Roswell High takes pair from Clovis

CLOVIS – It’s going to be tough sledding at times for Clovis High’s wrestlers as coach Eric Zottneck tries to establish a program from scratch.

The Wildcats had a tough time against District 4-5A rival Roswell High on Tuesday night at The Rock, going down to a 57-16 defeat. Roswell High also took the girls dual match 36-12.

The Cats are now 1-1 in district duals, while the Lady Cats stand 0-2.

“Roswell came to fight,” Zottneck said. “They’re an established program. (Coach) Jesse Boggs does a great job.

“I’d say we had four (matches) we should’ve won, but our kids are learning.”

The Coyotes posted five pins and a win by forfeit in the first six weight classes before Cats sophomore Rhiley Williams scored a first-period pin over Coyotes sophomore Nehemiah Gedde. Clovis’ other two wins came at 215, with senior Samaj Satchel posting a 13-5 win over Gage Urquides for four points, and a first-period pin at heavyweight by freshman Kaleb King against Ethan Lopez.

In the girls’ dual, five of the eight weight classes scheduled were contested. The Lady Coyotes took two forfeit wins while Clovis had one, going to sophomore Yocelyn Romero at 126.

The Lady Wildcats’ lone win on the match was a second-period pin by sophomore Jordan Archuleta over freshman Alizae Najera at 138.

Clovis squads have added a tournament this weekend, competing on Saturday in the Sierra Blanca Invite at Ruidoso.

Lady Cats place two in tourney – Two members of the CHS girls squads earned place-finishes on Friday in the Lady Pinto Invite at Moriarty.

Freshman Zulehiny Mendoza went 2-1 to place third at 107, while Romero posted a 3-2 mark and finished fifth at 126. Three others competed for Clovis and did not place – sophomore Ashley Moron, 0-2 at 114; Archuleta, 1-2 at 145, and freshman Sunnay Ward, 1-1 at 165.