After a successful showing at the individual district championships last weekend in Española, the Los Alamos High School wrestling team is sending 14 athletes to the state championships, and claimed four individual district championships.
Devin Atencio, Israel Gellis, Dylan Irish and Milo Light claimed championships in their weight classes, while Donovan Atencio, Damian Gonzales, Aiden Johnson, Reyes Mendez, Ty Nieto, Lewis Harvey, Dmitri Bullock and Arturo Rodriguez placed in the top three, earning automatic berths to the state championships.
Also advancing are Liam Johnston and Gloria Ramos. After finishing in fourth place in the 126-pound weight class at the district championships, Johnston earned a wild card berth to the state championships.
Ramos, the only girl on LAHS’ wrestling team, did not compete at the district championships so she could compete in the New Mexico Activities Association’s first-ever girls’ wrestling tournament.
According to NMAA Associate Director Dusty Young, there will be eight weight classes (101, 106, 111, 121, 131, 143, 160, 185) with eight girls per weight participating in the combined-classification exhibition tournament. A total of 38 high schools will be represented in this event.