Boulder City wins 3A Southern League wrestling meet

Boulder City made the most of its home-mat advantage on Saturday, capturing the Class 3A Southern League wrestling meet.

It was the school’s first title in more than 10 years.

“It’s about time we brought home a division championship,” Boulder City coach Kevin Ruth said. “I’ve been doing this for the last nine years. We’ve been runner-up a handful of times, but we had never won the big one before.”

Boulder City finished with 222 points, 42 points ahead of runner-up Virgin Valley. Moapa Valley (140) was third and Faith Lutheran (64½) fourth.

The top three finishers in each weight class advance to next weekend’s state meet in Winnemucca.

“We’re hoping to do well at the state championships in the North next week, but Spring Creek and Lowry have tough teams,” Ruth said. “We’ve been trying to lay low all season, but we’re not under the radar anymore.”

The Eagles had seven individual champions: junior Johnny Garcia (125 pounds), junior Allen Haines (130), senior Spencer Sasarita (145), junior Steven Kaposta (152), freshman Frankie Badgely (160), junior Jake Thormodsgaard (171) and sophomore Kyle Erickson (285).

Haines, Sasarita, Kaposta, Badgely and Thormodsgaard won their championship matches by pin.

“It feels great to be a division champion,” Sasarita said. “I really wanted to do this in my senior year. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at the state championships next week.

“Our hard work all season has really paid off.”

Boulder City also had three second-place finishers in junior Tim McKeever (135), junior Shane Joseph (160) and sophomore Cody Coyle (189).

Virgin Valley had three individual champions: sophomore Taylor Fails (112), senior Stetson Ruth (135) and senior Wyatt Robison (215).

Junior Colton Crandall (119), senior Aaron Rappleye (125), freshman Jade Jensen (130), sophomore McKay Magoon (140), senior Dylan Dominguez (145) and senior D’Andre Matthews (285) each placed second for the Bulldogs.

Moapa Valley’s Shane Bryant won the 119-pound title, and Riley Staley won at 189 pounds for the Pirates.

Faith Lutheran freshman Pierce Holtfreter (103) and junior Eric Robinson (140) won the other individual titles.