Mikey Ruiz, Randall wrestling, sophomore
On the mat: He was the smallest wrestler to win a medal for Randall at the Class 5A state tournament in Cypress this past weekend, but nobody figured bigger for the team than Ruiz. Randall won the team state championship and got the biggest boost out of Ruiz, who was the team’s lone individual state champion by winning the 113-pound class. Ruiz capped a perfect 41-0 season by pinning Grapevine’s Kevin Contreras at 5:44 to win the gold medal, marking the second straight year Ruiz has won gold. Last year as a freshman, Ruiz won state at 106 before moving up a class this year. Ruiz opened this year’s state meet by pinning Frisco Lebanon Trail’s DaJuan Hollins in 1:28 and defeated Killeen Shoemaker’s Aljohn Morales by a 19-4 technical fall in the second round. He then beat Frisco Centennial’s Enrique Uribe 11-3 in the semifinals to reach the championship match. Ruiz’s older brother Nathanial, a senior, won silver in the 138 class, as the brothers played a huge role in Randall scoring 109 points and winning the team points title by 15.50 points ahead of second place Melissa.
Coach David Quirino: “His drive and his confidence is what separates him from most of the kids that he has to face. He’s just a hard-working individual that you don’t have to motivate. He’s self-motivated. Mikey started wrestling before Nathanial and they both started pretty young. When you have a brother and you share a room, you’re pretty competitive, so those guys are pretty tough. When you impose your will and have an offensive mindset, that goes along with being more highly likely to win the match if you get the first takedown. He only gave up two total takedowns on the year. He’s really good on his feet and when he gets you on the mat he can turn you. This year was about getting the takedown record and he did that. He’s definitely moving up in weight and it’s going to be a thing we’re looking forward to. (Going unbeaten) is extremely special, especially with our schedule. We went to Garden City, Kan. and he beat the No. 13 kid in the country 10-3.”
Ruiz: “(Winning a state championship) was definitely realistic but I wanted to get as much points as possible for the team and win state. You take down, cut them and go for the pin. In the semis and quarters I should have kept going with the takedown game. I was just trying to win every match I can. I knew there were tough kids because three of them beat me last year. I tried to get that win back to show how much I’ve improved. It was a big relief after state. I already had it in my mind I was going to win state. We didn’t really know as a team until the 132 match happened. I want to win state again and win every match I can. I’m getting bigger so I’m growing into each weight class. I think I’ll do 126 next year.”
About Ruiz
Favorite band or musician: Kanye West
Favorite social media platform: Instagram
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
Bet you didn’t know: Loves his Mexican culture.
Parents: Sammy and Leticia Ruiz