Grulla's Sepulveda finishes second at state

The emotions around Grulla 119-pounder Samantha Sepulveda’s second-place finish at the UIL state wrestling meet are undecidedly mixed.

Sepulveda finished her senior year 41-1 and helped first-year school Grulla make a mark on the wrestling scene while controlling the first half of her championship match, including coming close to a first-round pin. She did, however, come up one victory short of the Valley’s second girls state championship, getting pinned by Shelby Morrison of Bushland 5:52 into the match.

“I’m mixed on that because that state title was right around her neck already,” Grulla coach Oscar Ozuna said. “For the first period and a half, that was hers and then she ended up losing.

“Oh my God, it’s heartbreaking but then again she’s worked so hard all year and the last four years and every time she was a step closer.”

To reach the finals, Sepulveda pinned Darlene Fernandez of Hanks 5:32 into their match. Because of that, Sepulveda entered the final with the momentum of two pins and a lopsided second-round victory.

Ozuna said that the loss stung Sepulveda for a little while, but that she soon realized she still had a college career to look forward to.

“I told her she wrestled her butt off,” Ozuna said. “Nobody can take that away from her. Nobody in the state can say they’re better than her.”

Mission Veterans Memorial 125-pounder Rudy Gonzalez also entered Saturday with a chance to win a state title. Gonzalez, however, fell in the semifinals when he was pinned by Bo Nickal of Allen. He did recover to win his final two matches and finish third, beating Scott Akers of Flower Mound.

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.