez gave Ruvalcabe no breathing room forcing a takedown after an awarded point for staling against Ruvalcaba, leading the match 8-3 going into the third period. In the third Gonzalez picked bottom, with both wrestlers fighting over reversals. Then in the closing seconds, Gonzalez scored one last reversal to win the match 12-5. 

The 113-pound weight class featured sophomore Neveah Young out of Gallup and Ayanna Aranda from Rio Rancho. Aranda scored the first takedown off a missed shot attempt from Young. Shortly after Young scrapped out a reversal that transitioned into a two-point tilt. In the second period the match started in neutral position with Young forcing a takedown midway through. Young then got too high after sticking in legs which allowed Aranda to score a reversal leading young right to her back to take the lead going into the third period 7-6. With a nail-biting start to the third period, Young fought with Aranda in a 50/50 that lead to a takedown in her favor. Young then caught Aranda with a cross face tilt scoring two more points winning the match 10-8. 

Two freshmen battled it out in the finals in the 121-pound weight class. Cady Box out of Carlsbad faced off against Melinda Modisette out of Albuquerque Academy. Modisette scored the first points of the match off a missed shot attempted by Box in the closing seconds of the match. Into the second period with Box riding on top she momentarily adjusted herself to high while attempting a power half with legs in allowing Modisette to take advantage with a reversal. Modisette quickly broke Box down with a tight waist ankle from top, allowing her to stick in a deep half that earned her three near-fall points leading the score 7-0 going into the third. In the third period, Modisette took bottom and caught Box out of position allowing her to score another reversal. Moments after Modisette stuck in another deep half and pinned Box to win the match. 

The 126-pound final featured sophomore Yele Aycock from Miyamura High School and junior Mia Contreras out of Highland. Aycock didn't wast no time scoring the first points of the match with a beautiful head shrug from a tie-up. Aycock road out Contreras for the rest of the period with skill. Contreras won the coin toss in the second choosing neutral.  With action starting Aycock hit another nice head drag that Conteras positioned out of forcing her into a nice throw. Aycock quickly fought off the throw re-positioning herself to attack a arm drag that lead her to a takedown. Contreras then muscled out an escape, Aycock did not give any breathing room retaliating immediately with a nice trip double that finished with Contreras on her back. Aycock then adjusted herself for the pin winning the match impressively with a fall.

In the 131-pound weight class sophomore Amanda Smith out of Cleveland took on senior Ida Contreras out of Tierra Encantada. In the first period, Contreras scored first off a bad shot attempt from Smith. Contreras looked sharp on top isolating Smith for a moment with a few scoring attempts until the match was driven out of bounce. Smith took advantage of the fresh start, with an explosive escape allowing Smith to quickly bulldog Contreras in a front headlock to her back before time ran out scoring a quick three points. Going into the second period Smith lead the match 3-2, Contreras picked bottom to start things off answering with a quick escape. Both girls showed good hand fighting skill until Smith again took a bad shot that Contreras scored off taking the lead 5-3. Contreras again showed impressive riding skill until the match was stopped due to Smith losing her headgear. Off the break, Smith again took advantage of the fresh start escaping quickly to narrow the score 5-4 ending action in the second. Smith picked bottom to start the third period quickly hitting a standing switch putting her ahead of Contreras 7-5. Contreras managed an escape keeping the match close in the final minute. Smith played nice defense fending off shot attempts by Contreras winning the match 7-6. 

In the 143-pound weight class freshman Aylin Mijares out of Bernalillo took on junior America Aguirre out of Highland. No one scored in the first period with both wrestlers feeling each other out showcasing nice hand fighting skill in the first period. With action starting in the second Mijares proved to be a hammer on top with textbook technique breaking Aguirre down right to a power half that ended the match with a fall. 

Featured in the 160-pound weight class was junior Nancy Rodriguez of Miyamura. Her opponent was Princess Altisis out of Aztec. In the first, both wrestlers showed great hand fighting. Rodriguez showed exceptional position throwing a nice headlock at the end of the period that put her ahead 5-0 going into the second period. Altis won choice deferring to Rodriguez where she gladly decided to keep the match standing up. Rodriguez showed her power setting up another headlock adding five more points to her lead. Rodriguez tried to rest her hips to while she went for the pin giving Altisis an advantage to scored off the transition. Rodriguez escaped quickly leading the score 11-2 going into the third period. Altis choose bottom, before action started.  On top Rodriguez attempted to maneuver a wing over that appeared to hurt the right arm of Altis. Unable to finish, Rodriguez won the match by injury default. Rodriguez looked impressive with the win. 

185-pound match featured Rayana Vigil out of Atrisco Heritage Academy and sophomore Shandiin Largo out of Miyamura. In the opening seconds, Vigil set up a beautiful japanese wizard scoring the first takedown of the match. Largo escaped shortly after then forced a bad shot allowing Vigil to capitalize on a takedown to a side cradle taking control of the match 6-1 in the first period. Going into the second period Vigil deferred choice to Largo she took bottom. Vigil set up a nice peterson attempted that turned into a reversal with some funk added to it. Largo managed an escape with the score in favor of Vigil 10-4 going into the third period. Vigil chooses neutral where both wrestlers showcased some good hand fighting. With impressive wrestling, the decision went to Vigil 10-4. 

The 235-pound match featured junior Alura Sandoval out of Atrisco Heritage Academy and sophomore Annalease Barraza out of Miyamura. Actions did start until the last minute of the first period, Sandavao threw a nice headlock but overextended allowing Barraza to slip her head out and score the first takedown. Sandoval then took advantage of Largo extending to high and hit a switch ending the first period with the score 2-2. Barraza deferred to Sandoval giving her first choice in the second. Going bottom she quickly hit a crafty switch catching Barraza's leg as she came out of position. Sandoval rode out Barraza for the remainder of the period. Barraza looking for advantage took top in the third. Sandoval waiting for her moment knocked Barraza out of position again allowing her a reversal that ended with Barraza on her back ending the match by fall. 

Great turn out and excitement for this years All Girls' State Tournament, the future looks bright for girls wrestling in the state of New Mexico.