Aztec Continue Title Supremacy With Back To Back State Title Wins

Farmington, NM - This past weekend the Aztec Tigers ran away with another state title. The Tigers were last years state champions as well. Piling up more gold in their trophy case, that helps their claim to title supremacy overall teams in the state of New Mexico. To be exact this was Aztec's eighteenth title, the only team coming close to holding as many titles are the Rio Rancho Rams with thirteen. 

The Tigers looked cool, claim and collective keeping a steady lead through the tournament. Entering the semifinal round with a thirteen point lead, the Tigers fired off advancing six wrestlers into the finals. Aztec wrestlers Jaren McBride (106), Christian Robison (126), Garrett Birzer (132), Cody Candelaria (138), Hunter Medina (145) and Bode Wooley (152) put Aztec into the lead for good ensuring back to back titles before they launched into the finals.

The 126-pound final match featured senior Christian Robison and Los Alamos sophomore Damian Gonzalez. Robison was tenacious throughout the match, maneuvering a slick peter-son from an attempted take-down in the first period, immediately taking control of the match 5-0. Robison then scored two more near-fall points with nine seconds left in the first period to take a 7-0 lead going into the second period. Showing power in the second period Robison scrambled a reverse, ending with Robison picking Gonzalez off his feet into a double leg slamming him to the mat. Adding three more points to his lead, Robison winged Gonzalez to his back almost ending the match by fall. Gonzalez showed heart in the third by scoring his only takedown of the match. However, Robison scrambled out another reversal that ended up into a sweet side cradle and then pinned Gonzalez for the win. The win earned Robison back to back state titles. 

In the 138-pound weight class, senior Cody Candelaria faced off against junior Jordan Gallegos of Los Lunas. Gallegos scored his only takedown in the match at the beginning of the bout. After that Candelaria was dominate throughout the match and offered no breathing room for Gallegos to find his rhythm. Candelaria fired back with in the first period with a reversal and a take-down of his own taking a 4-3 lead going into the second period. Confident in his stand up game, Candaleria started a takedown clinic in the second period taking Gallegos down eight times. By the time the second period was over Candaleria lead the match 20-11. Showing the same relentless pace in the third period Candelaria added a reversal and another take-down winning the match 24-13.  

Senior Hunter Medina went to battle with junior Martin Ammons out of Belen in the 145-pound finals. Ammons was a formidable opponent however, Medina showed superior position and footwork throughout the match. In the first period, Ammons had Medina in a front headlock, Medina dragged out from underneath Ammons that transitioned into a double leg take-down for Medina. Ammons escaped momentarily earning a point, then in the closing seconds of the period, hit a textbook duck under. Medina fended the duck under off by hitting a slick granby into a peter-son scoring a takedown in addition with two near fall points. Going into the second period Ammons trailed 6-2 and chose bottom, escaping midway through the period earning the only point. In the third period Medina chose bottom and hit another peter-son scoring a reversal with two more near fall points. Late into the period, Medina tilted Ammons ending the match with a score of 15-2.