Ramon Marrieta of Safford Middle School came out with a tough victory over Michael Reyen of Eloy Jr. High on Saturday night at the Junior High State Wrestling Championships at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe.

(Complete brackets, click here!)

Marrieta was considered an underdog of the 200-pound championship final because of a 11-4 record, while opponent Reyen had an impressive 31-2 record.

The score kept switching back and forth in the first two periods. Reyen had Marrieta in a strong hold in the beginning of the third but was unable to fully subdue him.

“This match was a very hard one, especially in the very end when I had to turn him over,” said Marrieta after the emotional win.

Heavyweight Marco Silvas, also of Elroy Jr. High, defeated first-year wrestler Calvin Jennings from the East Valley Wrestling Club 9-3.

Silvas was leading 7-0 until the middle of the second period when Jennings was able to escape a hold and get his only three points of the match.

“I never faced this opponent before, so I had to just battle through and keep on going,” said Silvas.

Regional champion Jeremiah Crespo of Camp Verde faced Hayden Pate of Desert Devils in the 154 championship final, winning 6-2. Crespo took the lead in the first period but had some trouble in the second, as Pate leveled the score for a short while. But Crespo broke the tie and had a convincing third period.

“It was tough, but the opponent was a great guy. And I have to say that I wrestle for fun more than anything else, even winning,” he said.

Championship scores for the upper weightclasses:

133 pounds

Galoriel Valdez (Sonoran Trials) 5, Jonathen Ariso (Chain Gang) 1

142 pounds

Danny Romero (Eloy Jr. High) 8, Ricardo Morales (Chain Gang) 0

154 pounds

Jeremiah Crespo (Camp Verde) 6, Hayden Pate (Desert Devils) 2

167 pounds

Dylan Pennsinger (Desert Devils) 4, Mitchel White (Altadena) 3

180 pounds

Dustin Nelson (Aprende Middle School) 7, Zach White (Desert Ridge Jr. High) 4

200 pounds

Ramon Marrieta (Safford Middle School) 9, Michael Reyen (Eloy Jr. High) 7

Heavyweights

Marcos Silvas (Elroy Jr. High) 9, Calvin Jennings (East Valley Wrestling Club) 3