By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Grulla’s Victor Segura closed out his senior year on Saturday by winning a UIL state championship in the 113-pound boys division in Class 5A.
Segura defeated Frisco Centennial sophomore Gregory Coapstick (dec., 9-4) to end the season with a 34-0 individual record.
Segura was the Valley’s only wrestler to win a state title at the Berry Center in Cypress.
A year ago, three Valley wrestlers medaled at state, including two second-place finishers. On Saturday, 11 wrestlers advanced to Day 2 of the tournament, with six medaling.
Edinburg Vela’s Miranda Melchor (215) and Edinburg Economedes’ Kassandra Castillo (148) finished as runner-ups. Rio Grande City’s Alouette Gonzalez (95), Mission Veterans’ Klarissa Blanco (185) and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln’s Leslie Oliva (95) all came in third in their respective weight classes.
Gonzalez and Oliva were the Valley’s lone medalist at state last year, with Gonzalez picking up bronze and Oliva earning silver.
Grulla’s Yasmin Flores (128), La Joya Juarez-Lincoln’s Jesenia Gaytan (215) and Weslaco High’s Rulyanne Rodriguez (128) finished in fifth place Saturday.
La Joya Palmview’s Gustavo Arpero (195) placed sixth after losing to Friendswood’s Christian Rains, and PSJA High’s Edison Brooks finished sixth by way of forfeit following injury.