Pintos Reign Supreme: Moriarty Clinches Back-to-Back District 2-4A Titles

ESPANOLA – In a high-stakes Wednesday showdown in Espanola, the Moriarty Pintos wrestling team proved why they are the class of District 2-4A. Facing a grueling five-round schedule, the Pintos displayed technical brilliance and unwavering composure to secure their second consecutive District Championship, finishing with a guaranteed first-place trophy.

The tournament’s climax featured a nail-biting finale against Taos, where Moriarty emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, 42–41, to seal the perfect day.

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Tournament Standings

Moriarty’s path to the title was a journey through the heart of Northern New Mexico wrestling.

Round	Opponent	Result	Final Score
Match 1	Los Alamos	Win	45–32
Match 2	Espanola Valley	Win	78–6
Match 3	Pojoaque Valley	Win	77–6
Match 4	BYE	—	—
Match 5	Taos	Win	42–41

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The Championship Clincher: Moriarty vs. Taos

The final round against Taos was a classic battle of momentum. With the team title on the line, the Pintos leaned on their heavy hitters to overcome a flurry of Taos points in the lighter and middleweight classes.

Trailing in several individual matchups, Moriarty found their salvation in a string of dominant pins. Sonny Apodaca (138), Lucas Rodelas Lozoya (144), and Caleb Gustafson (150) secured consecutive falls to keep the Pintos in striking distance.

The dual—and the championship—eventually came down to the final two weights. Mishen Jaramillo (215) delivered a clutch 64-second pin over Saul Hernandez, and Lance Volk (HWT) slammed the door shut with a 48-second fall over Miguel Martinez to secure the one-point team victory.

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Standard-Bearers of the Mat

Six Pintos finished the tournament with unblemished 4-0 records, providing the foundational points necessary for the title defense:

• Ethan McClaskey (126): Ignited the team early with a lightning-fast 35-second pin against Los Alamos and never looked back.
• Sonny Apodaca (138): A model of consistency, finishing every contested match with a fall.
• Lucas Rodelas Lozoya (144): Showcased incredible endurance, racking up pins in three separate rounds.
• Caleb Gustafson (150): Controlled the tempo of every match, ending his day with a second-round pin over Taos.
• Mishen Jaramillo (215): The powerhouse of the upper weights, providing critical pins when the team score was tightest.
• Lance Volk (HWT): The ultimate closer, ensuring the heavyweight division belonged to the Pintos.

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Defining Moments

“Every point matters in a championship dual. From the technical falls in the early rounds to the overtime battles, this title was won by every member of the roster.” One of the most impressive displays of resilience came in Round 1 against Los Alamos. Domicio Brito (113) refused to yield in a grueling 9-8 Ultimate Tie Breaker (UTB) victory over Zachary Ramirez. It was that level of determination that set the tone for the Pintos