Over 100 top-ranked wrestlers competed in the NIAA 2A State Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Meadows School filled up with coaches and regional champs from 16 schools.
Wyatt Hughes at 145 pounds and Devin Moura (132) represented Pershing County High School.
Hughes, a freshman, battled hard but came up just short of medaling. He won the quarterfinal match by fall over Benjamin Rhoades of Ely at 3:10. However, he lost the next two matches.
Hughes lost the semifinal match to Oscar Botillo of West Wendover by pin. The loss sent Hughes to the consolation semifinals where he faced Logan Blood of Indian Springs. Blood won the match by fall.
Hughes ends his first year of high school wrestling at 9-2. According to coach Mike Brooks, Hughes caught on to the sport quickly for a beginning wrestler. Look for him on the baseball field this spring.
Moura brought home a runner-up medal, his third. He won his first match of the day against Kevin Hernandez of Yerington by pin at 5:36. However, Moura lost the first-place match to Ramzi Hughes of Pahranagat Valley by pin in the second period.
Moura ends his last year of high school wrestling with a league record of 10-1. He graduates this June.
“We were happy with the season and had a great time coaching them,” said Brooks. His brother, Buzz Brooks, and father, Thomas Brooks, assisted. Davis Murphy and Ramon Figueroa also lent a hand.
The 2021-22 team included Justin Carruth, Moura, Hughes and Lucian Gonzalez.
The coach congratulated all four wrestlers for completing their seasons, showing up every day and wrestling.
“We know it’s a challenging sport and you are better because of it. We’re thankful you are part of our program,” he said.
Battle Mountain’s 11 wrestlers earned the most team points (146). Lincoln County’s 14 grapplers came in second with 101 points. A dozen Yerington athletes came in third (87 points).
“We’d like to thank the school for allowing us to participate and Tom Donaldson and the crew for providing transportation,” said Brooks. “We would also like to thank the kids for letting us coach them and the parents for all their support.”
