MV Cougars sending 10 wrestlers to state: UHSAA state meet slated for Feb. 14

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK – The Monument Valley wrestling team qualified 10 student-athletes to the Utah High School Activities Association state wrestling tournament.

Six girls and four boys will represent the 1A school as they got qualified over the weekend during the divisional tournament. The 1A Boys Division B tournament was held at Panguitch High School on Friday, Jan. 30 while the 1A/2A Girls Division A took place at Duchesne High School on Saturday, Jan. 31.

The state wrestling tournament for the Girls 1A/2A and the Boys 1A will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield, Utah.

“The kids have been working hard all year and I’m looking forward to see what they do at state this year,” MV coach Sidiah Parker said. “I definitely think we’re going to come back with some medals this year.”

Of the 10 wrestlers, four made the finals in their respective weight class during the divisional tournament with junior Jace Tsosie winning the boys 165-pound weight class.

Tsosie earned two falls at the state qualifying tournament and improved his record to 31-12 overall. He pinned his teammate Derwin Hulligan in the semifinals before besting No. 2 seed Acher Ward of Panguitch High School in the finals

“Jace Tsosie is one of our wrestlers that stood out,” the MV coach said. “He definitely rose to the occasion. He dominated his opponent in the finals. Not only did he dominate in points, but he also pinned his opponent in the second round, so it was great to watch him wrestle. He’s been working hard all year long.”

The Cougars are also sending freshman Jimcinto Freddy (113), junior Kye Amy (175) and Hulligan (165) to state as they each took fourth at the divisional tournament.

In the girls tournament, Sidiah’s daughters – Aiyana and Priseis Parker – won gold while junior Keturah Whitehorse placed second at 110 pounds.

Whitehorse (15-14) lost her finale to top-seeded Kylie Stewart (30-11) of Wayne High School with a fall.

“She’s my most improved wrestler,” Parker said of Whitehorse. “She wrestled in a tough weight class, but she did very well. She’s battled some injuries, but she’s made some big improvements since the Christmas break.

“She really stepped up and she went against a more experienced wrestler,” he added. “She was focused, and she’s been working hard.”

At 155 pounds, freshman Priseis Parker (19-6) pinned top-seeded Dakoda Keel (17-15) of Duchesne High School in the third period of the championship bout. Last year, Keel was the bronze medalist at the Utah state tournament.

“Priseis went out there and wrestled hard,” Sidiah Parker said of his youngest daughter. “She had some huge takedowns, and she dominated that match. She finished it off in the third round and she wrestled in the most exciting matches of the night.”

Junior Aiyana Parker, meanwhile, improved her overall record to 25-6 after finishing first as the top seed at 170 pounds. The older Parker sibling wrestled second-seeded Jaidyn Draper in the finals. Unfortunately, the Altamont sophomore had to retire with an injury in the opening period.

“She did awesome,” Sidiah Parker said of his eldest daughter. “This was her first tournament win. She took second at Parowan, second at Window Rock and second at Tintic.”

At the Tintic tournament, the Parker siblings were grouped into the same weight class with Aiyana letting her younger sister take the win.

“They both made it to the championship and, of course, they didn’t go too hard on each other,” Sidiah Parker said. “You know, Priseis was going through some personal stuff and my oldest daughter stepped up and took a pin for her and let Priseis win the tournament.”

At 115 pounds, MV sophomore Summer Atene (21-9) finished fifth in her weight class as she dropped two matches for an overall record of 21-9.

“Summer Atene didn’t have her best night,” Sidiah Parker said. “She’s in a tough weight class and she came up short in her last two matches, but I think she’s definitely one to look out for at the state tournament.”

Last year, Atene placed third at state in her weight class and the MV coach believes she has a chance to win gold.

“She did really well at all of her tournaments this year and she’s looking to do better at state,” Sidiah Parker said. “I think she has a real good chance of taking state this year.”

MV also qualified sophomores Nay’myia Morgan (125 pounds) and Zaire Holiday (190) for state as the latter two placed fourth and sixth in their respective weight class.

The Whitehorse girls will also have some representation at the state wrestling tournament in Richfield. Whitehorse qualified five wrestlers headed by the runner-up finish from senior Shandiin Roberts (15-11). Roberts came up short to top-seeded Abigail Woods of Duchesne in the 190-pound championship bout.

The Lady Raiders also qualified freshman Kairi White (100), freshman Mikey Little (105), junior Rayuana Lee (110) and junior Katie Whitehair (135).

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