Pershing County High School was the setting for the Tah-Neva League Wrestling Championship Tournament on Saturday.
Twenty-two teams from throughout northern Nevada competed in the one-day event to crown the 2018 individual and team champions. The Battle Mountain Shorthorns qualified 17 wrestlers for the event and they turned in a very impressive showing.
“The kids were focused for this tournament. They have been working hard all season and this was their time,” said coach Mitch Domagala.
The team improved upon their runner-up position from a year ago to claim the league championship for the seventh time in the last eight years.
“It was basically a two-team race all day between us and Winnemucca,” Domagala said. “We wrestled tough and did a lot of pinning today and that is why we won the tournament.”
The final team score saw Battle Mountain edge out Winnemucca by three points, 154-151.
“With the score so close it shows how every kid’s contribution was critical to the team winning,” Domagala said.
Wiatt Kelly, Terrance Fetterly, Zach Duggan (second consecutive title) and Stone Whitlock (third consecutive title) claimed league titles.
Sean Scherer, Garrett Cosper and Chris Raines finished in the runner-up position, while Scott Henslee, Asher Bundrock, Brice Domagala and Zyelynn Putt came home in fourth place.
Also wrestling but coming up just short of placing were Heiley Hall, Spencer Thompson, Drayden McClary, Jacee Herald, Hunter Natoli, and Nolan Chopp.
Kelly, Whitlock and Duggan all finished the season with undefeated records. Whitlock was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.
“What an amazing season for these Shorthorn wrestlers,” Domagala said. “The kids worked hard each day at practice and wrestled tough every weekend. It was a fitting end to a successful year.”
