Del Norte senior Estevan Sierra captured the 2022 New Mexico 4A state wrestling championships at the Rio Rancho Events Center. He and opponent Mason Lockett of Silver were locked in a 2-2 tie with the third-period clock winding down. Estevan found the right moment to complete his only takedown of the match, earning the decisive two points with 10 seconds left to claim a 4-2 win.
Estevan’s rise to the top of the state’s 182-pound division is a model of perseverance. After a tough year as a freshman, he was ready to quit but instead listened to the coaches and trusted the process. “I didn’t imagine this at all,” Estevan said. “I was 30 pounds heavier (as a freshman), I was out of shape, and I didn’t want to work hard. But if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.”
Read High school wrestling: Del Norte’s Sierra completes unlikely title quest in the Albuquerque Journal.