MV wrestler earns silver

FORT DEFIANCE – The Monument Valley (Utah) girls wrestling team advanced one wrestler to the finals at the 6th Annual Veterans Memorial Invitational.

MV freshman Summer Atene won three matches at the Window Rock High-hosted meet on Dec. 20-21, as Atene wrestled Aztec’s Emily Saiz in the 114-pound finale.

“Summer was kind of like the dark horse in this tournament,” second-year coach Sidiah Parker said. “She started out, you know, with two girls ranked way above her and she definitely proved that she was the dark horse of this tournament.”

Atene won her first match by a fall over Madison Weber of Camp Verde. She then beat Danika Joe of Valley Sanders in a tech fall.

In the semifinals, she earned a fall over Holbrook’s Amber Masayesva in the first period. In the finals, she was pinned by Saiz as the Aztec wrestler captured her second consecutive VMI crown.

“I think I did OK, but I could have done better,” said Atene, who dropped to 6-3 overall.

“She was strong, and she was fast,” the MV wrestler said of Saiz. “I just got to stay low when wrestling someone like her.”

Her strong finish gave Atene some much-needed confidence as the MV wrestler went 3-2 in her last tournament in Panguitch, Utah.

“Getting into the finals was a big step for Summer,” Parker said. “In our last tournament, she dropped her first two matches, but she rebounded and won her last three, so she’s on a roll.”

With her placement, the MV coach believes Atene has a chance to earn a state medal, which will be held on Feb. 8 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield, Utah.

“She’s going to do great this year,” Parker said. “She’s one of our strongest wrestler on the team, and I think she’s gonna make a run at state.”

Besides Atene, Parker has five other girls on his squad, and they include Nay’myia Morgan (120), Keturah Whitehorse (120), Aiyana Parker (165), Alisha Sloan (165) and Nizhoni Sloan (165).

“Aiyana is my daughter, and she took first place in Parowan,” Parker said. “But she had a rough tournament here.

“This tournament is a tough tournament,” he added. “You see the talent they have here. I mean, you’re getting the best from Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Utah. I told the kids that if you do well here, you’re going to do well for the rest of the season.”

Parker also coaches the boys team, and he has enlisted four wrestlers. The Cougars are led by brothers Talon Brooks and Kye Amy, who wrestle at 157- and 165-pound, respectively.

“They’re brand new to wrestling, but both boys are super explosive,” Parker said. They’re good kids and they’re very fast.”

At 165, sophomore Jace Tsosie is a second-year wrestler, who has some experience.

The Utah 1A boys state wrestling tournament is scheduled for Feb. 7-8 in Richfield. The state qualifying meet is slated for Jan. 25 in Monticello, Utah with the top four wrestlers making it to state.

“Last year was rough,” Parker said. “None of our boys qualified for state last year, but we did take four girls to state.”

Of his two squads, Parker is optimistic about what his girls team can do.

“I think the girls can make a big mark in wrestling for Monument Valley,” Parker said. “I think we we’re gonna do well for the boys, too. We’re just trying to get in as many matches as we can and gain that experience on the mat.

“They have to improve every match, improve at every tournament,” he added. “They have to get better and better, so by the time divisional comes around, we’ll get our kids qualified for state.”

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