Urbina, Gonzalez take different paths to state

In Texas sports there is one word that never needs an explanation. It’s a word that draws a nod of approval from peers and a sense of satisfaction in players:

State.

Weslaco East’s Eli Urbina and Rio Grande City’s Lisa Gonzalez, the Valley’s only regional champions, make their journey to the state wrestling tournament in Austin as a study in contrasts. For Urbina it was the realization of years spent honing his craft, while Gonzalez rose to the occasion after facing adversity for the first time in her career. Both will get the chance to write the final chapters of their stories in the center mat.

Urbina, a 182-pounder, started wrestling when he was in fourth grade in his native Ohio. Wrestling ran in his family, including his older brother before him, and Ohio is a state known for appreciating the sport.

“Wrestling in Ohio is kind of like football in Texas,” said Urbina, who is 21-0.

When Urbina moved south wrestling was one of the first things he sought out. Naturally, with the wealth of his experience and the all business attitude that comes along with it success followed.

“He’s had a lot of matches and put in a lot of time on the mat,” Weslaco East coach Matthew Rokovich said. “He’s not one of these kids with an attitude. It’s ‘yes sir’ ‘no sir’ with him.”

Gonzalez, a 148-pounder, always had the talent, but her biggest hurdle was in her mind. She suffered a MCL sprain early in the season that sidelined her for three weeks, during that time she focused on the more cerebral side of the game and overcoming her own fears.

“My biggest problem was that I doubted myself,” said Gonzalez, who enters the state meet at 27-2. “I decided to change that and stay positive.”

Despite her injury she did whatever she could to stay sharp, even if she could not get on the mat.

“I would see her in class just staring off,” RGC coach Ronald Pratt said. “And I knew she was probably going through a thousand matches in her head.”

In her first match back from injury she was defeated by Juarez-Lincoln’s Danae Sanchez. Gonzalez was not happy with the loss but had learned her lesson when she met her rival once again in the regional final.

“I was mentally prepared the second time around,” said Gonzalez. “I wanted to show her I wasn’t going to back down.”

The state tournament begins Friday.