Experience a key at state tournament

The Delco Center in Austin is unlike any venue in the Rio Grande Valley. During the UIL state tournament, which begins today, the small arena is packed with spectators watching six mats of wrestling, cheering loudly and intensely during the action.

The scene is loud, chaotic and can be unnerving, especially to inexperienced competitors. Combined with the high level of competition, experience plays an especially large part in success at the tournament.

“It has a lot to do with it,” said Rio Grande City coach Ronald Pratt, whose program will send 138-pound Lisa Gonzalez to the tournament. “You get rid of those nerves real quick, you don’t worry about being in a big place.”

To combat the possible onset of stage fright, teams like RGC have started attending early-season tournaments in Austin to get their athletes ready for the scene at the Delco Center, not to mention the increased level of competition at the season’s final event. That, while it helps plenty, cannot quite replicate the experience of the state tournament.

“Experience speaks volumes. You can tell if a kid’s been there before and been in the medal rounds,” Pratt said. “If they’ve been to state before, they know what it’s like. They don’t get as nervous.

“I don’t want to say you can count on them not getting nervous, because everybody does, but you can see that level of experience… it shines through pretty quick.”

That held true for both of the Valley’s recent state champions.

Prior to winning state titles in 2009 and 2010 in two separate weight classes, McAllen High’s Sam Mangum lost in the first round of the 2008 180-pound bracket. McAllen Rowe’s Sara Gonzalez, who won the 2010 95-pound title, lost in the first round of the 2009 tournament.

Those two, though, were perhaps the two of the most talented wrestlers the area has ever produced and eventually broke through to win championships. That ability can at times can outweigh experience.

“You do have kids that are up there for the first time and they may feel a little different,” said Weslaco East coach Matthew Rokovich, whose Wildcats will send 180-pound Eli Urbina and 215-pound Eriel Ebarb to Austin. “The best wrestlers, believe it or not, go to the top.”

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.

Five boys to watch

David Diaz, Jr., McAllen Rowe

>>> Diaz qualified for state two years ago at 103 pounds.

Francisco Garza, Soph., McAllen Rowe

>>> Garza enters the state tournament as the 103-pound champion with a 30-2 record.

Rudy Gonzalez, Sr., Mission Veterans Memorial

>>> Gonzalez is the 125-pound regional champion.

Miguel Guerra, Sr., La Joya Palmview

>>> At 24-0, Guerra has the most wins of any undefeated boys Valley wrestler.

Eli Urbina, Jr., Weslaco East

>>> Enters the 180-pound bracket with a 35-3 record.

Five girls to watch

Mallaly Aleman, Jr., La Joya Juarez-Lincoln

>>> Member of the Lady Huskies’ District 31 championship team.

Eriel Ebarb, Sr., Weslaco East

>>> Making a return trip to the state meet at the 215-pound weight class.

Lisa Gonzalez, Soph., Rio Grande City

>>> Earned a regional title in the 138-pound bracket.

Adriana Pena, Soph., PSJA High

>>> Finished second in the 165-pound bracket at regionals

Samantha Sepulveda, Sr., Grulla

>>> At 38-0, could be Valley’s best chance at a state title.