Memory of mother driving Caraballo

RIO GRANDE CITY ? Arnaldo Caraballo could have given up. He certainly considered it. Instead, the Rio Grande City senior dedicated this season to his mother, Juana Bermea, who passed away just after Caraballo?s first trip to the state wrestling championships last year. The 285-pounder will try to complete his memorial with state gold Friday and Saturday, when he and junior Jenny Garza return to Austin. ?It was pretty tough because I didn?t expect it,? Caraballo said. ?It kind of messed me up a little bit and I was thinking about letting go of everything and giving up, but my coach actually talked to me and told me to keep on going. And she?s been there for me since the beginning of the season, so I?m thinking she?s going to be there for me at state.? The loss was especially difficult for Caraballo, whose father has been in prison most of his life. Caraballo initially moved in with an uncle after his mother died in her sleep March 11, 2007. But the uncle moved to Roma, leaving the 18-year-old alone in a three-bedroom house until a roommate recently moved in. Caraballo?s remaining family checks in on him often and helps out as much as possible, but he holds down a job at Wal-Mart to help pay the bills. And despite his circumstances, Caraballo played varsity football and went 41-1 as a wrestler en route to a regional gold medal and trip to state. On the mat, the 6-foot-3 Caraballo is an imposing presence ? one who?s often been mistaken for a coach. ?He walks out there and he looks like he?s about 30 years old,? RGC coach Ronald Pratt said. ?We had numerous cases this year where a kid would come over, and I have a tendency to sit in the middle of the team, and a kid can?t find me right away, and Caraballo?s usually on the other end, and they?ll go over and shake his hand because they don?t know where the coach is.? After going to Austin as an alternate last season, Caraballo is ready to test his skills against the state?s best this time around. He?ll open against Lake Highland?s Nick White in a half of the bracket Pratt says is very favorable. The 95-pound Garza (26-0) is making her second trip to state after finishing fourth last season. She?s quickly caught up with and passed PSJA Memorial standout Jennifer Gonzales in their weight class, beating her twice this season, the second time for regional gold. She opens against Palo Duro?s Sabrina Placencio at state. ?I think when she gets over there it will become apparent that she?s the best wrestler in the state,? Pratt said. Jason McDaniel is a sports writer for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442.