WINNEMUCCA - It has been a challenge for the Lowry High School wrestling team - due to injuries or school related activities - to put together a consistent lineup in the first two weeks.
Despite moving wrestlers around the Buckaroos have remained perfect on the year, increasing their consecutive dual win streak to 66, which is the second-longest in state history. Yerington holds the all-time record with 107.
"Sixty-six in a row isn't too bad," said LHS head coach John Brooks. "If we didn't lose to Carson a couple of years ago, we would be right on their heels. It would be interesting to see where we would be at."
Lowry upped its dual record to 10-0 on the season with seven wins at the Stockmen's Invitational in Fallon last weekend. The Buckaroos beat Hug 76-0, Dayton 77-0, North Valleys 53-18, Spanish Springs 37-25, Fernley 63-12, Elko 54-21 and Yerington 42-33.
"We looked all right," Brooks said. "We wrestled better than we did in the first week. Some of the things we have been doing in the wrestling room translated to the mat in Fallon. We have things we like to do and I want to see my kids doing them. We are starting to see more of that. The injury bug has hit us a little bit and that has hurt us."
Lowry had four wrestlers (Beau Billingsley, Luis Cardenas, Kevin Blanco and Brandon Okuma) go 7-0 over the weekend, one 6-0 (Daniel Pollock), one 5-0 (Tytin Johnson) and three others (Gabe Molina, Aaron Nelson and Nate Nelson) had 6-1 records.
"The nice thing about the weekend was we were able to get a lot of mat time," Brooks said. "At this time of the year that's all that matters. Daniel looked really good and had to move up a weight but handled it well. We had some young kids step and do a good job for us. I was really pleased with Nate."
The Buckaroos picked up nine pins in the win over Hug, including Molina (132), Aaron Nelson (138), Lane Mentaberry (145), Okuma (152), Billingsley (160), Donovan Brumm (170), Jed Johnson (182), Anthony Hummel (195) and Cody Andersen (215). Eric Brooks (120) won by a 9-3 decision, Nate Nelson (126) won 14-3 and Cardenas 12-5. Blanco (106) and Pollock (112) claimed wins by forfeit.
It was much of the same against Dayton as Lowry won all 14 matches that were contested. The only match that went the full distance was a 21-4 win by Mentaberry. The Buckaroos won three matches by forfeit and the others by pin.
In its first dual on Saturday, Lowry matched up with North Valleys, with the Panthers winning three matches, including one by forfeit.
Okuma and Billingsley won their matches by pin, while Blanco, Pollock and Cardenas were victorious by forfeit. Brumm was involved in the closest match of the dual as he won 4-2, while Nate Nelson, Aaron Nelson, Jed Johnson and Cardenas collected wins by decisions.
Lowry's biggest challenge of the weekend came from Spanish Springs, considered one of the top Division I schools in the north.
The Buckaroos' Blanco, Pollock, Nate Nelson, Molina, Aaron Nelson, Okuma, Billingsley, Tytin Johnson and Cardenas earned wins.
"That was a fun dual," added the coach. "It was tight all the way. We started out in the heavier weights and they jumped out on top of us. We were able to come back once we got into the lower weights and got back in front. Their coaches do a good job up there and Spanish Springs is a quality team."
Lowry cruised to victories in its next two duals against Fernley and Elko. The Buckaroos lost just six matches in the set of duals against their Division I-A rivals.
The final dual of the tournament matched up the defending state champions from a year ago with Lowry and Yerington facing each other. Both schools have won 14 state championships, which is tied for the most in state history.
The Buckaroos picked up 12 points as Trase Bell and Pollock won their matches by forfeit. Aaron Nelson, Tytin Johnson and Cardenas all won by pin and Jose Ruiz, Okuma and Billingsley went the distance to earn victories by decision.
"Yerington gave us one of our toughest duals," Brooks said. "They are a solid team with a lot of quality kids. They should be one of the favorites in their league again. We let some matches get away but we survived it."
Lowry will split up its teams this weekend, with the varsity traveling to Reno for the Tournament of Champions today and Saturday. The tournament will feature more than 90 teams from around the United States.
The junior varsity team will make the short trip to Lovelock on Saturday to compete in the Mustang Invitational.
"We have a big challenge ahead of us with the Tournament of Champions," Brooks said. "I am interested in seeing what this group can do."
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