Moapa Valley Progress
One Moapa Valley High School wrestler stood out last weekend in the team’s performance at the Desert Storm Classic in St. George, Utah. MVHS senior Trevor Van Vliet dominated all comers in the meet which brought together some of the toughest wrestlers in the region.
“It is a brutal tournament,” said assistant coach Ryan Anderson. “Only four of our wrestlers even made it into the second day.”
As the tournament opened on Friday, the expectations of tournament organizers were not particularly high where Van Vliet was concerned. Despite his 20-1 record, Van Vliet was seeded as third in the tournament.
“It seems the tournament director underestimated his srecord and skill level,” Anderson said.
But it didn’t take long for Van Vliet to set things straight. He opened the tournament by quickly pinning his first two opponents. That advanced him into the second day of the tournament.
But Van Vliet still had his work cut out for him. Next he faced the undefeated number two seed out of Dixie High School, the host school. But Van Vliet was undaunted by this challenge. After dominating this opponent for the entire match, VanVliet pinned him in the third period.
“You could have heard a pin drop in the gym,” said Anderson. “No one could believe that their #1 prospect for the Utah State Championship just got pinned!”
Van Vliet went on to beat the number one seed in the finals match, 15-6.
“Four of his opponent’s six points in that match came from Trevor letting him up just to take him down again,” Anderson said.
Anderson said that the coaching staff is pleased with the work that Van Vliet has done this season so far, adding that all of that hard work is really paying off.
“Trevor dominated everyone he wrestled and he should have won the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in the 152 HWT weight classes,” Anderson said.
