Wrestlers take center stage this weekend

By Jason W. Brooks
Twitter: @JasonWBrooks2

With COVID-19 changing the entire youth sports landscape over the past couple of years -- often on a continual basis -- stability and momentum have been crucial.

This weekend, Ironwood and other West Valley high school wrestling programs will try to keep momentum going through the ends of their seasons.

The state championships are taking place this weekend at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on McDowell Road. Ironwood might be the West Valley team to make the biggest splash at state this year.

Taking 11 state qualifiers from last weekend's Division 2, Section 2 title-winning effort, the Eagles are hoping to make even more of an impact than last year.The Eagles ended the choppy 2020-21 season, which had no fan-attended tournaments and many COVID-19 cancellations, with a fifth-place finish at state.

They are hoping to finish even higher this weekend.

Gavin Gonzales graduated from IHS after winning the Division II state title at 113 pounds last season. But sophomore Xavier Lerma, who won a state title at 126 pounds as a freshman, and Markell Rivera-Cain, who won state at 170 pounds, return as high seeds.

Pablo Macias, who placed fifth at 145 pounds, and Jordan Beauvais (sixth place at 132l) are also qualified again. The Eagles have no seniors at state this year, so next year's squad could be even better.

"I've never had a team this good before," said Sean Flanigan, who's in his 21st season coaching the Eagles. "We don't need to wrestle over our heads to make top-three. But everyone needs to show up for every match."

Flanigan said Lerma (40-3), who pinned all his opponents at state last year, was an unknown talent as a freshman. However, he won't surprise anyone now; his opponents all know his skill level and strength.Lerma wrestles at 138 pounds this year.

"Xavier's got more expectations this year," Flanigan said. "He's got to not mess around, especially guys who he knows can possibly beat him."

Arizona's 14 weight classes have changed somewhat this season, especially at the middle weights. Rivera-Cain has gone from 170 pounds to the 175-pound weight class, where the junior is 29-0 and hopes to improve upon his second-place finish at a national tournament later this year.

"There are definitely some opponents Markell should take seriously, here in Arizona," Flanigan said.

Flanigan said Rivera-Cain's weight class was strong in Section 2, so most of his best opponents are on the opposite half of the draw at state. However, the coach wants all his wrestlers to stay all-in, every match.

Flanigan isn't taking one of his state qualifiers due to an injury.

"We need a solid effort from everyone," he said.

Macias comes in with a 43-3 record at 144 pounds, while Beauvais has gone 11-3 at 157 pounds.

Flanigan said while this season has been more fluid, with fewer restrictions, he's taking wrestlers to state who haven't been in a big-arena environment until now.

"COVID-19 has really wrecked the experience pipeline, in many sports," he said.

The coach is also taking two girls to state. Sisters Emily Porras, a senior, and Janessa, a freshman, both took first place at sectionals. Flanigan believes Emily, who wrestles at 102 pounds, could possibly repeat as a state champion, while Janessa, at 122, could place as high as third this weekend.

Jason W. Brooks
Associate Editor
@JasonWBrooks2

Jason W. Brooks is a News editor for the Daily Independent and the Chandler Independent.

He covers the Chandler area for both yourvalley.net and the monthly print edition while writing for and assisting in the production of the Daily Independent.

Brooks is a well-traveled journalist who has documented life in small American communities in nearly all U.S. time zones.

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised there and in suburban Los Angeles, he has covered community news in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and northern Arizona.