Page 68 - 2020 Sollenberger

Santa Cruz’s Ogle is pound-for-pound one of AZ’s toughest players
By Jose Garcia azpreps365.com
As a freshman, Hunter Ogle went trophy hunting.
In his sights was a big back/linebacker, soon-to-be college running back Alec Fitz Wyble-Meza, who outweighed Ogle by about 60 pounds in 2017. Back then, Wyble-Meza and Ogle were teammates at Eloy San- ta Cruz High when Ogle, the scout running back, ran right at the then senior Wyble-Meza.
“I almost trucked Alec, and after that I felt I can be pretty good,” Ogle said. “Alec said, ‘Dang, good hit.’ And I thought, ‘Dang, this might be for me. If I can almost break a tackle from (Wyble-Meza), imagine what I can do to smaller people.’”
Ogle is tough, but the Eloy community knew that way before he made Wyble-Meza’s legs wobble.
But it was on the wrestling mat, not the gridiron, where folks expect- ed Ogle to immediately thrive. Becoming a 4-time high school individual champ was Ogle’s goal for as long as he could remember.
But that wrestling dream was crushed after a state runner-up finish as a freshman. As Ogle recharged his wrestling batteries after that state championship loss, football sparked a new passion.
“I still get butterflies every time I step on the field just as a game is about to start,” Ogle said.
On defense, Ogle, a linebacker, flies to the ball every chance he gets.
On offense, the 2A Conference’s second returning leading rusher tends to grind his way to as many yards as possible.
With 1,844 rushing yards and 93 tackles, no other player in 2A con- tributed as much to a team as Ogle did last year. This season, before it was shortened, a 2,000-rushing yard, 100-tackle season was a realistic goal for the senior with a non-stop motor.
“The weird thing about Hunter is we try to give him breaks, but he won’t let us,” Santa Cruz head coach Rishard Davis said.
A fractured wrist didn’t even stop Ogle.
He injured it two seasons ago during a game, got the wrist taped and kept playing the rest of the season without telling his coach about the injury.
“I didn’t want to stop playing,” Ogle said.
Ogle said he’s fractured the same wrist before and didn’t think it was a big deal.
The injury, however, did hamper Ogle’s second attempt at a wrestling title two years ago, when he finished third.
The thing he had to heal the most was his heart, though. Ogle lost his drive for wrestling after the completion of his freshman season.
“My whole goal was to be a 4-time state champ,” Ogle said. “I was working so hard for that, and when it didn’t happen it was devastating.”
His asthma and allergies also slowed him down.
But Ogle rekindled his love for wrestling last year, when he started retaking his asthma medication. After catching his second breath, Ogle went on to win his first individual title.
“I was happy,” he said. “I’m humble. I wasn’t out there celebrating but was happy. It took a lot of hard work. I’ve been working at it since I was in second grade, and it finally paid off.”
Also winning an individual wrestling crown last year was Ogle’s brother, Wyatt, a junior and Santa Cruz’s new starting quarterback.
Bryant and Brandi, Ogle’s parents, watched their sons’ dual crowning wrestling achievements from the stands.
“It makes me want to work that much harder when I see my parents in the stands,” Ogle said. “I don’t want to lose in front of them. They’ve always been there for me.
“I’ll be honest, I was a bit teary-eyed when I saw Wyatt win it. It motivated me to also win.”
Ogle wants to continue competing in football or wrestling or both after high school, he said.
The 5-10, 160-pounder had no offers heading into the season. But if they do come along, a school will land one of the grittiest athletes in this year’s Arizona senior class.
Santa Cruz - 2A Gila Region
Head coach: Rishard Davis.
Years as school’s head coach: 7.
2019 record: 10-3.
Returning starters on offense, 2019 stats: Jr. DB Ricardo Alaniz (560 rushing yards and 7 TDs, 54 tackles); Sr. WR David Avilez (377 rushing yards and 6 TDs); Jr. DB Steve Calvin (263 rushing yards and 7 TDs, 5 INTs); Sr. OL Diego Castillo; Sr. OL Juan Castillo; Sr. TE Orlando Davis Jr. (191 receiving yards); Jr. OL Tanzor Gil; Jr. DB Wyatt Ogle; Sr. TE Sias Lopez; Jr. OL Robert Maldonado; Sr. RB Hunter Ogle (1,844 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns); Jr. OL Elijah Tellez.
Returning starters on defense, 2019 stats: Sr. DB David Avilez; Sr. DL Diego Castillo (43 tackles); Sr. DL Juan Castillo (26 tackles); Sr. LB Orlando Davis Jr.; Jr. DL Tanzor Gil (45 tackles); Sr. LB Maurico Lopez (64 tackles); Sr. LB Hunter Ogle (93 tackles).
Also keep an eye on: Jr. TE Davin Ethington; Soph. ATH Max Rodriguez. Strengths of offense: Experience.
Strengths of defense: Experience.
Team’s biggest questions mark(s): Quarterback play.
2020 expectations: Be the best team we can be.
More about program: The Ogle brothers were also state champions in wrestling this past year.
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Hunter Ogle averaged 7.7 yards per carry last season as a running back and led the Dust Devils with 93 total tackles. (Santa Cruz Valley High School photo)