By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Three years ago, Diana Hernandez approached McAllen Rowe coach Arlan Garza about joining the school’s wrestling team. Up to that point, Hernandez had never wrestled. She was in the 185-pound weight class, joining a team (and a sport) once the season had gotten under way.
Hernandez had work to do.
Steadily, however, she’s developed into one of the more technically sound and reliable wrestlers at Rowe. She’s in the 128 class now as a junior, boasting an 11-2 record following her first-place finish at the Dog Pound Classic.
“She’s come a long way,” Garza said. “Each year she keeps getting better. She’s one of those kids that just doesn’t know when to stop wrestling. Her effort in the first (round) is the same as in the sixth. If it goes into overtime, she’s going to keep wrestling with that same intensity.
“She just keeps surprising people.”
Garza pinned McAllen High’s Catrina Teran at the 1:18 mark and Weslaco High’s Rulyanne Rodriguez at 3:49. She also defeated San Benito’s Marissa Quiroz by decision at 3:01. It helped Rowe’s girls team finish third behind McAllen High and San Benito.
“She’s just focused and relentless. That’s what it is,” Garza said. “When she first came out, it was funny because I had her as a student in my geography class, and you wouldn’t think she was any type of an athlete. She came up to me and said she wanted to wrestle. Even her mom was surprised.”
“She was so far behind, and we did a lot of running. But she kept trying and trying. That’s indicative of her personality. She couldn’t stop. You tell her to run, 20, 30, 40 miles, and no matter what, she’s going to finish it. I know I count on this girl.”
BONUS POINTS
Rio Grande City’s boys finished in second place last week in the Mustang Invitational, partly because of the pins the team earned. On average, each Rattlers wrestler secured two pins, giving Rio Grande City an additional point to help it accumulate 139 points behind first-place La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (191).
Carlos Hernandez (152) and Noe Reyes (195) led the way for RGC. Hernandez won all four of his sets, three coming by pin in addition to a 5-4 decision over Grulla’s Angel Zuniga. Reyes (195) pinned all three of his opponents, including McAllen Memorial’s Jose Plata.
The two seniors boast 15-1 individual marks, having earned gold in a tournament for the first time this season.
“I think we’re just more into the season,” RGC coach Ronald Pratt said. “The first tournament was very early for us; we didn’t have our legs under us. Now we’ve got a few matches in and we’re a little more prepared mentally. That’s what it is.
“We’re finally jelling on the mat, and they’re dedicated to improve.”
DISTRICT DUALS
The 6A district dual will be held at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln. The single-elimination meet, featuring boys and girls team, will host 15 schools in District 16-6A.
All but one (San Benito) are from the upper-Valley, including schools from Edinburg, La Joya, McAllen, Mission, PSJA (Memorial and North) and Weslaco.
The 16-6A individual tournament won’t be held until Feb. 5-6 at Mission High.