By Gregg Chappell
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley High School hosted the 3A Division Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. The tournament is important not only because of the Division Team Title but also individual wrestlers are seeded into the state tournament bracket based on their division standings.
The Pirates thought a division title was possible based on their performance at division duals in the previous encounters with Boulder City and Virgin Valley this year. Moapa was beaten by Boulder City by just two points the first time they met this season. Boulder has dominated the division for the last several years.
But in Saturday’s tournament, despite a great effort from the Pirates, the Eagles proved too tough and Moapa finished in second place. The final team scores were Boulder City 193, Moapa Valley 160.5 and Virgin Valley 102.
The Pirates had three athletes win Division Titles and proceed to the state tournament as the number one seed from the south. Shae Bryant at 135 pounds won by tech fall against Rodriguez from Boulder City 18-3. Trevor Durham at 152 pounds beat Garcia from Boulder City in a close match with a final score of 8-7. Parker Chappell at 160 pounds pinned Bremmer from Boulder City in the first period.
The top three placers from each of the fourteen weight classifications advance to the state tournament in Sparks Nevada. The third place finisher from the south will wrestle in a pigtail match with the sixth place finisher from the north to determine who will compete in the eight man double elimination tournament.
Pirate wrestlers who placed in the division tournament and will compete in the state tournament are: Jake Repp at 112 pounds 2nd place; Braden Evans at 119 pounds 2nd place; Aaron Troxel-Tom at 119 pounds 3rd place; Nathan Sprague at 125 pounds 3rd place; Dylan Smith at 130 pounds 2nd place; Shae Bryant at 135 pounds 1st place; Jared Repp at 140 pounds 2nd place; Justin Boren at 145 pounds 3rd place; Trevor Durham at 152 pounds 1st place; Parker Chappell at 160 pounds 1st place; Jake Rebman at 171 pounds 2nd place; Colton Millington at 189 pounds 3rd place; Brandon Reeves at 215 pounds 2nd place and Ray Bellevance at 285 pounds 2nd place.
Wrestlers qualifying for the State Tournament will compete at Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nevada on Friday and Saturday.
