Grulla's Sepulveda representing two schools

GRULLA — When she wrestles at the UIL state tournament this week, 119-pound Samantha Sepulveda will represent two schools.

Sepulveda, who enters the tournament at 38-0, spent the first three years of her wrestling career at Rio Grande City under coach Ronald Pratt. When the district split before this school year, Sepulveda chose to spend her final year at Grulla because it was closer to her home, leaving behind a successful and established wrestling program at RGC.

Both schools will be on her mind when she tries to become the second girls wrestler from the Valley to win a state championship, matching what McAllen Rowe’s Sara Gonzalez did in the 95-pound bracket last year.

“(The time at Rio Grande City) helped a lot. Coach Pratt, he helped a lot and I thank him for everything he’s done and the time,” Sepulveda said. “They’ll be both like my two schools that I actually competed for. It would be a (state championship) for both.”

That’s a similar sentiment coach Oscar Ozuna has for Sepulveda, who is returning to the state tournament after previous trips for RGC. Sepulveda, because of her experience, has taken on a bigger role for the first-year program than most athletes do, a role that almost resembles that of a wrestler-coach.

It’s something Ozuna said has had a positive impact on both her and her teammates, none of whom have her level of experience or track record.

“It’s really more of a review for her because the more she can coach or teach the girls or guys, it’s always a review for her so she’s always reviewing. It’s better for her to keep that review going,” Ozuna said. “There’s some days where, you can see she’s a kid and she’s like ‘Oh, again?’ but once we get going she’s willing and goes at it full-speed all the time. She gives her knowledge when she can.”

That’s something coaches from two schools should be proud of.

Brian Sandalow covers high school wrestling for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.