Wingate wrestler wins first district crown

Posted by Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi | Feb 19, 2015 | Wrestling |

Wingate High School senior Donavan Clyde holds Shiprock sophomore Logan Charley, in a lock during the championship round of the District 1-4A wrestling tournament held Feb. 14. Clyde pinned Charley for the victory in the 182-pound weight class for his first district title. He will compete in the state tournament this weekend. (Times photo – Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi)

BLOOMFIELD, N.M.

For the last three seasons Wingate senior Donavan Clyde has qualified for the New Mexico High School state wrestling tournament, but never as a district champion.

For the first time in his wrestling career, Clyde won the District 1-4A title in the 182-pound weight class last weekend at the district tournament held at Bloomfield High School.

Highly respected and Wingate’s leading wrestler for the last three seasons, Clyde said it was long overdue.

“It’s great, there’s nothing I wanted more,” he said. “I worked harder and I pushed myself and I just wanted it more I guess.”

Clyde defeated Shiprock sophomore Logan Charley with a pin after leading Charley 4-2 in the championship match.

Clyde said he’s met his opponent throughout the season and has always come out on top.
The state wrestling meet begins tomorrow at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and will run through Saturday.

Clyde said he was going to spend the week leading up to the big meet running, lifting and training even harder.

He said the win already took care of the mental aspect of his game as he heads into the tournament.
“This gives me a lot of motivation,” he said. “It lets me know that I can do better than most guys that are out there, I was state runner-up last year, I’m just hoping this year I can do it.”