NATHANIEL MATA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
Football is king in the Valley. That is, until you become one of the region’s top wrestling talents. Edinburg Vela’s Mike Mendez gave up the gridiron to focus on the mat, and the decision has paid dividends.
Mendez said devoting himself to wrestling full time just “felt right”
“I felt I was getting better every time I stepped on the mat,” Mendez said. “Ever since I started, I felt like I was born to wrestle.”
He was in line to become a starting defensive end for SaberCats varsity football, but he chose a different path.
On WrestlingTexas.com, he is listed in the top 20 wrestlers in the 195-pound weight class.
His coach, Jody Cantu, believes a recent trio of Lady Sabercats signing to wrestle in college factored in to Mendez’s growth.
“When they signed with Lindenwood (University) and Bacone (College), they kind of set the fire in Mike,” Cantu said. “It kind of became a reality for Mike. This is something that can be done if you focus in and perfect your craft. And that’s what he’s done. He’s backing it up with wins on the mat.”
Mendez has been a trailblazer for Vela. He has grown with the program since its infancy. The coaching staff believes the work ethic he brings can be contagious to a program. It led to the boys’ best ever district finish — second place at the 16-6A meet behind Weslaco High.
Practice before school, even the week of regionals, was demanding, and Mendez was leading, always volunteering to go another round. Mendez doesn’t hold back against lighter teammates, pushing others to improve.
“The only way it’s intense is if you put in the 110 percent,” the two-time regional qualifier said. “You have to make sure the person you’re in front of is practicing as hard as you are, so both of you can get the same results every day.”
The senior wrestles at 195, winning a district championship in 2016. This year, he fell short of reclaiming his crown.
He lost in the title match against crosstown opponent, Dillion Taovalu of Edinburg North, via pin. The loss came after a bye and two pins landed him in the final.
Runner-up wasn’t what Mendez was looking for, but it provides fuel as he prepares to wrestle in the regional tournament in San Antonio this weekend.
“It gives you that mindset saying that, ‘There’s still more to overcome.’ It was a tough match,” Mendez said. “I gave my all, but it wasn’t enough to win. What I say is, ‘What makes a good wrestler is comebacks along the way.’”
Cantu explained that there isn’t much difference between wrestlers at this point in the season. That’s where intense practices and intangibles come into play.
“When it comes to wrestling, once you match a skillset between wrestlers, it’s going to come to down to grit. How tough they are mentally. That’s why we do it,” Cantu said, referring to the team’s training regimen. “They can lay on the mat because they’re physically exhausted. So come match time, they felt this pressure before, and they’re able to execute when they’re physically tired and mentally tired.”
The former football player has been a leader and an inspiration to his team, sparking six podium finishes for the boys (five silver, one bronze). On the girl’s side, senior Alexis Altamira took home district gold in the 110 class.
Another of Mendez’s teammates, sophomore Robby Silva, took bronze in the 132 division. Cantu pointed him out as a rising talent who is in the same mold of relentless workers.
“It feels like the harder you work here, that’s how you’re going to perform out there in the real competitions going into regionals and state,” Cantu said. “Basically, what you’re trying to do is outwrestle the person in front of you, not anyone else.”
Vela and all qualifying 6A regional wrestlers will be in action Friday and Saturday. The UIL Region IV meet is at the Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio.