It's a battle, but the Ibarra brothers, Israel Jr., Robert and Diego, are finding the strength to move forward.

Their father, Israel Sr., would be proud.

It’s been just 173 days since Israel Sr. tragically died. Israel Jr., Robert and Diego had every reason to put wrestling aside.

But quitting wasn’t in Israel Sr.’s DNA; same goes for his extremely talented sons.

The Ibarra brothers are on a mission to keep their dad’s memory alive as well as carry Santa Cruz High to a state Division IV team title. They’ll get their shot during Saturday’s state wrestling championships at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“It’s surprising that they (Ibarra brothers) lost somebody like their dad and they are still doing what they are doing,” Santa Cruz head coach Shorty Perales said. “They are straight ‘A’ students and are great, great kids.”

The king had a plan

On Aug. 31, Israel Sr., affectionately known as Izzy in Eloy’s tight-knit community, was at a cookout at the home of Santa Cruz wrestling assistant Emilio Ysaguirre.

Izzy trimmed trees and left the cookout to drive to a job assignment in Eloy. He took Robert, a sophomore and one of Izzy’s six children, with him.

Izzy often took his sons to job sites to teach them the value of hard work. That day, Israel Jr., Santa Cruz’s senior wrestling leader, was in Mesa on a date with his girlfriend when he received an emergency message:

His dad had an accident and fell from a tree. Israel Jr. immediately rushed to a hospital but was told he couldn’t see his father until his mom arrived.

He waited for an hour along with his brother Diego.

“I felt in my chest something was wrong,” Israel Jr. said. “I had a feeling he wasn’t here no more. I felt it. As soon as I heard he had died, it was hard, man.”

Like his sons, Izzy, a former star athlete himself at Santa Cruz, was well-known in Eloy.

Also, there was no bigger fan of Santa Cruz’s wrestling program than Izzy. Because the 40 year old was loved by so many, Izzy’s services were moved to the auditorium of Santa Cruz High.

About eight years ago, Izzy along with Santa Cruz assistants Rogelio Chavez and Ysaguirre named the wrestlers in their community the Eloy Boys. Eloy, a city just off the I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, is small.

But it’s produced some big-time football talent in the past. Its wrestling program, with seven titles, also is one of Arizona’s better small school programs.

FloWrestling, one of the well-known national online publications for wrestling, got wind of the Eloy Boys and produced a popular documentary on the group’s prowess. The personable Izzy became a focal point of the documentary.

This past weekend, Santa Cruz won its sectional with the help of eight sectional champs, including Israel Jr. and Robert. Diego, their brother, who is just a freshman, finished second at 157.

Israel Jr., a former Valiant College Prep student, is ranked as the state’s top wrestler at 175 regardless of class. He hasn’t lost a high school match since returning to Santa Cruz after his sophomore season.

Like his brothers, Robert’s work ethic is off the charts and is chasing an individual title at 190.

Diego is holding his own against older competition.

When the Ibarra siblings’ father died, their community rallied together to watch over them.

By their side always also was their mom, Irene, who is working two jobs to help keep their family afloat, Israel Jr. said.

“They (Izzy and Irene) both did a hell of a job raising those kids,” Perales said.

Perales along with his nephew, Santa Cruz football coach Thomas Cortez, Chavez and Ysaguirre help serve as father figures for the Ibarras. At home, Israel Jr. became his younger siblings’ protector.

“I couldn’t have asked for more, being the person they (brothers) look up to is one of the greatest things in my life,” Israel Jr. said. “I love them so much. We are brothers. We fight. We are wrestlers of course. But at the end of the day we are family.”

Izzy pushed his sons to be the best and, as he often said in the FloWrestling documentary, break the cycle.

Izzy experienced some personal turmoil and didn’t want his sons to follow in his footsteps. But there was a period when Israel Jr. appeared headed down the wrong path.

He admits he didn’t know how to read when he was in fourth or fifth grade. When his dad, who was working in North Dakota at the time, found out his son was also acting up, Izzy laid down the law.

Izzy’s tough love approach was a turning point in Israel Jr.’s life. He is now near the top of his senior class with a 3.98 GPA and will wrestle for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels next season.

When asked what makes Israel Jr. great, Perales simply said he is a beast.

The nationally ranked wrestler credits his dad for his beast mode.

Israel Jr. spent countless days alongside his dad doing roofing projects, pouring concrete, working on cars and trimming trees.

“That’s what made me,” Israel Jr. said. “I’m tough because of that, because I’ve worked all of my life. It was tough. But I just loved being around that dude (dad). He was my best friend, and I miss him so much. I just wish he could have taught me more.”

When he attends North Carolina, Israel Jr. plans to study civil engineering, partly because of those backbreaking days he spent with his dad as a laborer.

He now wants to help design and supervise construction projects, hopefully in Arizona someday. What Izzy helped built is special.

The fruits of his labor are seen every time his sons come home with an ‘A’ and when they pin opponents. When Izzy used to climb to the very top of trees, Israel Jr. said his dad would always yell out, “I’m the king of the world.”

Not having their dad around has been really tough, Israel Jr. said. One day, when he was staring at the stars during a clear Eloy night, Israel Jr. broke down.

“That one time, it hit me hard,” the star wrestler said. “I said, ‘Lord, let me know something.’ And I swear I heard it. I know he (dad) was up there watching us saying he’s the king of the world.”

BOYS WRESTLING NOTES

Sahuarita is chasing its fourth consecutive team title. Some of the top D-III wrestlers are Sahuarita’s Daniel Guerrero (132) and Gabriel Gallardo (157. Going for fourth consecutive title.), Walden Grove’s Pedro Mendoza (138. Three time defending champ) and Enzo Morales (165. Undefeated and returning state champ.), and Safford’s Alex Chacon (113). “Luckily, we have been relatively healthy this season,” said Sahuarita coach Paul Vasquez said. “We are excited and really looking forward to our chance to compete. There has only been one other program to win four straight titles in southern Arizona.” … That’s program is D-I Sunnyside, which is looking to extend a couple of state wrestling records: win its eight consecutive title and 38th overall. … The defending D-II champ is Canyon View. CJ Ramirez and Gabe Ramirez of Canyon View and Rylan Taylor of Raymond S. Kellis are some of the top D-II wrestlers heading into the final week of the season. “The expectation and goal is to win a team title, and each kid who dons a blue singlet knows their goal and expectation is to win an individual state title,” Canyon View coach Joseph Ortiz said.