CYPRESS — Four Class 6A Rio Grande Valley wrestlers, two boys and two girls, fought their way into Day 2 at the University Interscholastic League’s 2020 State Wrestling Championship on Friday at the Berry Center in Cypress.
Each member of the South Texas quartet — Edinburg High’s Emmanuel Duron, McAllen Memorial’s Serenity De La Garza, McAllen Rowe’s Petey Lozano and PSJA High’s Nayeli Hernandez — took two out of three matches and won pivotal bouts at the end of day in the consolation bracket to move on.
Lozano (24-5) was the first 6A wrestler to lock up his spot in Day 2. His journey started with a hard-fought opening match against Southlake Carroll’s Blake Gaskill with a pin deep into the match. In the quarterfinals, Lozano would be done in by a pin, but rebounded in a big way with a lightning fast 57-second pin of Amarillo Tascosa’s Aaron Trevizo.
“It’s a great rush,” Lozano said. “The adrenaline is pumping all the time knowing that we all want the exact same goal. We’re just going at it toe to toe and it’s such an amazing thing going against someone who wants the same thing as you. In the end, it’s whoever wants it more.”
Lozano, who’s making his third trip to the state championships in the 152-pound division, has continued to improve with each appearance. After serving as an alternate his first time out, he earned a win at last year’s state meet.
Now as a senior, Lozano is looking to build on a new personal best.
“Last year was a great experience being able to be on the mat with the best guys,” he said. “I set my own goal and every year I try to push and push and push more. I just don’t want to give up. I don’t want to peak like most people do. I want to go for greater success and that’s what I think everyone should do: Strive for better things and don’t settle.”
Duron (44-8) lost his first match of the day, but battled back valiantly to remain in contention for a medal in the 220-pound division. He quickly handled his opponent from Euless Trinity in the first round of the consolation bracket before earning a huge last-second, come-from-behind victory against El Paso Montwood’s Pedro Escobar in an 11-10 decision.
Hernandez (30-4) faced a similar uphill battle after dropping her first match too. She came roaring back in the 110-pound division, however, with two major decision wins: first 10-1 against Katy Cinco Ranch’s Joselin Hernandez and then 14-3 over Klein Collins’ Abby Chambers.
“I just wanted to win,” Hernandez said. “My (first) match wasn’t all that great. I lost by a point and I was so gassed. But I came back and I feel like I did much better. It feels good. I feel more excited now.”
Hernandez, now in her second straight appearance at the state championships, is aiming to improve on her quality finish last year with the help of her PSJA High teammates like Jeesica Villanueva, who advanced to the quarterfinals.
“We help each other out a lot,” she said. “We’re always there for each other in each other’s corners. It feels good. It’s not the same when we’re not (together). Last year was my first year at state and I placed sixth, but I’m looking to place higher this year.”
Finally, De La Garza (40-7) became the youngest RGV wrestler to make into Day 2. The Mustangs’ freshman phenom moved into the 138-pound division quarterfinals thanks to a major decision win, but stumbled there for the first time.
She secured a win over San Antonio Madison’s Mia Padilla, the runner-up to De La Garza at regionals, after Padilla suffered a gruesome ankle injury and had to be helped off.