San Pasqual’s first ever three-time state champion
Elias Espinoza wins his third straight wrestling state title and becomes the first three-time champion in San Pasqual history.
WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - San Pasqual has a proud history out on the wrestling mats and now first time ever, the Warriors have a three-time state champion.
In Feburary, Elias Espinoza claimed his third straight Division IV 285 pound Arizona state wrestling title. Year in and year out, Espinoza has continued to constantly push himself. This year he actually lost twice, which added fuel to that fire.
"Knowing that somebody's out to get me in the sense that once I win one," Espinoza said. "Somebody's gonna try to knock me off my throne in a sense."
Espinoza has also challenged himself beyond just the top wrestlers in Arizona.
"A lot of the stuff in the summertime—going to nationals, going to Fargo, competing with not just people in Arizona but across the country—," his father and San Pasqual head coach, Edgar Espinoza, said. "I think that it, it puts you at a higher level."
Wrestling is in the Espinoza blood. Elias is coached by his father Edgar Sr. Elias's older brother Edgar Jr. wrestled at the state championships for San Pasqual. Elias's grandfather was also a wrestler.
"We're a wrestling family," Elias said. "We eat, sleep, breathe wrestling. We talk about it all the time. It's definitely ingrained in who we are."
Out on the mats, Elias carries his family name on his back.
"My brother had place in state, but he's never won it and so it was my responsibility to go out there and go prove myself," he said.
"It very emotional," Edgar Sr. said about his son becoming San Pasqual's first three-time state champio. "The biggest thing is the work that he's put in, all the grind that we do, and putting San Pasqual on the map. It really meant a lot to us as a family."
Sam Pasqual also had another wrestler place at state with Lelene Oona placing second in the girl's 158 pound division. Both these wrestlers were proud to represent their school and community.
"It means a lot because this is a small school and we don't come from much out here," Orona said. "So to know that one of use placed it means a lot because a lot of people put our school down for no reason. But, we have a really bad like good wrestling program here."
"A lot of kids come from nothing," Elias said. "They don't have the same opportunities that we do and just for me to go out there and go put San Pasqual on the map is very beneficial. You might not know where we're from or what school we're from, but you definitely know who we are."
Espinoza is set to continue his wreslting career at Arizona Christian University. Orona will be back at San Pasqual, hoping to repeat as state champion next season.
