Local wrestlers off to state girls’ championship

BELEN — Six Valencia County wrestlers advanced to the state championship with their efforts last weekend in the NMAA Girls Region 2 Championship held at Belen High School.

Leading the charge was 107-pounder Alexis Avis-Labus, of Valencia, who captured the Jaguars first girls’ regional title.

“It’s pretty insane,” Avis-Labus, a junior, said while catching her breath shortly after being mobbed by coaches and friends following her victory by pin over an Albuquerque Academy rival in the final. “It’s crazy what you can do with practice and just the dedication.”

Avis-Labus will take a 32-5 record into the all-classes state tournament Feb. 21-22 at Rio Rancho Events Center, where she was runner-up one year ago.

“I’m going to try to get it like everybody else,” Avis-Labus said about winning a state title. “Nothing is promised; everything is earned.”

Joining Avis-Labus in Rio Rancho is VHS teammate Adrianna Berni, who returns to the state meet for a second straight year. Berni won the seventh-place match at 100-pounds, a pressure packed showdown for the last automatic qualifying spot.

“When I step on the mat, everything just leaves my mind,” Berni, sophomore, said after an earlier match. “It’s just different than other sports that I play.”

The three Valencia County schools were bunched together in the team standings, with Belen 18th, Valencia 19th and Los Lunas 21st. Atrisco Heritage was the Region 2 champion.

BHS was without 2024 state qualifier Lisette Sanchez, who was lost for the season in late January with an injury.

Filling in for Sanchez at regionals was Hailey Olguin, junior, who wrestled above her weight class at 114-pounds.

“It’s tough because I’m not used to this weight yet; I’m working on it,” said Olguin, who was convinced by Sanchez and other friends to give wrestling a try. Olguin finished eighth, one place from reaching state.

The top performers for BHS were Olyvia Sanchez, who finished third at 120 pounds, and Olivia Ortiz, sixth at 165 pounds.

Los Lunas freshman Janie Wheeler is in her first year and often wrestles competitors who are heavier.

“I wrestle 30 pounds under my weight,” in the 235-pound weight class, “so I tend to go up against really big girls.”

Wheeler lost in the seventh-eighth place match for an automatic berth, but late Sunday she was named a wild card selection for the state championship based on a predetermined criterion.

Three other local wrestlers who finished in eighth did not receive a wild card berth, just missing a trip to state: Valencia’s Chiara Perez at 114 pounds; Belen’s Linsey Sanchez at 126 pounds; and at 152 pounds, Natalia Moreno, of Los Lunas.

Haidyn Garley earned an automatic berth for LLHS, finishing fifth at 185 pounds. The future looks promising for Los Lunas, with the Tigers’ roster size growing noticeably this season.

“Now we have a full team,” Camilla Keddy, freshman, said proudly. “We built the program. It’s amazing. Everybody is there for you.”

The boys will be in action this week, with Belen and Valencia competing Friday and Saturday in the NMAA Region 2-4A Championship at Valley High School.

Los Lunas will travel to Las Cruces for the NMAA Region 2-5A tournament.

The boys will then join the girls Feb. 21-22 for the State Championship at Rio Rancho Events Center.