MV aims to carry over last year’s success into 2024-25 season

HOLBROOK, Ariz. – There is a sense of optimism filling the Monument Valley wrestling room this year.

Last season, the Mustangs had quite the year, with then-seniors Joseph Rodriguez and Devin Salt making the state finals in their respective weight classes. Rodriguez captured gold at 126 while Salt took runner-up at 157 as those top finishes have inspired this year’s group.

“The room is working hard right now, and I think a lot of that came from last year’s state champion and state runner-up,” longtime MV wrestling coach Clyde McBride said. “Everybody is working hard.”

In the first tournament of the 2024-25 season, the Mustangs showed a lot of promise, with the girls team placing third overall while the boys took fourth at the Pat Kenny Invitational over the weekend.

The Mustang girls squad finished with 150 points behind meet winner Snowflake (243) and runner-up Round Valley (204.5).

MV had eight girls make the podium, headed by the third-place efforts from sophomore Emily Curley (7-2 overall) at 107 and senior Makayla Rock (8-1) at 138.

Freshman Angel Hasken (107) and sophomore Arianna Maimone (152) placed fourth, while freshman Alexis Pete (100) and juniors Hazel Shortman (114) and Cheyenne Kescoli (165) earned fifth-place finishes. At 145, junior Nizhoni Clitso was sixth.

“Cheyenne Kescoli and Makayla Rock look really good this year,” McBride said. “I’m going to fill every weight class except heavyweight.”

In addition to those stalwarts, the Mustangs do return sophomore Nannabah Haskan, who placed fifth at last year’s Arizona Division II state wrestling tournament. Haskan wrestled at 126, and she compiled a 21-6 record.

“I was kind of surprised,” Haskan said of earning a state medal her freshman year. “But then I was like, I’m going to do it. I wanted to show that I’m a good wrestler, so I just pushed myself.”

This year, Haskan is going to be wrestling at 132. At the Pat Kenny Invite, she went 4-5 in pool play action. Despite not having the outing she was hoping for, Haskan is looking to make state again.

“At the end of the season, I want to get as far as I can at state,” the MV grappler said. “I gonna push myself more this year, more than last year.”

MV boys

The Mustang boys had 10 members earn medals as MV finished with a team score of 189 points. The McBride-coached team finished behind meet winner Snowflake (269.5), Holbrook (241), and Mountain Ridge (216.5).

Junior Justin Yazzie and senior Logan Bahe carried most of the scoring load for the Mustangs as they earned first-place medals at the Holbrook meet.

Yazzie pinned Tuba City’s Rias Merino for the 138-pound title, while Bahe earned a fall over Skyline’s Taven Rath in the 165 finale.

At 113, Tachiini Holmes placed third, while Clayton Begay (144) and Jalen Alcott (150) took fourth in their respective weight classes.

Junior Jaden Franco placed fifth at 157, while Delroy Johnson (120), Charlie Placke (138), Joaquin Gullet (144), and Nicodemus Holmes (175) added sixth-place finishes.

“I have a lot of returners from last year,” McBride said of his boys squad. “I have a ton of juniors that this year is gonna be their year.”

That junior class includes Justin Yazzie, who got disqualified at the state qualifying meet last year. The MV grappler weighed 0.8 ounces heavier to wrestle at the sectional meet.

“Honestly, I cried a lot,” Yazzie said of not making weight. “It still hurts, but this year, for sure, it’s going to be different.”

Needless to say, Yazzie has the motivation to get on the wrestling mat. His goals include making state and earning a state medal.

“I definitely want to win state,” Yazzie said. “Right after state, I’m wanting to go to Fargo (North Dakota) for that wrestling tournament. You have to finish in the top four at state to qualify for that tournament.”

Despite missing last year’s state meet, Yazzie left the tournament with high aspirations after watching his two teammates battle in the finals of their respective matches.

“With what they did, it kind of set my expectations really high this season,” Yazzie said. “Joseph was my practice partner, and we worked out a lot. I also pushed Devin in the mat room, too.”

And although he won his bracket at 138 at the Holbrook meet, Yazzie is expected to move down a couple of weight classes later this year.

“Ideally, I should be wrestling at 126,” he said. “That is where I’m going to be wrestling at for state.”

---