Wrestling coach has high hopes for coming season

Winslow High School wrestling Coach Justin Hartman is looking forward to the 2005-06 season with high hopes. The Bulldogs dominated the 3A North Region Tournament in the 2004-05 season and should have a great opportunity to keep the regional title in Winslow.

The team has ten wrestlers returning who qualified for the state tournament last season and five who placed in the state meet. Leading the pack of returning lettermen that placed in last year's state tournament are Enrique Vigil who placed second in his weight division, Daniel Bailon who placed fifth, Tommy Taylor and Anthony Martinez each of whom placed fourth. Justin Powell was injured at the time of last year's tournament, but had placed fifth in the 2004 tournament.

Hartman reports that the team participated in the highly respected "Camp of Champions" tournament in California during the summer. Winslow was the smallest team participating, but made an impressive showing by placing fifth as a team with five wrestlers placing. Wrestlers who achieved outstanding results included Vigil who finished first in his division, Taylor who finished fourth, Martinez who finished second, Powel who finished fourth and John Gonzales and David Young each of whom finished second. Young, a returning regional champion, impressed many of the coaches present including his own by finishing second in this tournament. Another outstanding honor reaped over the summer by a Bulldog wrestler was the preseason national ranking of Vigil as 16th best in his division.

Coach Hartman said that he is very impressed with the freshman class and described them as a scrappy bunch with a thirst for wrestling knowledge. He said that they showed a lot of heart in the First Annual Maroon and Gold Classic and that if they continue to show improvement and drive the Bulldogs should have a legitimate shot at a state championship in 2008.

Winslow will begin its season with a duel meet against Flagstaff tonight (Nov. 30) and looks to improve on its fourth place finish last year in the Pat Kenny (Holbrook) Invitational Dec. 2 and 3.

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