Teammates celebrate when Luis Chafino earns his 100th win in his high school wrestling career in his regional championship match Saturday at NJC. Pictured from left are Nain Vasquez, Johny Quintana, Jadon Frost, Chafino, Carlos Legaretta, Miguel Soto and Angel Carrasco. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Senior Nain Vasquez, pictured at right, works to maintain control over Yuma’s Louden Blach in this 160-lb. regional match. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Chafino wins No. 100 in regional championship
Senior Luis Chafino will make his third trip to the Colorado State Wrestling Championships Feb. 20-22 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Getting stronger each year, he now goes to the state mats as a regional champion.
While he hasn’t made it to state placement rounds in the past, he’s not going to be satisfied with a mere placement this year. “One of his goals in life is to be a state champion,” said coach Dusty McConnell.
And the whole town will be rooting for that dream come true for Chafino.
Ranked third at 170 lbs., Chafino (with a 17-1 season record) will meet Mancos junior Lot Martin (24-18) in first-round action at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.
Friday action begins with quarterfinals at 9 a.m., second-round consolations at 5 p.m. and semifinals at 6:45 p.m.
Saturday consolations for 2A wrestlers begin at 10 a.m., with the parade of champions kicking off the championsihp matches at 6:30 p.m.
As a sophomore, Chafino wrestled at 145 lbs. and came within one round of placing, taking a 2-2 record on the state mats. Last year, he was 1-2 at 160 lbs.
Chafino claims win No. 100
When Chafino came off the mat with an 18-5 win in the regional championship Saturday, his teammates greeted him with a sign celebrating his 100th win in his high school career.
While his 170-lb. regional weight bracket only had five wrestlers, Chafino performed well. He won his semifinal match with a quick 20-second pin and dominated from the get-go in the championship.
McConnell has coached Chafino at the peewee, junior high and high school levels, and he is pleased with the young wrestler’s growth in the sport. “He just keeps getting better,” praised McConnell. “And he will be missed next year.”
Five other Dragons competed in the Feb. 14-15 regionals. McConnell has noted all season that the team is young, with members being either underclassmen or competing in high school wrestling for the first time.
“They know what hard work and dedication mean in wrestling,” said McConnell, adding that next year they’ll come back strong.
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