McALLEN — Legacy.
Rio Grande City’s Gregorio Vela has that on his mind in his return to the UIL state meet being held today and Saturday in Cypress.
“My biggest influence on me has been my coach, Victor Trevino,” Vela said. “He placed fourth in the class of 2014, I believe. It is kind of a competition against him. When you think of Rattler wrestling, that is who you think of.”
Vela wants to be that guy, like Trevino, an assistant coach for the Rattlers, he said.
| Rio Grande City’s Greg Vela poses at McAllen Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
The Rio Grande City wrestler is 48-1 on the season and the Class 5A Region 4 champion at 150 pounds. Because of that, Vela feels pretty confident.
“But I know we are one of the weaker regions,” he said. “Other regions can battle though — their third-place or fourth-place kids can be just as good us. I feel confident because I am coming in unknown. They do not really know what Rio Grande City High School is, and they are going to finally find out at the tournament.”
Sharyland High’s Paolo Miranda also returns to state, but for the third time. Miranda picked up a regional championship in the 126-pound weight class.
| Sharyland High’s Paolo Miranda poses at McAllen Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
Miranda finished fifth at state in 2021 at 106 pounds and again in 2022 at 120 pounds. The senior is excited about the chance to improve on those fifth-place finishes, he said.
“I am ready to have good opponents,” Miranda said. “It is a thrill, so I am just waiting for that day.”
Freshman Aiden Baker joins Miranda from Sharyland High at state as a regional champion. Baker wrestles at 106 pounds for the Rattlers and finished the season with 36 wins.
“It is really hard to accomplish that as a freshman,” Baker said. “So, I feel pretty good about it.”
| Sharyland High’s Aiden Baker poses at McAllen Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
Being able to gain experience from state as a freshman has Baker thrilled about the prospects of the future under head coach Sam Mangum, a state champion at McAllen High School in 2009 and 2010.
“My coach has taught me a lot already,” Baker said. “So after this season, I think he will teach me even more, and I will probably win state.”
Sharyland Pioneer sophomore Sebastian Contreras also returns to state. Contreras qualified for state at 106 pounds in 2022 and returns in 2023 as the Region 4 champion at 113 pounds.
| Sharyland Pioneer’s Sebastian Contreras poses at McAllen Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
“I feel pretty good and confident,” Contreras said. “Just go out there match by match and keep wrestling how I have been these past few tournaments.”
McAllen High’s Salomon Arroyo rounds out the regional champions headed to the big show in Cypress. Arroyo breezed through the competition at 190 pounds at the regional meet.
| McAllen High’s Salomon Arroyo poses at McAllen Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
The senior made it to state as an alternate in 2022. Being an alternate, feeling the energy at state and not being able to wrestle did not sit right with Arroyo, he said.
“I was getting the feel for it, so now I feel pretty confident going into state, just ready,” he added.
Joining the regional champions looking to cement their legacy is Sharyland Pioneer’s Marcus Perales at 106 pounds and Cristian Ramos at 144 pounds. Sharyland High also is sending senior Alberto Mendoza at 138 pounds.
PSJA Memorial, like Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer, has three state qualifiers: seniors Erik Duran at 126 pounds, Juan Escobedo at 138 pounds and Isacc Garza at 175 pounds.
Harlingen High needed only one season to send someone in Class 6A. Senior Remzi Memik qualified for the Cardinals at 285 pounds. Joining Memik at the Class 6A tournament is Edinburg Economedes junior Maddox Quinonez.
Mission Veterans Memorial junior Joaquin Cordero, Rio Grande City standout Aiden Stafford and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln senior Julian Navarro round out the boys from the Valley headed to Cypress.