RGVSports.com
McAllen Memorial’s Pete Eguia and Rio Grande City’s Alouette Gonzalez were awarded Most Outstanding Wrestlers in their respective categories by the Valley Wrestling Officials Association on Friday in Rio Grande City.
Eguia earned the Tomas Garces award for outstanding male wrestler, and Gonzalez was named the top female wrestler, for their performances this past season.
Eguia, who wrestled in the 182-pound weight class, entered the season as a returning regional qualifier, and was relentless on the mat this season with his stone-cold demeanor. He posted a 36-4 record this year, capping his high school career with a 114-16 mark.
He was a regional champion in his weight class, despite hurting his knee at the district tournament.
“No matter the situation, he keeps wrestling. He’ll go the whole 6 mins. and he’s ready for overtime,” McAllen Memorial coach Eduardo Gonzalez said this past season. “He’s constantly pushing and pulling and he does whatever he has to do to win a match. And that’s what makes people worried about him. They don’t know if he’s going to quit or not. You can’t read an impression on his face.”
Through district, Gonzalez posted a 33-0 record and won the title in the 95-pound weight class. She helped the girls team win its first district title since 2011. And with the RGC boys team winning, as well, it marked the first time in the school’s history that both programs placed first in the same year.
“She’s a competitor,” RGC coach Ronald Pratt said of Gonzalez this past season. “She wants to get out there and be the best at what she’s doing.”
Gonzalez also made her third consecutive trip to the UIL state tournament.