Moriarty Sends 10 to State; Gustafson Claims Regional Title

TUCUMCARI – The Moriarty Pintos wrestling program made a loud statement at the NMAA Region 1-4A Championship, securing state qualification spots for 10 athletes. Leading the charge was 150-pound standout Caleb Gustafson, who captured a regional title, and Mishen Jaramillo, who earned a hard-fought runner-up finish at 215 pounds.

Gustafson Dominates the 150s

Caleb Gustafson entered the tournament with a target on his back and left with gold. After receiving a first-round bye, Gustafson (30-1) dismantled Kegan Keller of Aztec with a second-period fall and cruised through the semifinals with a 16-1 technical fall over Kaleb Shondee.

In a tightly contested championship bout, Gustafson faced Bloomfield’s Kellan Ray. In a masterclass of defensive wrestling and control, Gustafson secured a 1-0 decision to claim the top spot on the podium and cement his status as a favorite heading into the state tournament.

Jaramillo Takes Silver at 215

At 215 pounds, Mishen Jaramillo (17-9) put together an impressive run to the finals. Jaramillo opened his tournament with a disciplined 6-2 decision over Izaac Rivera before pinning Kirtland Central’s Jakob Little in the semifinals (2:31). Though Jaramillo fell in the first-place match to Aztec’s Aiden Trujillo, his second-place finish provided a massive 20.0-point boost to the Pintos’ team score.

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The Road to State: Pinto Qualifiers

Beyond the top two finishers, Moriarty showed incredible depth, battling through consolation brackets to ensure a heavy presence at the state meet.

Podium Finishers:

• Gabriel Gustafson (113): Took 3rd place with a gritty 5-3 decision over Aztec’s CJ Saiz.
• Lucas Rodelas Lozoya (144): Bounced back from a narrow semifinal loss to take 3rd place, ending his day with a dominant 68-second pin of Raton’s Colt Ayon.
• Lance Volk (285): Fought through a grueling heavyweight bracket to finish 4th, contributing 20 team points.

Rounding Out the State Bound Crew:

Moriarty will also be represented by Gavin Everett (126, 6th), Sonny Apodaca (138, 6th), Victor Dominguez (157, 6th), Ethan Mcclaskey (120, 7th), and Angelo Montoya (175, 7th).

Wrestler	Weight	Place	Key Stat
Caleb Gustafson	150	1st	30-1 Season Record
Mishen Jaramillo	215	2nd	Won by Fall in Semis
Lucas Rodelas Lozoya	144	3rd	2 Pins in Consolation
Gabriel Gustafson	113	3rd	18 Team Points

Despite several medical forfeits in the placement rounds for Everett, Apodaca, and Dominguez, the Pintos did enough early damage to ensure their season continues. The 10 qualifiers will now prepare for the ultimate test at the NMAA State Wrestling Championships.