Pinon Wrestling

The Pinon High School wrestling team has already won more dual matches this season than they did all of last season. The team lost its opening match to Greyhills by the close score of 36-34, but rebounded to best Ganado 45-23 to split the three-team series on Nov. 20.

On Nov. 21, the Eagles participated in a five-team at Monument Valley, Utah. Pinon defeated Ganado again 45-17 and also beat Monument Valley, Utah 61-0 and Whitehorse 40-36. The Eagles dropped a close dual match with Kayenta 45-36.

Brian Johnson was named as the Pinon Wrestler of the Week after going 6-0 with six takedowns and three pins. Other wrestlers and their records included Ana Gray 5-1, Nathan Gray 4-2, Orlando Francis 3-2, Aaron Betom 2-1, Garrick Begay 5-1, Derrick Haskan 5-1, Dion Yazzie 1-1, Jonathan Nez 2-5, Alden Begay 4-2, Carl Tachine 4-2, Jandreau Nez 4-2, Lawrence Agoodie 2-2, Elroy Sheppard 0-3 and Franco Sarracino 1-3.

Coach Witherspoon noted that the team had a 4-2 record after the first week of the season as compared to having won only three matches during the entire 1999-2000 season.

Pinon traveled to Hopi on Thursday Nov. 30 for a multiple meet. We went 2-2 as a team. We beat Red Mesa 54-40 and Hopi 53-30. We lost 18-59 to Joseph City and 24-59 to St. Johns. Our team dual meet record is now 6-4.

We also competed in the Holbrook tournament on Dec. 1-2. We placed 11th as a team with 173 points out of fifteen schools. We had two wrestlers medal. Garrick Begay placed third, losing to Coconino's state runner-up in the semi-finals. Carl Tachine in a big surprise placed 2nd, losing to Holbrook in the finals.

The Holbrook Tournament individual results, with weight class, are as follows:

Ana Gray, 103, went 0-5; Nathan Gray, 112, went 2-3; Orlando Francis, 119, went 1-5; Lawrence Agoodie, 130, went 2-4; Garrick Begay, 135, went 6-2; Aaron Betom, 140, went 2-4; Derrick Haskan, 145, went 4-4; Dion Yazzie, 152, went 3-2; Nathan Tullie, 160, went 2-5; Carl Tachine, 171, went 6-3; and Jandreau Nez, 215, went 0-4.

Carl Tachine is our Week Two - PHS Wrestler of the Week by going 9-5 over three days of wrestling and placing 2nd at the 15 team Pat Kinney Invitational. Carl had eight takedowns, eight pins, and scored 60 team points.

The Eagles hosted our second home meet against Ganado and Hopi Dec. 5 in the middle school gym. We beat Ganado 48-23 and Hopi 36-33. Our team dual meet record rose to 8-4.

Pinon competed in the Kayenta Tournament Dec. 8-9. Three Pinon wrestlers medalled: Garrick Begay was 5th at 135. Lbs., Carl Tachine was 6th at 171 lbs. And Brian Johnson placed 8th at 130 lbs.

Kayenta Tournament individual results were:

Franco Sarracino, 125, went 1-8, now 3-12; Brian Johnson,130, went 6-4, now totals 15-9; Garrick Begay, 135, went 8-2 now totals 25-5; Aaron Betom, 140, went 2-7, now totals 9-14; Derrick Haskan, 145,went 5-4, now totals 10-10; Nathan Tullie, 160, went 4-5, now totals 8-13; Alden Begay, 160, went 6-3, now totals 12-5; Carl Tachine, 171, went 7-3, now totals 21-10; and Jandreau Nez, 215, went 0-4, now totals 11-14.

Garrick Begay is our Week Three PHS Wrestler of the Week by going 10-2 for the week and placing 5th at the Kayenta Invitational. Garrick had 19 takedowns, 5 pins, three major decisions, and scored 59 team points.

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