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Sam Houston girls win third consecutie region wrestling title
02/11/2001
By Rick Kretzschmar / Arlington Morning News
GRAND PRAIRIE - Even though she won a wrestling championship on Saturday, Ember Brettman was not smiling. She said she wasn't smiling because she was tired.
There was also a team championship that she was sharing with her Sam Houston teammates, but even in a championship it's hard to smile when something is expected.
As expected, Sam Houston cruised to its third consecutive region title at the Region II Wrestling Championships before 1,000 spectators at South Grand Prairie's Warrior Coliseum. Sam Houston outdistanced archrival Arlington High for the title, 126-96.
Brettman, who won a region title at 185 pounds, led a Sam Houston demolition of the heavyweights with Brandy Killingsworth (148 pounds), Maria Garza (165) and Latosha Gillon (215) also winning titles. Sam Houston won five individual titles with Kim Bui winning at 95 pounds, but Bui was unopposed.
Brettman said there were some things Sam Houston could have done better. The team had to wait for its sixth state qualifier, because Glory Dalton lost her 138-pound title match to Emmy Thompson of Keller Fossil Ridge and had to win a challenge match to qualify for the state meet, which begins on Feb. 23 at the Austin Convention Center.
"I wish our lighter weights could have done better," Brettman said. "But most everybody did what they were expected to do," Brettman said. "It feels good. I'll smile later."
Garza did the expected, if that was having another dramatic match with Martin's Randi Miller in the 165-pound title bout. Garza rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the District 15 meet last week to pin Miller late in the second period.
On Saturday, Garza had a 9-4 lead entering the third period against Miller, but the Martin wrestler rallied for three points and nearly got a takedown with 16 seconds left. Garza did hold off Miller from overtime-causing points and a 9-7 win. Miller's runner-up finish advanced her to the state meet, as well.
"I tried going for the quick pin. I needed to be more defensive," said Garza, who is 3-1 against Miller this season. "I didn't do what I was supposed to do and I got tired. I need to be more careful next time."
Arlington qualified four wrestlers for state, with impressive showings by Brandi Brown (110) and Nikki Ray (119). Ray got a second-period pin against Bowie's Jessica Lopez for her title, and Brown used a good headlock for a 14-3 decision over Jennifer Barrett of Coppell.
Brown said she was proud about how her team finished.
"We pulled together as a team instead of being individuals," Brown said. "Things didn't work at all times, but everybody did the best they could. Everything is good. We're still up there in the top two."
Bowie qualified two wrestlers for state: Lopez and Angela Martinez, who won the 102-pound title. Martinez will go for her fourth state title in Austin, but her region field was not difficult with just one match, a title bout where she got a first-period pin om Hurst L.D. Bell's Stacy Dowell. Martin also qualified two wrestlers for state in Randi Miller and Jennifer Miller, the latter the 185-pound runner-up.
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Lady Dons win regions, send eight to state tourney
By STEVE BELVIN 2/11/2001
Globe-News Sports Writer
EL PASO- A few weeks ago the Palo Duro Lady Dons wrestling coach Steve Nelson said he wanted to show the high school wrestling world why his Lady Dons were ranked No. 1 in the nation by UGSA Wrestling. Saturday at the region one tournament, the Lady Dons made a lot of believers.
Palo Duro walked away with the team title by scoring 218 points. El Paso Hanks, which was expected to give the Lady Dons a run for their money, finished second with 129. The Caprock Lady Longhorns, the defending state champions, were third with 116 points. Tascosa finished fourth with 621/2. Hereford was fifth with 52 points.
Nelson said the key to the Lady Dons championship was their performance in the semifinals Saturday morning. Still feeling Hanks breathing down their necks, the Lady Dons responded by winning seven of their eight semifinals matches.
"We only took one loss in the semifinals," Nelson said. "I explained to them (Lady Dons) that you win state championships at the regional tournament. You don't win state without qualifying enough kids from regionals."
The Lady Dons qualified eight individuals to the state tournament, which will be held in Austin in two weeks. Leading the way was 95 pounder Krunchy Inthirath, the defending state champ. Inthirath found the going rough, but she still managed to defend her regional title. Just like in her two previous regional matches, she came from behind to win the title match.
Trailing Vicky Morales of El Paso Hanks 4-2, she got a pin late in the second period to send the Lady Dons on their way to a state title.
Other regional champions for the Lady Dons were Janice Gooden (148), Casey Brittain (165), Shaleb Bowie (185) and Dyana McIntyre (heavyweight).
"In reality, the stress has been enormous on the girls," said Nelson. "There's been a lot of pressure coming from myself, the school and the community because they've been winning all year long. The stress became even greater when we were ranked No. 1 in the nation. People think there's not a slight chance that we won't win state. Being a coach, you realize anything can happen at state. To win state, everything has to be perfect.
"My two underclassmen, Ashley Perez, a sophomore, and Stormy Greer didn't qualify for state, but they did an outstanding job representing Palo Duro. I couldn't have asked any more of them. I would also like to give special appreciation to my assistants, Lisa Hunt and Donald Dixon. The success we've had wouldn't be possible without them."
Other state champions from the Panhandle were Astrid Gomez from Hereford and Houston Shephard of Tascosa. Finishing second and earning state berths were Jennifer Fuller of Palo Duro, Deedre Tuntes of Caprock, Rachael Rodriguez of Hereford, Tasia Benefield of Tascosa and Marie Hernandez of Caprock.
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Andress brothers go to state for mom
Matthew Aguilar
El Paso Times 2/11/2001
Inez Valdez's victory at the Region 1 wrestling championships Saturday was satisfying but not necessarily joyous.
Life stopped being happy seven months ago for the Andress wrestler.
Valdez's mother -- the woman who dried Inez's tears last year after he finished fifth in the state meet -- died suddenly in July, the victim of a brain hemorrhage.
That awful day may as well have been yesterday for Inez and his brother, Aurelio, a 152-pounder. Life just hasn't been the same since.
"I dedicate this one to my mother," Inez Valdez said after defeating Vernon's Marshall Sharp 2-1 to take first place in the 171-pound weight class and again advance to the state tournament in Austin in two weeks.
Aurelio Valdez advanced to state as well, grabbing third place with pins of River Road's Eric Flanders and Montwood's Gabe Beltran. Now, the goal for the heavy-hearted brothers is obvious.
"To win state," Inez Valdez said.
Family seemed to be the theme of the day at the meet at Socorro High School. Both Hanks teams teams placed second -- the boys behind Canyon Randall and the girls behind Amarillo Palo Duro.
The Hanks boys are coached by Anthony Carter, while the girls' team is coached by his sister, Diane.
The Knights' Katherine Quiñonez made sure she won the 128-pound crown after sister Kim failed to make 110 pounds.
Senior Katherine Quiñonez, down 10-0, pinned Hereford's Rachel Rodriguez in the second round of the semifinal match and won her finals match with a stunning takedown of Palo Duro's Ashley Perez with 20 seconds remaining in the third.
"(Rodriguez) was really tough," said Quiñonez, who was named Outstanding Girls' Wrestler. "But I was setting up that pin. I faked a shot, made a move and pinned her."
When Quiñonez took Perez down, the Hanks contingent went wild. It partially made up for her sophomore sister's disappointment. Kim Quiñonez even cut her hair to make weight, but was still two-tenths of a pound too heavy.
"What motivated me was that whole thing with my sister," Katherine Quiñonez said.
Quiñonez's coach, Diane Carter, was relieved when it was all over.
"It was amazing," she said of her two victories Saturday. "She almost gave everyone a heart attack."
Ysleta's Enrique Rodriguez took first place at 103 pounds; Eastwood's Alex Piñon was first at 112 pounds, while Andress' Joel Gonzalez placed fourth; Ysleta's Fidel Gonzalez pushed his amazing winning streak to 91-0 since his sophomore season with first place at 119 pounds; Eastwood's Danny Nolasco finished second and Franklin's Jesse Marrott finished third at 119 pounds; Irvin's Ricky Mireles, Eastwood's Judas Sanchez and Ysleta's Fernie Gonzalez placed second, third and fourth, respectively, at 125 pounds; Irvin's Paul Hyska took first place at 130 pounds, followed by Coronado's Rene Saenz, who finished third; Hanks' Javier Bautista was first at 135 pounds; Eastwood's Matt Reynolds placed fourth at 140 pounds; Hanks' Jarrett Bolton was first at 145 pounds, followed by Chris Mesa of Irvin. Montwood's Gabe Beltran finished fourth at 152 pounds; Riverside's Armando Delgadillo and Jefferson's Miguel Herrera finished third and fourth at 160 pounds; Riverside's Raul Torres and Hanks' Reggie Armstrong finished second and third at 180 pounds. El Paso's Manny Pacillas grabbed third place at 189 pounds; Hanks' Raul Saldaña placed second at 215 pounds and Fabens' Josh Rosas finished second at 275 pounds.
For the girls, Hanks' Vicky Morales placed second at 95 pounds; Hanks' Stephanie Jenkins was first at 102 pounds; Hanks' Yvonne Fernandez was first at 119 pounds. Socorro's Senyace Gonzalez was second at 138 pounds; Hanks' Diane Reveles placed second at 165 pounds and Irvin's Nancy Garcia was second at 185 pounds.
The top four boys' finishers and top two girls' finishers advance to state.
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