The Deming Headlight from Deming, New Mexico • 13

Game Time Basketball: Wildcat boys host El Paso Coronado, p.m. today at DHS. PAGE 1B SPORTS DIGEST Bad weather snuffs Olympic torch flame ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE (AP) Huddled against a freezing wind, young women dressed as high priestesses waited in vain Thursday for a ray of sun to light the flame that will burn at the Nagano Olympics. Heavy clouds, sporadic rain and heavy snowfall in the mountains around the ancient birthplace of the Olympics prevented the flame from being lit by the rays of the sun in a concave mirror set amid the ruins of temples of Hera and Zeus, the main gods once honored at this ancient sanctuary. Organizers hoped the weather would be better Friday for the official flame lighting ceremony for the games, which open Feb.

7 at Nagano, Japan. Boxer still in coma LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (AP) Light welterweight champion Felix Bwalya of Zambia was in a coma Thursday, four days after winning the Commonwealth title from Paul Burke of Britain on a controversial decision. Bwalya, who was knocked down three times in the final three rounds and was on the canvas when the final bell sounded, was admitted to Lusaka Teaching Hospital Tuesday after complaining of headaches. He was put on life support in the intensive care unit. On Thursday, his condition was critical.

Hoosier will transfer BLOOMINGTON, IND. (A.P) Indiana basketball center Jason Collier said Thursday he plans to transfer to another school. He did not offer a reason for his decision. "'In talking with Jason," coach Bob Knight said, "I believe his decision is in his best interest as well as Knight did not elaborate. Local sports on tap Friday, Dec.

19 4:30 p.m: Wildcat ninth-grade boys' basketball will host El Paso Coronado at Deming High School Gym. 6 p.m: Wildcat junior varsity boys' basketball will host El Paso Coronado in DHS Gym. 7:45 p.m: Wildcat varsity boys' basketball will host El Paso Coronado in DHS Wildcat Gym. Saturday, Dec. 20 4:30 p.m: Wildcat freshmen boys' basketball hosts Bayard Cobre High in DHS Wildcat Gym, 6 p.m: Wildcat junior varsity boys' basketball hosts Bayard Cobre High in DHS Wildcat Gym.

7:45 p.m: Wildcat boys' varsity basketball hosts Bayard Cobre High at DHS Wildcat Gym. SPORTS DEMING HEADLIGHT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1997 Jr. wrestlers bring home hardware Villegas brothers, Grado clan shine in El Paso, Texas BY BILLY ARMENDARIZ HEADLIGHT SPORTS EDITOR EL. PASO, TIRAS Deming was well represented at the El Paso -Junior Open Wrestling Tournament. The largest contingent of young Wildcat wrestlers converged on the Texas-Mexico border town last Saturday.

The Deming Youth Wrestling Team placed 10 out of 14 wrestlers with each winning Wildcat receiving a trophy for their efforts. Erik Bencomo, Fernie Grado, E.J. Grado, Adam Grado and Gibby Villegas took championship honors in their respective weight classes. Bencomo rolled up a 2-0 record to win the 67-pound weight class for the 12-andunder age group. He beat Rocky Sanchez of the Warhawks 13-3 in the opening round and was declared champion by default in his title match against Lou Perez of the N.E.

Wildcats. Perez defaulted by injury. F. Grado took the 108- pound weight limit in the 15- and-under age group with a 3-0 mark. He outpointed Lee Walker of Scotts, 7-2; and defeated Carlos Ramirez of Rio Rancho, 9-3.

Grado capped his championship run with a fall over Gabriel Beltran of the War- Wildcat Deming Youth Wrestlers are (back row, from left) Mark Villegas, Villegas. (Middle, from left) Gilbert Villegas, E.J. Grado and Alex Adam Grado, Erik Bencomo, Samuel Almanza and Mario Salcido. hawks. Grado battled teammate Alex Espinoza for the -place trophy in the 80- pound division for six-and-under wrestlers.

The two liked each other so much, they wrestled twice. Grado took both matches by pin to win the championship. Gibby Villegas posted a 2-0 ledger in taking the title at 136 pounds for the 10-and-under age bracket. Villegas beat Mark Ortiz of Gadsden, 9-1; and pinned him later in a return bout to claim the championship. Mark Villegas, Ricardo Gutierrez, Sam Almanza and Espinoza were runner-ups in their respective weight classes.

Villegas broke even at 116 pounds for the 12-and-under varsity hosts double-header BY BILLY ARMENDARIZ HEADLIGHT SPORTS EDITOR Deming High Wildcats face back-to-back basketball games when the El Paso Coronado High Thunderbirds and the Bayard Cobre High Indians come to town today and Saturday in DHS Wildcat Gym. The two home games will be the last basketball action for the Wildcat boys in 1997, as the DHS athletic programs break for the Christmas holiday. Deming is coming off its first loss of the season after opening at 2-0 with victories over Hot Springs High of Truth or Consequences and Silver High of Silver City. The 'Cats ventured off to Thatcher, Arizona a week ago today and were defeated by the Thatcher High Eagles 71-63. In that game, DHS head coach Tim Pate said his team was not prepared to play basketball.

In the wake of that defeat, senior Wildcat post Sean ALMANZE AL MOK. Fernie Grado and Johnny Espinoza. (Seated, from left) age group. he pinned Juan Nunez of of Las Cruces and was pinned in the championship by Lorenzo Mora of Rio Rancho. Gutierrez was second at 130 pounds for the 12-and-under division, but did not earn a victory.

Almanza was Deming's See Juniors, Page 2B weekend GAME PLAN Who: Deming Wildcats vs, El Paso Coronado T-Birds. What: High school basketball. When: 7:45 p.m. today, Where: Deming High Wildcat Gym. Records: DHS, 2-1; CHS, 10-5.

Last game: DHS lost at Thatcher, 73-65. Tickets: Adults. $4, chitdren and students, $2. Keys: Cats return home where they are 2-0 early this season. Weadock (6-5) left the program Monday.

Senior swingman Jose Ojeda (5-11) also left the team following the victory over Silver on Dec. 5. Pate declined to be interviewed Wednesday by the Headlight. Cobre will carry in a 2-2 record with a season-opening loss to Onate High of Las See 'Cats, Page 2B DHS coach Tim Pate and the Wildcats will have their hands full when they host El Paso Coronado today in DHS Wildcat Gym. (Headlight file photo).