Vail Cienega won the team portion of the Diego Gadea Salpointe Invitational with a score of 191.5 and Gilbert Campo Verde came in second with 172 points.  The complete list of winners is listed below but first a bit about the invitational itself.

Jeannie and Manuel Gadea's son, Diego, was a good wrestler. He won the 160-weight class of the Salpointe Wrestling Invite in 2010 but he was also suffering from something very painful and very mysterious that most parents, schools and friends do not like to talk about.

Diego was diagnosed with childhood depression at age 11 and, even though all measures humanely possible were used to help Diego, he took his own life in June of 2011.

I'm not going to try put a number on it and I'm not going to quote the obvious that for every teenage suicide there are many, many more failed attempts.  I really don't care.  As a father myself, one is too many.

Salpointe changed the name of their yearly invitational to the "Diego Gadea Salpointe Wrestling Invitational" in an effort to help remember Diego and, perhaps, help other teens who may feel lost.

"It's really an honor," said Jeannie.  "He had a passion for wrestling and he loved it. The team has been really supportive."

Jeannie and Manuel were on hand to help with the award ceremonies on Saturday night. They placed medals around the necks of every boy who stood on the stage at Salpointe and offered them hugs. If you go to enough of these events you know very few of the wrestlers smile on the stand but that wasn't the case on Saturday.

"They go through a difficult week with practice and then worrying about their weight," explained Manuel. "They usually are pretty upset when they don't win."

But something was different. The couple spoke briefly with each wrestler while putting the medals around their necks and each came away with a smile.

"They find out who we are and they hear everything is okay and it helps to change their mood," explained Jeannie. "All of the wrestlers Diego competed with are gone now but this is an important learning moment for all these boys. Celebrity deaths from depression like Robin Williams has helped show what depression can do to you no matter how successful you are."

Tucson Catalina Foothills standout  Zach Davis (140) was named "Outstanding Wrestler" for the lower weight classes after he improved his personal record to 52-1 with a win over Cahan Saska of Sierra Vista Buena.

"Our school has only one champion and I want to be the next to win it," said Davis. "But I got a little scared in this match when he took me down early. I just worked my way back."

Cienega's Andrew Vera (197) was the upper class Outstanding Wrestler but he came one second from not winning his final match against Samuel Reeves of Casa Grande Vista Grande.

Down 3-1 with 11 seconds left, Vera went to work and scored a point and then picked up two more just as the clock was about to expire to give Reeves his first loss.

"I think I made about six moves in the final seconds," explained Vera. "Our coach always tells us to pin our ears back and go."

Vera has several losses this year but he attributes that to "showing up lazy," something he knows he cannot afford to do with the championships coming up.

"I just need to work hard and practice like everyday is my last and get ready for sectionals," he added.

 

 

Team Scores

 

 

1.  Cienega  191.5

2.  Campo Verde  172.0

3.  Gila Ridge  168.5

4.  Deer Valley  161.5

5.  Queen Creek  129.5

6.  Catalina Foothills  122.0

7.  Sabino  119.0

8.  Sahuaro  112.0

9.  Higley  101.5

10.  Cholla  96.0

11.  Sahuarita  91.0

12.  Salpointe Catholic  86.5

13.  Buena  84.5

14.  Flowing Wells  79.0

15.  Empire  72.0

16.  Hamilton  71.5

17.  Nogales  65.0

18.  Walden Grove  62.5

19.  Desert View  62.0

20.  Pueblo  51.5

21.  San Manuel  47.5

22.  Blue Ridge  46.5

23.  Rincon  45.0

24.  Rio Rico  42.0

25.  Vista Grande  37.0

26.  Douglas  24.0

26.  Horizon  24.0

 

108 Results
1st Place - Zach Rosales of Sahuarita
2nd Place - Jesus Urquidez of Cholla
3rd Place - Jacob Davis of Catalina Foothills
4th Place - Sal Silva of Walden Grove
5th Place - Carlos Vargas of Deer Valley
6th Place - Matt Ford of Horizon
1st Place Match
Zach Rosales (Sahuarita) 26-5, Sr. over Jesus Urquidez (Cholla) 8-3, Sr. (Dec 10-5).
3rd Place Match
Jacob Davis (Catalina Foothills) 49-4, Jr. over Sal Silva (Walden Grove) 28-3, Fr. (MD 14-4).
5th Place Match
Carlos Vargas (Deer Valley) 16-5, So. over Matt Ford (Horizon) 22-8, Fr. (Dec 7-3).

115 Results
1st Place - Dayton Dunham of Campo Verde
2nd Place - Travis Widmer of Queen Creek
3rd Place - Jason Ayala of Cienega
4th Place - Shawn Trujillo of Desert View
5th Place - Armando Valencia of Sahuaro
6th Place - Eric Gregory of Deer Valley
1st Place Match
Dayton Dunham (Campo Verde) 36-1, Sr. over Travis Widmer (Queen Creek) 38-5, Sr. (SV-1 7-5).
3rd Place Match
Jason Ayala (Cienega) 36-7, Sr. over Shawn Trujillo (Desert View) 33-8, So. (Fall 2:46).
5th Place Match
Armando Valencia (Sahuaro) 35-7, So. over Eric Gregory (Deer Valley) 29-10, So. (Dec 3-0).

122 Results
1st Place - Alex Dunham of Campo Verde
2nd Place - Grant Williams of Empire
3rd Place - Colt Collier of Gila Ridge
4th Place - Dylan Sheesley of Sahuarita
5th Place - Joey Basila of Sabino
6th Place - Johnnie Luna of Sahuaro
1st Place Match
Alex Dunham (Campo Verde) 33-6, Jr. over Grant Williams (Empire) 42-5, Sr. (Dec 9-3).
3rd Place Match
Colt Collier (Gila Ridge) 24-3, Sr. over Dylan Sheesley (Sahuarita) 26-9, Sr. (Fall 2:23).
5th Place Match
Joey Basila (Sabino) 37-14, Jr. over Johnnie Luna (Sahuaro) 28-7, Jr. (Dec 5-4).

128 Results
1st Place - Constatino Murillo of Sahuaro
2nd Place - Alex Colpo of Empire
3rd Place - Adam Henderson of Blue Ridge
4th Place - Tyler Francisco of Cienega
5th Place - Anthony Saba of Queen Creek
6th Place - Tyler John of Deer Valley
1st Place Match
Constatino Murillo (Sahuaro) 31-2, Jr. over Alex Colpo (Empire) 37-8, Sr. (Fall 3:26).
3rd Place Match
Adam Henderson (Blue Ridge) 25-9, Fr. over Tyler Francisco (Cienega) 35-12, Sr. (Dec 8-5).
5th Place Match
Anthony Saba (Queen Creek) 26-14, Fr. over Tyler John (Deer Valley) 28-9, Jr. (Dec 7-3).

134 Results
1st Place - Kyle Ford of Gila Ridge
2nd Place - Jace Manriquez of Cienega
3rd Place - Caleb Erikson of Deer Valley
4th Place - Andres Medina of Sabino
5th Place - Billy Fiore of Campo Verde
6th Place - Alejandro Sandoval of Flowing Wells
1st Place Match
Kyle Ford (Gila Ridge) 36-1, Sr. over Jace Manriquez (Cienega) 35-7, Sr. (MD 12-2).
3rd Place Match
Caleb Erikson (Deer Valley) 33-7, Jr. over Andres Medina (Sabino) 41-12, Sr. (Fall 2:23).
5th Place Match
Billy Fiore (Campo Verde) 31-13, So. over Alejandro Sandoval (Flowing Wells) 17-12, Fr. (MD 10-2).

140 Results
1st Place - Zach Davis of Catalina Foothills
2nd Place - Cahan Saska of Buena
3rd Place - Daniel Maestas of Sabino
4th Place - Nicholas Woolridge of Salpointe Catholic
5th Place - George Emerson of Sahuarita
6th Place - Matt Saba of Queen Creek
1st Place Match
Zach Davis (Catalina Foothills) 52-1, Sr. over Cahan Saska (Buena) 37-1, Sr. (Dec 10-7).
3rd Place Match
Daniel Maestas (Sabino) 47-6, Sr. over Nicholas Woolridge (Salpointe Catholic) 31-8, Sr. (Fall 2:13).
5th Place Match
George Emerson (Sahuarita) 29-11, Sr. over Matt Saba (Queen Creek) 24-11, Jr. (Dec 6-3).

147 Results
1st Place - Austin Carroll of Higley
2nd Place - Ronald Brown of Cienega
3rd Place - Chris Reyes of Queen Creek
4th Place - Franky Renteria of San Manuel
5th Place - Dalton Partridge of Sabino
6th Place - Danny Cervantes of Deer Valley
1st Place Match
Austin Carroll (Higley) 37-5, Sr. over Ronald Brown (Cienega) 44-4, Sr. (Dec 3-2).
3rd Place Match
Chris Reyes (Queen Creek) 33-8, So. over Franky Renteria (San Manuel) 39-13, So. (Dec 5-0).
5th Place Match
Dalton Partridge (Sabino) 35-17, Jr. over Danny Cervantes (Deer Valley) 18-8, Sr. (Fall 1:13).

154 Results
1st Place - Jacob Swift of Deer Valley
2nd Place - Parker Hawk of Campo Verde
3rd Place - Sean Fanning of Rio Rico
4th Place - Noah Hoogendoorn of Gila Ridge
5th Place - Will Mastronardi of Queen Creek
6th Place - Tyler Alexander of Hamilton
1st Place Match
Jacob Swift (Deer Valley) 39-0, Jr. over Parker Hawk (Campo Verde) 38-3, Sr. (Fall 5:49).
3rd Place Match
Sean Fanning (Rio Rico) 13-14, So. over Noah Hoogendoorn (Gila Ridge) 25-10, Jr. (Dec 11-8).
5th Place Match
Will Mastronardi (Queen Creek) 24-8, Jr. over Tyler Alexander (Hamilton) 8-6, So. (SV-1 6-4).

162 Results
1st Place - Jordan Sheldahl of Gila Ridge
2nd Place - Javier Pro of Desert View
3rd Place - Jose Agosto of Hamilton
4th Place - Brendan Wabick of Rincon
5th Place - Martin Gill of Flowing Wells
6th Place - Ricky Telles of Sahuarita
1st Place Match
Jordan Sheldahl (Gila Ridge) 28-5, Jr. over Javier Pro (Desert View) 39-4, Sr. (MD 12-4).
3rd Place Match
Jose Agosto (Hamilton) 23-5, Sr. over Brendan Wabick (Rincon) 5-4, Jr. (Dec 6-3).
5th Place Match
Martin Gill (Flowing Wells) 23-9, Sr. over Ricky Telles (Sahuarita) 26-14, Jr. (Fall 1:47).

172 Results
1st Place - Cameron Wells of Higley
2nd Place - Joey Hernandez of Salpointe Catholic
3rd Place - Sean Palermo of Queen Creek
4th Place - Ricardo Jayassi of Nogales
5th Place - Lance Kilgore of Walden Grove
6th Place - Liam Scarlett of Campo Verde
1st Place Match
Cameron Wells (Higley) 33-1, Sr. over Joey Hernandez (Salpointe Catholic) 26-2, So. (Fall 1:03).
3rd Place Match
Sean Palermo (Queen Creek) 26-7, Jr. over Ricardo Jayassi (Nogales) 32-9, Sr. (Dec 5-4).
5th Place Match
Lance Kilgore (Walden Grove) 40-8, So. over Liam Scarlett (Campo Verde) 26-10, Jr. (SV-1 4-2).

184 Results
1st Place - Gabe Ortiz of Buena
2nd Place - James Dick of Catalina Foothills
3rd Place - David DeSilva of Hamilton
4th Place - Andrew Romero of Campo Verde
5th Place - Jason Perryman of Higley
6th Place - Jose Mata of Gila Ridge
1st Place Match
Gabe Ortiz (Buena) 37-0, Sr. over James Dick (Catalina Foothills) 28-6, Sr. (Dec 9-3).
3rd Place Match
David DeSilva (Hamilton) 13-5, Sr. over Andrew Romero (Campo Verde) 11-5, Sr. (Dec 6-2).
5th Place Match
Jason Perryman (Higley) 27-17, Sr. over Jose Mata (Gila Ridge) 24-13, Sr. (Dec 7-4).

197 Results
1st Place - Andrew Vera of Cienega
2nd Place - Samuel Reeves of Vista Grande
3rd Place - Carlos Estrada of Douglas
4th Place - Milan Oxspring of Campo Verde
5th Place - Rico Tipton of Hamilton
6th Place - Bryan Ellwood of Catalina Foothills
1st Place Match
Andrew Vera (Cienega) 42-4, Sr. over Samuel Reeves (Vista Grande) 38-1, Sr. (Dec 4-3).
3rd Place Match
Carlos Estrada (Douglas) 36-6, Sr. over Milan Oxspring (Campo Verde) 27-13, Sr. (Fall 4:14).
5th Place Match
Rico Tipton (Hamilton) 20-7, Jr. over Bryan Ellwood (Catalina Foothills) 36-14, Sr. (Dec 5-1).

222 Results
1st Place - Rafael Pacheco of Cholla
2nd Place - Will Walker of Cienega
3rd Place - Rosario Munoz of Blue Ridge
4th Place - Kendrick Petty of Sabino
5th Place - Michael Hall of Flowing Wells
6th Place - Gage Nerger of Deer Valley
1st Place Match
Rafael Pacheco (Cholla) 33-6, Sr. over Will Walker (Cienega) 24-5, Jr. (Fall 3:20).
3rd Place Match
Rosario Munoz (Blue Ridge) 30-8, Sr. over Kendrick Petty (Sabino) 36-13, Sr. (Fall 2:42).
5th Place Match
Michael Hall (Flowing Wells) 20-14, Sr. over Gage Nerger (Deer Valley) 22-15, Sr. (Fall 4:45).

287 Results
1st Place - Jerome Doss of Cholla
2nd Place - Francisco Sandoval of Nogales
3rd Place - Carlos Martinez of Sahuaro
4th Place - Fabian Mata of Gila Ridge
5th Place - William Smith of Pueblo
6th Place - RJ Okonowski of Queen Creek
1st Place Match
Jerome Doss (Cholla) 11-5, Jr. over Francisco Sandoval (Nogales) 40-2, Sr. (Dec 2-1).
3rd Place Match
Carlos Martinez (Sahuaro) 33-7, Jr. over Fabian Mata (Gila Ridge) 27-9, So. (Dec 4-2).
5th Place Match
William Smith (Pueblo) 17-7, Sr. over RJ Okonowski (Queen Creek) 20-6, So. (Fall 0:33).