The Mustangs picked up their fifth straight championship by a wide 239-147 lead over ALA-Gilbert North it what can be described as a ”reload.” Head coach Paul Vasquez was named the Arizona Coach of the Year by his peers before the championship matches got underway and he earned his fifth state championship when the night was over and the mats were being rolled away.

Vasquez passed the four his father, Tim Berrier, earned at Ironwood Ridge and he matched the five earned by former Sunnyside head coach Richard Sanchez. Only former Sunnyside head coach Don Klostreich (9), Sunnyside current head coach Anthony Leon (10) and Former Sunnyside head coach Bobbe DeBerry (15) have more in Southern Arizona.

Matches of note include Safford junior Alex Chacon (12), Sahuarita senior Sebastian Serrano (132) and Sahuarita sophomore Marcus Killgore picking up their second stat championships. Serrano knocked off another previous state champion ALA - Gilbert North sophomore JJ Pahl and Chacon beat former state champion, ALA-Gilbert North junior Aziel Velasquez.

There are seven graduating seniors and Pahl and Velasquez will be back so expect nine returners next winter.

BOYS INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS

D-III 106: Landon Edwards, So. Mica Mountain 46-8

D-III 113: Tate Bodine, So. Safford 24-1

D-III 120: Alex Chacon, Jr. Safford 47-2 (2X)

D-III 126: Brett Bates, Sr. Walden Grove 58-0

D-III 132: Sebastian Serrano, Sr. Sahuarita 44-2 (2X)

D-III 138: Ben Freund, Jr. Show Low 51-9

D-III 144: James Buck III, Sr. Sahuarita 53-5

D-III 150: Dallan Rawlings, Sr. Show Low 58-2

D-III 157: Marcus Killgore, So. Sahuarita 57-0 (2X)

D-III 165: Sergio Macias, Jr. Sahuarita 50-4

D-III 175: Nathaniel Gallardo, Jr. Sahuarita 59-2

D-III 190: Easton Filetti, Sr. Poston Butte 47-6

D-III 215: Joseph Figueroa, Sr. Salpointe 51-4

D-III 285: Jax Finch, Sr. Cactus Shadows 53-1

 

BOYS DIVISION III

1 Sahuarita 239

2 ALA Gilbert North   147

3 Crismon 135.5

ALA-Gilbert North. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

THE VIDEOS