Marco Chavez
Our Texas boys from the El Paso area went to tough 2-day tournament filled with New Mexico state champions, placers and powerhouse teams from around the Land of Enchantment. El Paso had four schools place in the top 15 out of 38 schools. Eastwood led the group landing a 4th place team spot with 198 points with 7 placers and 2 individual champions. Franklins comes in at 9th with 90 points, 11th place Americas with 84 points, and Parkland at 13th with 72 points.
Hector Oritz freshman standout from Eastwood is having a great start to his season currently ranked 16th in the state. Ortiz starts off the tournament with a 1st period fall over Garcia of Andress Ortiz next match was against Lopez of Ysleta who is currently ranked #5 in the state at 5A.
Ortiz wastes no time against Lopez getting a takedown and 3 near fall and eventual fall in the 1st period. Next Ortiz faces off against tough competition, Martinez of Volcano Vista defending state team champions. 1st period both are firing off shots but not able to finish. Martinez chooses bottom in the 2nd period and Ortiz is able to rude him out the entire period. Ortiz picks bottom going into the 3rd period, he gets the escape, but Martinez is able to capitalize with a takedown, Ortiz gets another escape to tie it up 2-2.
Ortiz gets a penalty point, turns that into a takedown and manages to ride out Martinez to get the win 5-2. In the semis Ortiz faces off against Roybal of Cobre, Ortiz starts off fast with a takedown after about a minute of riding Roybal gets a reversal, but Ortiz gets a reversal of his own and rides out Roybal the remainder of the period.
Ortiz defers and Roybal picks bottom to start the 2nd period. Roybal gets a reversal, but Ortiz manages to get a reversal of his own right into near fall to end the period Ortiz up 10-4.
Ortiz chooses bottom to start the 3rd period manages to escape and get the fall in the 3rd period to put himself in the finals. Oritz will now take on Valdez of Los Lunas a top ten team in the state of New Mexico, Ortiz starts off with a takedown with 30 seconds left but Valdez gets a quick reversal as time runs down Ortiz is able to get a reversal of own to go up 4-2.
Ortiz chooses bottom in the 2nd period, is so crafty with his bottom game gets a reversal into 3 near fall but Valdez manages to get a reversal before time expires.
Valdez chooses bottom and Ortiz gets 3 near fall and is able to ride out the time to win the 107-weight class with a major decision 12-4….
