McALLEN — The Monitor’s All-Area Middleweight Boys and Girls Wrestlers of the Year have at least two things in common: green belts in Jiu-Jitsu, and dominance on the wrestling mat.
McAllen Rowe senior Petey Lozano and Sharyland Pioneer junior Emily Treviño combined for a 57-13 record on the 2019-2020 wrestling season.
Treviño reflected on her three years in wrestling, while looking forward at what could potentially be a history-making season for the soon to be senior.
“It’s been great. It’s been tough in different ways, but overall it’s been rewarding,” Treviño said. “I started (wrestling) three years ago now. I’ve always liked sports like this. One of my friends recommended wrestling to me, and I’ve been in it ever since.”
Treviño said that the sport has helped her build confidence, but what really attracts her to the mat is the joy she gets from imposing her will on opponents. She finished the season with a 35-8 record, and as the No. 6 ranked wrestler in the 119-pound weight division according to trackwrestling.com.
Initially, Treviño wrestled in the 128-pound weight division, but she was able to drop weight to a weight class that gave her more of an advantage.
“The girls were a lot stronger and heavier, too,” Treviño said. “It was just something that helped me improve, moving to 119. They have different techniques and aspects to how they wrestle. It’s a different set of skills.”
Treviño explained that her most memorable moment this year came as a result of a loss. She said the loss served as a confidence boost she carried with her throughout the year.
“I lost, but I felt like I put up such a fight with the girl that I went against,” Treviño said. “It taught me that I could do it. I will be able to go to the next step in wrestling. It was very challenging. It helped me push harder in training and practice.”
When asked about her proudest moment, she said that it was her wrestling performance at the state tournament.
“She was very strong,” Treviño said of her opponent. “There were several times when I almost got her back and she almost got my back, but it was either out of bounds or not called, so we were both just stayed neutral at zero points.”
The match ended up going into overtime. Treviño eventually came out the winner.
“I won by points.” Treviño said. “I was thrilled. I was proud that I went that far. I didn’t even make it to the second day (of the tournament) in my sophomore year, and I made it to the ranks in my junior year.”
Treviño said that she is very motivated about her senior year. She hopes to keep improving and eventually surpass her No. 6 state ranking.
“I just want to do my best since it’s my last year in wrestling,” Treviño said. “I’m just going to practice harder, train more, focus more on wrestling and working out.”
ROWE’S LOZANO BOUNCED BACK
For Lozano, his high school wrestling career nearly came to a halt following a discouraging freshman campaign.
“I actually was thinking about quitting my freshman year,” Lozano said. “I had gone on a really bad losing streak, and I just felt down about it — like I wasn’t good enough to end up being one of the top wrestlers.”
At the time, Lozano wrestled in the 138-pound weight class, a division that was stacked with competition. Lozano said that it was his parents who ultimately persuaded him to persevere.
“My parents knew I was a fighter. They knew that there’s no giving up in my book,” Lozano said. “My mom always told me that I would regret it and that I would beat myself up if I quit wrestling. My parents really pushed me to continue. They wanted me to reach the goals I had already set in my freshman year. They helped me keep my drive.”
Through that perseverance, Lozano would accumulate a 90-21 overall record through his four-year wrestling career. He capped off his senior year with a 22-5 record, of which 21 of his victories were by pins, finishing with a No. 8 ranking in the state in the 152-pound weight division, and a chance to continue his wrestling career at Schreiner University in Kerrville.
Lozano is quick to give praise to his many opponents, who he credits with helping him grow in the sport. He can recall specific details about matches throughout his four-year career, including the names of his opponents and which schools they wrestled for.
However, the one match that will stay with Lozano happens to be the last match of his career, one that ended amid some controversy.
“It was a great match. It was a very controversial match, actually,” Lozano said. “The dude was ranked No. 3 in the state, and I was ready to wrestle him. We were going toe-to-toe, nonstop. Just reversal, shot, reversal, shot — just going constantly.”
Lozano said that he was penalized for stalling from the get-go even though he was working moves. When Rowe head coach Jeffery Moubray questioned the call, he was penalized with a coaching misconduct call, a call that could potentially see him removed from the mat after two misconduct calls.
“It was very difficult knowing that the ref is out to get me, and we’re only 30 seconds into the match,” Lozano said. “I just went out there and gave it my all. It kind of broke my heart knowing that my last match kind of got ripped off.”
Lozano had locked his opponent in a cradle position, and his opponent immediately called for an injury timeout. He was not awarded the points he would’ve received for the move. In the end, he lost the match 10-7, a three-point deficit that haunts Lozano when he considers the five points that he lost to penalties, as well as the points he was not awarded when he nearly pinned his opponent.
“I was a little angry, but I was more heartbroken knowing that that was my last match,” Lozano said. “After the match finished, I just looked around and embraced everything. My whole wrestling career went through my head as soon as I heard that last whistle. I was just speechless. I took off my ankle bracelet, and I remember kissing my hand and kissing the mat one last time, saying goodbye. It was very emotional, but it was a great experience. Without God, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
Lozano said that with his high school wrestling career over, he hopes to continue his wrestling career in college while obtaining a degree in exercise science and a teaching certification. He plans on becoming a wrestling coach some day, he said.
“I love this sport so much that I can’t stay away from it, even after college,” Lozano said. “I have such a passion for this sport. This sport has been my whole life, really. I want to be able to share my love for the sport while teaching others so they can find their love and passion for the sport.”