District honors state-medal wrestlers and coaches from local high schools

The Gadsden Independent School District board on March 6 recognized student athletes and coaches for recent state wrestling tournament results.

Superintendent Dempsey opened the recognition and praised the district’s high-school wrestling programs and coaches for recent state-level medals. Coaches from Santa Teresa High School, Gadsden High School and Chaparral High School introduced and spoke about students who medaled at the state tournament. Highlights presented to the board included:

- Jenny Rico Hernandez (Santa Teresa High School), a three-year letter winner who finished third at this year’s state tournament and is enlisting in the U.S. Air Force; coach Rundell noted her progression from fourth as a sophomore to third as a senior.

- Isaiah Sanchez (Santa Teresa High School), a senior who placed third and plans to attend New Mexico State University to study engineering, according to Coach Rundell.

- Matthias (last name not read into the record) from Gadsden High School, described by his coach as a state champion and the district’s first state champion in roughly 50 years; the coach described a 48–0 unblemished season record and an overall four-year varsity record cited during the presentation.

- Kimberly Perez Lopez (Chaparral High School), a sophomore who placed fifth at state; Chaparral coaches described her work ethic and upcoming national invitations.

Athletic leaders and the district’s athletic director, Karen Nugis, thanked the board for support for uniforms, mats and travel. Board members congratulated students and coaches and noted the benefit of middle-school wrestling being added two years prior as a feeder for high-school programs. Several coaches and staff highlighted plans to grow middle-school competition, including arranging matches with El Paso-area schools in future seasons.