SMALL SCHOOLS: Boulder City’s Badgely has reversal of fortune

Boulder City’s Frankie Badgely wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

Badgely, who lost in overtime in the state title match last season, gave up a takedown to Elko’s Tyrone Mills with 38 seconds remaining.

But Badgely’s two-point reversal with 10 seconds left broke a tie and gave him a 9-7 victory and the 195-pound state title, one of three championships the Eagles earned Saturday at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament at Cox Pavilion.

Boulder City finished third with 131 points behind northern powers Lowry (264 points) and Spring Creek (154½).

“I was just thinking I had to get up,” said Badgely. “I thought 'I got to get a takedown.’ I was happy I got up because I didn’t want to go to overtime again.

“I lost here the last two years. I had to win,” added Badgely. “I had to do it for myself. I put too much time in. I’m really glad it worked out this way. It’s a great way to end the year.”

Clinton Garvin of Boulder City won his second straight state title, defeating Eric Brooks of Lowry 9-0 at 113 pounds. Garvin beat Brooks at 103 last season.

“I beat him last year, so I knew he would come out with a vengeance,” Garvin said. “I knew I had to just wrestle good, stay calm and not let the pressure get to me.”

Brandon Foster had a takedown with 10 seconds left to pull out a 7-6 victory in the championship bout at 220 pounds for the Eagles’ third title.

Tyler Washburn finished second for the Eagles, losing in the 152-pound final.

“We knew Spring Creek and Lowry were really tough from the north,” said Garvin. “We knew we were the toughest team from the south. We just tried to come out and make a statement.”

Trevor Durham of Moapa Valley took second at 160, falling to Lowry’s Jace Billingsly in the final.

Billingsly became the 29th wrestler in state history to finish his career with four individual state titles, and he was one of five individual champions for the Buckaroos. The Winnemucca school earned its fourth straight 3A team title and a record-tying 14th overall state title.

Other Southern League finalists included Virgin Valley’s Jade Jensen, who took second at 138, and Juan Domingues, who placed second at 113.

In Class 2A, Lincoln County’s Daniel Olsen beat Riley Kendall of Pershing County 9-3 for the 106-pound title.

Chase Stanton of White Pine pinned Dakota Sargent of Indian Springs to win the title at 145.

Adrian Gromis of Tonopah took second at 220, and Jeffrey Jones of Pahranagat Valley won the title at 113.

Yerington edged Northern League rival Pershing County to win its record-tying 14th team championship, 143-142.