NATHANIEL MATA | THE MONITOR
McALLEN — A year ago, as a sophomore, McAllen Rowe wrestler Omar Anguiana was in the third-place match at the district tournament. He watched the wrestler who beat him in overtime, Dillion Tovalu of Edinburg North, go on to win the 195-pound championship.
Anguiana didn’t have his shot at redemption at the regional tournament. He was eliminated in the lower bracket before a rematch could occur.
This season, Anguiana has done a lot of growing up, according to Rowe coach Arlan Garza. That growth resulted in Anguiana standing on the podium as a district champion after beating Edinburg North’s Brandon Rich-Avalos.
Heading into the Class 6A Region-IV tournament this weekend at the Blossom Activity Center in San Antonio, Anguiana owns a 19-4 record, with all of his losses coming against out-of-area wrestlers.
“The difference between last year’s tournament and this year’s was the competition was a lot tougher,” Anguiana said. “It just made me realize that I needed to get better in my technique and that I needed to get stronger.”
Garza said Anguiana’s ability to handle big moments was the key to reaching the next level.
“It all came together at the perfect time,” Garza said. “He showed poise. He showed experience at district. He had some tough matches, but he was calm, under control, and he took care of business.”
Garza said using defeat as a tool to get better is crucial.
“I always think tough losses are better for us than big wins,” Garza said. “I’m talking about losses to stud wrestlers. The losses that you try to get back in the postseason, which is where we are now. You’re forced to grow not only in a wrestling perspective but on a personal level, as well.”
Anguiana experienced one of those humbling defeats against Bryce Dockins of Klein Collins High School, who is ranked No. 17 according to WrestlingTexas.com.
Anguiana said the moment got to him — a problem he and Garza feel Anguiana has conquered.
“What I learned the most from those four losses was that I needed to be smarter with my wrestling,” Anguiana said. “What happens with me is that when I’m tired, I tend to make dumb mistakes. I’ve learned to wrestle smart and stay behind the guy and start stacking up points.”
Experience molds youth
Rowe is sending eight qualifiers to the regional tournament, but the group consists of only two first-time regional qualifiers.
Anguiana spearheads the group as the Warriors’ lone district winner, and Garza is excited at the progress of sophomore Petey Lozano, who wrestles at 138 pounds.
Lozano qualified for regionals as a freshman, and Garza said that weekend was a spark that pushed him to come back on a mission in his second season.
“For me, I didn’t like how I ended up last year,” Lozano said. “It just pushed me more to work hard this year. It kind of set fuel to my fire. That’s the only way we’re going to get better. This whole team, we push each other to make each other greater.”
Garza said having such a large group traveling to compete and support can go a long way in San Antonio.
“I think it’s huge,” Garza said. “The mentality we’ve adapted here at Rowe wrestling has always been priding ourselves to get a good amount of kids at regionals every year. It’s always been the name in front of the chest.”
Teaching moments
Taly Cano, Rowe’s 170-pound wrestler, is ranked No. 8 in his weight class, according to WrestlingTexas.com. The senior has come a long way from where he started, according to his coaches. He’s of the mindset that losses in big tournaments can serve as lessons.
“I barely started last year. Since then, I’ve noticed that the intensity has really sped up,” Cano said. “We’ve been working hard because we took some heavy losses last year at regionals.”
Cano finished third at this year’s district meet, but the group is convinced he has more to give this weekend.
“You look back at your matches and think about what you did wrong,” Cano said. “You come in the next day in practice and clean it up.”
Another rare senior among Rowe’s young group is Leo Villegas. The soft-spoken, 160-pound wrestler who listens to banda music to pump himself up is grateful he’s able to pass along knowledge.
“It’s been a pleasure to teach the young guys, because when I was a freshman, they threw me. They did whatever to me, because I was barely a freshman,” Leo Villegas said. “I learned from the older guys, and now I’m doing the same.”
Garza feels like the foundation has been laid. Now, it’s up to his wrestlers to compete how they’ve shown they can and not let the bright lights become a factor.
“I always tell these kids, ‘Pressure doesn’t exist. It’s something you put on yourself,’” Garza said. “If you go out there and wrestle the way you can and don’t worry about the moment, you’re going to be just fine.”
Rowe wrestling and a bevy of 6A regional qualifiers will compete at the Blossom Center, while the 5A competition will take place today and Saturday at the Delco Activity Center in Austin.