By RYAN ANDERSON
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Wrestling team hosted Lincoln County, Pahranagat Valley and Virgin Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 4 for their annual tri-dual.
The Pirates wrestled Lincoln County first. Austin Tafoya started things off right for The Pirates pinning his Lincoln County opponent in the first period.
With both schools struggling to fill their rosters, there were forfeits all the way through the 145 lb. weight class.
Russel Bodily wrestled one of Lincoln’s best wrestlers at 152 and came away with a dominating Major Decision win 14-1 to put The Pirates up 18-12.
William Uri dominated his opponent pinning him in the first period to put the Pirates up 24-12.
Hayden Redd came out strong and battled hard to win a back-and-forth match 17-10.
After more forfeits at 182, 195 and 220, Lincoln County got the win at Heavyweight to bring the final score to 45-18, Pirates.
Moapa wrestled Pahranagat Valley in the second dual of the evening. The match of the dual was between Russel Bodily and Jones from Pahranagat, who wrestled up a weight class to give Bodily a match. Russel wrestled one of his most fundamentally sound matches of the season thus far and earned a 7-2 victory over Jones.
Ryan McMurray pinned his opponent at 182 lbs. earning the Pirates a 39-24 team win.
The last match of the dual was against rival Virgin Valley. The Pirates had a rough start losing by pin at the 113 lb. weight class. But things quickly turned around when Jorge Cervantes got the Pirates on the board with a 3rd period pin against a very game Virgin Valley opponent.
After Moapa suffered forfeits at 126, 132, 138 and 145, Virgin Valley had all but secured the team win. However, knowing dual wins are not our focus, Russel Bodily wrestled an excellent match against Crandall winning by 6-0 Decision.
Uri dominated his opponent again, pinning him in the first period. Ryan McMurray earned a tough second period pin at 182 bringing the team score to 27-30 Virgin Valley.
Unfortunately, Virgin Valley went on a run earning pins at 195, 220 and HWT. The final score of the dual was 48-27 Virgin Valley
The team traveled to Shadow Ridge High School and competed in The Mustang Stampede over the weekend. The Pirates wrestled Escondido, CA in their first dual and lost, 36-42. Cervantes, Bodily, Uri, Redd, McMurray and Mills all pinned their opponents.
Moapa then wrestled Canyon View out of Cedar City, UT in the second round and ran into a buzz saw at their upper weights. After two good wins by Tafoya and Cervantes at 113 and 120, the Pirates were humbled. Final score, 66-9, Canyon View.
On Saturday, the team lost Tafoya, Bodily and McMurray to the ACT test. So only 6 Moapa wrestlers were competing. The Pirates wrestled Rancho in the first round. Uri, Redd, Henrie and Mills all pinned their opponents. Cervantes wrestled another very solid match against an extremely strong opponent proving technique wins out over muscle every time. Jorge dominated the match winning by Major Decision 14-4. Final score 28-42 Rancho.
Moapa wrestled Bonanza High School in the second round. Cervantes and Cropper Henrie both pinned their opponents and Redd had a forfeit win. Final score 18-42 Bonanza.
The final dual of the tournament was against Canyon Springs High School. Cervantes and Uri had forfeit wins, Redd earned a pin, Henrie won by pin and Mills and Mortenson both had forfeits. Final score 36-18 Pirates.
With so many holes in their lineup, the Pirate coaching staff is keeping focus not on tallying team scores but on individual performance numbers. “We have some very good wrestlers this year who have a great chance at, not only qualifying for state but placing very high,” said Houston. “We’re excited to get further into our schedule where we start wrestling in individual tournaments so we can see how our guys do outside of the dual meet format.”
The Pirates travel to St. George this weekend to compete in the Desert Storm tournament at Dixie High School.
