MIKE BROOKS • Provided to Great Basin Sun
Jeffrey Elerick displays his championship bracket.
The Pershing County High School wrestling team continue to improve at each wrestling tournament.
Last weekend the Mustangs competed at the Steve Deaton Memorial in Minden and finished fourth out of 22 even though they had some athletes out sick.
In the past few years, Pershing County hasn't had the numbers to make as strong a showing.
That changed this year. Eleven wrestlers represented the Mustangs to the best of their abilities.
"We had a solid day. Most of the kids picked up wins and scored some points," said coach Mike Brooks.
Jeffrey Elerick brought home the gold medal at 138 pounds and earned 28 of Pershing County's 95 team points.
Elerick pinned a Truckee wrestler in round one, a Reno wrestler in the quarterfinals and a South Tahoe wrestler in the semifinals. He won the first-place match by fall over a Tonopah wrestler.
"Jeffrey was dominant throughout the day," said Brooks.
Ashton Jimenez (126-32B) and Angelo Gibson (150) placed second in their weight ranges.
They each scored 22 team points. Brooks says Gibson came close to earning a pin in his finals match against Kolton Zinn (Douglas Black). Jimenez nearly won his B bracket and earned three pins along the way.
Magdalena Ramirez (girls 138-45G) and Israel Knight (144) each finished third.
"Israel competed in the toughest bracket of the meet in my opinion," said Brooks. "But he reached the semifinals and wrestled back for third place."
Ramirez also battled back. She pinned a Beatty wrestler in the consolation semifinals in 19 seconds and earned 13 team points for Pershing County.
Justin Carruth (126-32B) pinned a Tonopah wrestler (Fall 2:47) in the consolation rounds. Logan Hunt (215B) and Jake Trowbridge (190) each went 2-2 in their weight classes.
This weekend, Pershing County competes in the Walter Marietta Vaquero Classic at Fernley High School.