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El Paso Times all-city wrestling teams
Times staff reports 5/29/05
Yasmin A. Aboytes / El Paso Times |
Most Valuable
Wrestler
Tressa Yocum
School, grade: Eastwood, senior.
Weight class: 165 pounds.
Record: 45-0.
Noteable: Yocum was the undefeated state, regional and district champion for the second consecutive year, and she also is the Times' all-city MVW for the second consecutive year. Had a career record of 102-0. A five-time tournament MVP, she won every match in her career by pin.
Coach of the Year
Anthony Carter
School: Hanks.
Noteable: Though Hanks finished second to Eastwood at district and was third to Eastwood's second at regionals, Carter's Knights saved their best for last -- they had the best finish of any city team at the state tournament, finishing second. Hanks finished a mere half-point shy of a state team championship.
First Team
Katrina Price
School, grade: Franklin, senior.
Weight class: 95 pounds.
Record: 37-6.
Noteable: State qualifier went 1-2 at state. Finished fourth at regionals.
Awbrey Lowe
School, grade: Hanks, sophomore.
Weight class: 102 pounds.
Record: 23-2.
Noteable: One of only three state champions, and two female state champions, from the city. Regional champion went a perfect 4-0 at state tournament.
Bethany Piña
School, grade: El Paso High, senior.
Weight class: 110 pounds.
Record: 36-5.
Noteable: Finished fifth in the state after going 3-1 at the state tournament. Finished second at regionals.
Jenny Franco
School, grade: Hanks, senior.
Weight class: 119 pounds.
Record: 23-1.
Noteable: Finished second in the state. Was 3-1 at the state tournament, losing only in the championship match. Also the regional champion.
Norma Rueda
School, grade: Socorro, junior.
Weight class: 128 pounds.
Record: 31-8.
Noteable: Finished second in the state after going 3-1 at the state tournament. Also finished second at regionals.
Zee Baltrus
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Zee Baltrus
School, grade: Americas, senior.
Weight class: 138 pounds.
Record: 21-12.
Noteable: State qualifier went 1-2 at the state tournament. Finished fourth at regionals.
Kristen Rodriguez
School, grade: Andress, senior.
Weight class: 148 pounds.
Record: 32-7.
Noteable: State qualifier went 2-2 at state tournament. Finished second at regionals.
Ashley Ivey
School, grade: Americas, senior.
Weight class: 185 pounds.
Record: 18-3.
Noteable: State qualifier went 1-1 at state tournament. Finished second at regionals.
Chris Ybarra
School, grade: Hanks, sophomore.
Weight class: 215 pounds.
Record: 16-1.
Noteable: Finished second in the state. Her only loss of the season came at the state tournament, where she was 3-1. Was also a regional champion.
Second Team
Boys
103 pounds: R.D. Sedillo, Fr., Coronado.
112: Wesley Hall, Jr., Franklin.
119: Abel Carrillo, Fr., Hanks.
125: Abel Borunda, Sr., Socorro; Angelo Crinzi, Jr., Hanks.
130: Kenny Koeneman, So., Eastwood; Cameron Gay, Sr., Socorro.
135: Alex Aguirre, Sr., Eastwood; and Steve Taylor, Sr., Franklin.
140: Robert Aguilar, So., Hanks.
145: Jonathon Carrillo, Jr., Eastwood.
152: Quame Henry, Jr., Burges; Chris Paz, Sr., Andress.
160: Mark Martinez, Sr., Chapin.
171: Julian Juarez, Sr., Fabens.
180: Reggie Armstrong, Sr., Chapin.
189: Chris Cerros, Jr., Socorro.
215: Robert Guzman, Sr., Franklin; Adrian Miner, Jr., Hanks.
275: Gus Zamora, Sr., Socorro.
Girls
95: Nicole Silva, Fr., Montwood; Celeste Montoya, Fr., Chapin; Brittany Gamboa, Fr., Socorro.
102: Cessy Carroll, Jr., Eastwood; Carmen Piña, Fr., El Paso High.
110: Briana Cervantes, Jr., Eastwood; Nellie Balderama, Sr., Chapin.
119: Jessica Paredes, Sr., El Paso High.
128: Genesis Benavides, Sr., Eastwood; Maria Mena, Sr., Chapin; Ashley Rizo, So., Hanks.
138: Brenda Mendoza, Fr., Franklin; Tiffany Garcia, Sr., Chapin; Vanessa Aguilar, Fr., Hanks.
148: Alex Muller, Sr., Eastwood; Dahlia Garcia, Sr., El Paso High.
165: Lily Vasquez, So., Burges; Denisse Sanchez, Sr., El Paso High.
185: Janie Gonzalez, So., Hanks; Kim Johnson, Jr., Socorro; Alicia Placencio, Jr., Chapin.
215: Sam Aguirre, So, Eastwood; Meagan Hill, Sr., Riverside; Gabby De La Parra, Jr., Americas.
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Eastwood star may be city's best ever
John Erfort 5/29/05
El Paso Times
Eastwood's Tressa Yocum, left, and Hanks' Jacob Valdez are this year's El Paso Times all-city wrestling most valuable wrestlers. Yocum was the 165-pound state champion, and Valdez won the 135-pound title. |
It was pretty much a lock.
Really, was there any doubt that Eastwood High School senior wrestler Tressa Yocum would repeat as state champion?
Not really. And she backed up the hype by going undefeated and winning state in the 165-pound division for the second consecutive year.
Up until the state tournament in Austin, Yocum's senior season pretty much was a formality.
That's why Yocum is the Most Valuable Wrestler for the 2005 El Paso Times All-City Girls Wrestling Team.
As for Yocum's career, consider the following facts:
She had a career record of 102-0.
She won every match by pin.
Only three times did she have a match last longer than the first period, and only one that went to the third period.
Thus, it's also no surprise that Yocum said she has committed to sign with Cumberland (Ky.) College, the No. 1-ranked women's wrestling team in the nation -- a team that currently includes U.S. Olympian Toccara Montgomery.
What is a surprise is the "aw-shucks" attitude Yocum has about it all. She's proud of what she's accomplished, but would be more comfortable in a bed of spiders than talking about herself and her success.
"It feels pretty good," Yocum said of her myriad accomplishments. "There was a little pressure (to live up to what she did as a junior).
"Then I figured out it was all the same girls as last year. But what made me work harder was just thinking that other girls were working even harder (to try to beat me). I worked harder because I didn't want to get beat by them."
Arguably the biggest challenge facing Yocum was a lack of equal competition. She only was really tested three times in her career. As a result, it was difficult to get ready for the few big matches in which she did compete.
"Sometimes that was frustrating," she said, adding that she tried to improve with longer and more demanding practices that often focused on endurance.
Yet the target she wore on her back as the best 165-pounder in the state was no big deal to Yocum.
"I just try to be real relaxed and not think about it," she said. "And I know that when I go out there I know what I'm going to do. I have a plan."
Asked if she was the best female wrestler in the city's history, Eastwood coach David Boatright said, "Oh yeah, hands down. Hanks had a couple of really good ones a few years back, but Tressa's the best."
Why?
"Because she's a great athlete," Boatright said of Yocum, who has been all-city and all-district in soccer and volleyball.
In fact, Yocum said she chose Cumberland in part because she'll also get to play for the school's soccer team.
But the thing that's probably the biggest reason for Yocum's stardom in wrestling is her family's influence.
The daughter of Shane and Justine Yocum, Tressa inherited good genes. Shane, who originally is from Indiana, wrestled for years. And her brother, Troy, wrestled and played football at Americas.
"I was always the practice dummy, so that just made me a lot better," she said. "I was the little one who was getting beat up all the time. My dad helped me with a lot of moves. He'd stay up and work with me on them. He knew moves people had never heard of, so nobody knew counters to some of them."
Obviously, wrestling ran in the family. But it was never pushed on Yocum.
"It was my decision to wrestle. They just introduced me to it," she said. But she also admitted that, in the true spirit of sibling rivalry, she mainly picked up the sport because "I really just wanted to beat my brother."
With that insight, it became clear what most motivates Yocum.
"I think it's that I'm so competitive," she said. "I don't want to lose.
"I guess (another reason I did well) is just being able to have people at home to help me. And a lot of it came naturally, because I've always been athletic."
Getting some good public relations doesn't hurt either. Yocum was featured in the weekly "Faces In The Crowd" segment in the March 28 issue of Sports Illustrated.
"Yeah, that was awesome," she said. "I was surprised. People I didn't even know came up to me and congratulated me."
But being in SI also brought Yocum something else. She said she's heard a couple of comments referring to her appearance in the magazine or doubting her ability. Or worse.
"Some girl tried to punch me last week in a soccer game," she said. "Yeah, it was funny. I try to laugh (things like that) off."
Of course, messing with the state wrestling champion probably isn't a good idea, for boys or girls.
And though she enjoys the notoriety she's received for her accomplishments and the reputation for toughness that goes along with it, Yocum also wouldn't mind being treated a bit more like everyone else.
"Everyone treats me like I'm going to beat them up or something," she said. "That happens all the time, and I'm like, 'OK.' People ask me if I can beat the boys. I tell them yes.
"It doesn't make me uncomfortable -- just when guys are kind of weird about it."
And there's a part of her that still can't believe she's had so much success. She knows she worked hard for it, but still -- unbeaten two-time champion?
"I wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me that," she said. "But it feels awesome. I would've been disappointed if I hadn't won state again this year."
However, success for Yocum isn't just measured in wins and losses.
Having fun is important, especially in a sport where the training is so tough.
"My goal was to try to make everything fun as I go along," she said. "If it's not fun, you don't want to do it. I'm very easygoing, and I try to make everything fun."
Looks like she did a pretty good job of that.