By Gregg Chappell

Moapa Valley Progress

MVHS Wrestler Jake Repp pins his opponent from Elko High School at the Kiwanis Club Invitational tournament held last week in Spring Creek, Nevada.

The Pirates traveled north last week to wrestle in the Kiwanis Club Invitational. A total of 29 teams traveled to Spring Creek Nevada to participate in the prestigious tournament.

This was Moapa’s first look at some of the northern teams this year. The tournament is touted by some as more difficult than the state tournament because, not only are the tough northern schools wrestling, but also state champions from Idaho are present and grappling for the title. Wrestlers compete in a 32 man bracket and are eliminated after two losses.

The Pirates only had six wrestlers travel to Spring Creek this year. Sickness, injuries and eligibility issues plague the team. Austin Leavitt, Kaleb Bodily, Jake Repp, Brayden Evans, Jared Repp and Parker Chappell represented Moapa Valley in this year’s tournament.

Although there wasn’t any chance of being competitive as a team with so few wrestlers, they still hoped to do well individually.

The first day consisted of three rounds and unfortunately three of the Pirates were eliminated from the tournament.

Saturday morning started off with a second chance tournament on three mats for those eliminated on the first day and the continuation of the regular tournament on the other three mats in the main gym. Austin Leavitt, Kaleb Bodily and Jared Repp all participated in the second chance tournament on Saturday. This gave these wrestlers more valuable mat time against some talented wrestlers. Kaleb Bodily and Jared Repp both finished on top of their four-man pods.

The three wrestlers remaining in the tournament were Brayden Evans, Jake Repp and Parker Chappell. Evans wrestled Castonguay from North Valley, Nevada and lost by a pin. Repp wrestled Lookingbill from Twin Falls, Idaho and lost by a decision of 12 – 2. These two losses eliminated both wrestlers from the tournament.

Chappell pinned Strunk of Minico, Idaho which gave him the opportunity to advance. He continued on to pin Connell from Twin Falls, Idaho and won by decision of 8 – 6 over Salinas of Columbia High School also of Idaho. This put Chappell wrestling for third place against Cdebaca of Spring Creek. Chappell was defeated by the 189 pound defending state champion by a score of 5 – 1. Parker took fourth place in the 182 pound weight class.

Lowry won the tournament followed by Caldwell, Idaho and in third place was Columbia High School from Boise, Idaho.