Payson Roundup

Although the Longhorn wrestling team was shut out in its bid for Mingus Invitational gold medals, the squad did produce two silver medalists.

Sophomore Ben Lee finished 4-1 in the 125-pound class, losing 14-3 to a Mesa High returning state champion in the weight class finale.

Ben Sandoval was 3-1 in the 135-pound class, but was pinned in the championship by a Mingus three-time state champion on track to win a very rare fourth consecutive crown.

Payson senior Nick Goodman was 4-1 and finished third in the 152-pound class.

Although the Longhorns, under first-year coach Travis Kopenhafer, had four wrestlers reach the rounds to place, all lost heartbreakers.

“It was a very competitive tournament with some good wrestlers,” Kopenhafer said.

Among the 16 teams entered, Mesa is a defending state champion and currently ranked second in Class 5A Division 1. Mingus is the top-ranked team in 4A Division II.

About Sandoval’s loss to his Mingus foe, the coach said “he kind of got caught early; it was sort of a fluke thing.

“The night before, Ben wrestled him and only lost 10-6.”

As a team, the Horns wrestled their way to a third-place finish in their pool of eight teams.

Next up, the Horns travel Jan. 14 to Wickenburg to compete in the Wrangler Invitational.

The highlight of the season is expected to be a Jan. 17 trip to Alamosa, Colo. where the team will compete in an invitational that will draw some of the finest squads from both Colorado and New Mexico.

In the most recent high school rankings compiled by The Arizona Republic, the Longhorns — oddly enough — are not included in the top five.

Safford is rated No. 1, and Holbrook holds down the second slot.

Two East region members, Blue Ridge and Snowflake, are ranked three and four.

Winslow is rated fifth.