The Sand Devils finished seventh out of 28 teams at this year’s Sand Devil Classic over the weekend. Three Page student-athletes medaled. Defending state wrestling champion Zachery Ruiz, a senior at Page High School, took first in the 113-pound weight class. He was also given the Albert “Cujo” Yazzie Award, which is given to one outstanding wrestler.
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By Steven Law
Special to the Chronicle
PAGE – The Sand Devils finished seventh out of 28 teams at this year’s Sand Devil Classic over the weekend.
Three Page student-athletes medaled. Defending state wrestling champion Zachery Ruiz, a senior at Page High School, took first in the 113-pound weight class. He was also given the Albert “Cujo” Yazzie Award, which is given to one outstanding wrestler.
“He’s a gladiator,” said Head Wrestling Coach Kyran Keisling. “He’s always looking for ways to challenge himself and become a better wrestler.”
Earlier in the season, Ruiz wrestled two weight classes above his normal weight class, just so he could face tougher competitors. They were his only losses during the season, but he shrugs them off, knowing that the experience will make him better prepared to defend his state title on Feb. 15.
Sophomore Hunter Richardson took fifth place in the 138-pound weight class.
“He was just one bowl of Wheaties away from taking a prettier medal home,” Keisling said. “Hunter is getting better with each match he wrestles and is poised to be on the podium at the state meet. It is awesome to see the confidence he wrestles with for such a young kid. His intensity level and conditioning are through the roof. There is absolutely no quit in this kid.”
Senior Kaleb June won an exciting match in overtime to qualify for the finals. He lost in the finals to Zach Cecil from Montezuma Creek, Utah. June, who has been battling an ankle injury all season long, has his eyes on the state meet.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to finish high on the podium at the state meet and a performance like this for him is a huge confidence builder,” Keisling said.
The Sand Devils have a big crop of very talented freshman: Ashton Penrod, Shayne Ruiz, Hayden Charles, and Loren Lewis all wrestle at the varsity level, and the JV team is also stacked with talented kids, with grit and determination.
Keisling said he expects to have very competitive teams in the coming years as that crop of wrestlers mature.
Girls finish second in the She Devil Classic
The She Devils, the high school girls wrestling team, finished in second place as a team at the inaugural She Devil Classic, with six Page wrestlers making it to the podium. Miyamura took the championship.
The Arizona Republic has the She Devils ranked second in the state behind Mojave High (Bullhead City, Arizona).
Sharmayne Crank (130) and Monique Parrish (185) both won the championship in their weight brackets.
Latasha Slim (135), Aja Curley (145) and Tanisha Zee (160) all finished second. Angel Clark (160) and Angelina Lewis (225) placed third. It should be noted that Lewis wrestled up a weight class, and wrestled girls 40-50 pounds heavier than she was.
Tea Nockideneh (118) and Kadence Lee (160) finished in fourth place.
Smith said his girls are very excited about girls wrestling and the opportunities it gives them.
“On a personal level, I’m really excited to be a part of it,” Smith said. “It has really brought back my passion for coaching.”
As the She Devils enter the post-season, Smith says he expects his team to win sectionals and finish in the top three at state, with several individual wrestlers standing on the high steps of the podium.
Page hosts the 3A North Region Championships Wednesday, Jan. 29. Both boys and girl teams will attend.
The boys sectional tournament is on Feb. 8 in Winslow, Arizona. The boys state wrestling tournament will take place Feb. 14 and 15 in Prescott Valley.
The girls sectional tournament is on Feb. 1 in Winslow.
Their state tournament will be Feb. 14 and 15 in Prescott Valley.
