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Gallup Sun

Tuesday, Mar 19th

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You are here: Sports Features Gallup High hosts Four Corners Tourney

Gallup High hosts Four Corners Tourney

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Six wrestling teams faced off at Gallup High School on Jan. 27 for the Four Corners Tourney.  The meet was delayed several hours due to a bomb threat at the school, but police cleared the building after a thorough search did not turn up any explosives, and the wrestling commenced.

Competition was tough but friendly with Gallup, Grants, Miyamura, Shiprock, Kirtland, and Newcomb high schools all duking it out on the mat.

The tournament was round-robin style, so each team wrestled every other team, and there was no overall winner announced. It was a long event, almost seven hours in total, and each athlete got to wrestle at least five matches. Matches were short, but intense, and everyone was worn out by the end.

Gallup head coach Esco Chavez was optimistic about his team, but noted that several of his wrestlers were out with injuries, which resulted in forfeits in those weight classes. Winning is not everything for Chavez, though.

“School comes first,” Chavez said.  He wants his wrestlers to be successful in life, not just on the mat.

He says his goal is to “make wrestling credible,” which means ensuring his athletes hold high personal standards in every endeavor.

“I want my kids to graduate and be state champions,” Chavez said.

At Gallup High, Chavez is more than just a wrestling coach, he’s a life coach as well.

But even if his athletes don’t win a championship, he is proud of them for who they are. “Every kid I have is very respectful … they’re all great kids.”

The Four Corners Tourney is an annual event and will be hosted by Shiprock High School next year.