PHARR — It’s been an uphill climb for the wrestling program at Valley View High School.
The program began in 2017 but before it could develop, COVID-19 struck and put wrestling – and everything – into a standstill.
“What made things tougher is that we weren’t allowed to recruit our kids during COVID,” head coach Crystal Franz said. We graduated most of our kids in 2019 and only had three come back.”
But when with wrestlers, an athlete with a completely different mindset than most others, the tougher the challenge, the more brutal the obstacle in the way, the greater the desire – the obsession — is to overcome. That, they’re doing. The most common phrase in high school wrestling hotbeds across the country is that “they’re of a different breed.”
“If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t be part of the success,” Franz said.
With a background in jiujitsu and muay thai, and a relentless desire to create a successful program, Franz has continued to build the Tigers’ wrestling program. Recently, the school hosted its first wrestling tournament. The girls finished sixth out of 11 teams while the boys captured seventh of 13 squads.
The event gave the Tigers a chance to wrestle at home and gain experience. But that tournament was to help battle another obstacle, finances.
“It was for our kids really, to raise money,” Franz said. “We want to get them warm-ups before district. Donna North has helped us out with some headgear but those are tearing now and parents are upset that some of the gear we have is five-to-six years old. We’re hoping to get warm-ups before the district tournament.”
But there’s no rest between now and then. Franz’s workouts are tough to say the least, consisting of upward of 300 burpees (that was during the preseason) and other torments in a seemingly never-ending routine. It just fits in with the “different breed” statement.
“I think the kids are proud of that sort of stuff. They talk sometimes about how they are all misfits but together they fit,” said Franz, a Hidalgo graduate. “Lot of kids have come out to try – but a warmup is hard.
“Most people don’t make it past the warmup. I tell them it’s OK, it’s not for everybody. You have to have “it” in you to enjoy the work.”
The “it” factor seems to be roaming the Valley View school district halls. Last year, Valley View, Sharyland High, Sharyland Pioneer and Edcouch-Elsa all started a junior high program. Franz said she had 32 wrestlers come out and “most of them came back this year. That’s how I’m able to carry 13 freshmen right now.”
One of those freshmen, Yaritzi Prado, captured second at their tournament, falling in the finals to a standout Edinburg Economedes wrestler, senior Elisami Salinas with a 25-3 record at the 138-pound weight class. Sophomore Delia Tolston won the 114-pound division while junior Learsey Escamilla and senior Mia Diaz both took second place at 165 and 235, respectively.
On the boys side, freshman Luis Martinez took third at 106, sophomore Diego Padilla also took third at 126, junior Ronald Martinez was fourth at 132 and senior Enrique Rodriguez-Vicencio captured fourth at 175. Rio Grande City won the boys team event with a 151-146 advantage over Economedes.
Diaz, who fell to 18-0 Yvette Rojas of La Joya Palmview, was coming off a big tournament victory in Corpus Christi.
“It gave me a lot of confidence winning in Corpus,” said Diaz, who qualified for regionals last year. “That was my first time winning a tournament. It felt really good.”
“She was so used to taking home third and thinking she didn’t belong in the top tier,” Franz said. “In Corpus she beat some kids who were quite taller and having done this for a longer time.
“I tell the kids to do their best and have fun while doing it,” Franz said. “Ultimately it’s all that matters – no regrets, no, ‘I could’ve done this.’ I don’t like them having those what ifs.”