SUNSET REGION: Shadow Ridge’s depth earns title

Northwest League-champion Shadow Ridge had only one individual champion at the Sunset Region wrestling tournament Saturday at Bonanza.

But thanks to a series of consolation battles and state qualifiers, the Mustangs were able to hoist the team trophy.

Shadow Ridge stormed to an early lead on the second day of the tournament and never looked back, piling up 189 points. The Mustangs were followed by Northwest League rivals Palo Verde (162½), Cimarron-Memorial (149) and Arbor View (140½). Southwest League champion Spring Valley (136) took fifth.

“It’s something special,” said Shadow Ridge coach Gus Gledhill, who was voted Sunset Coach of the Year. “It’s been a three-year process for us. We were young, and we’re still young; most of our kids are juniors and sophomores.

“We’re excited about our future. The kids deserve it. They’ve worked hard, coming in the mornings at 5:30 for practice.”

Sean Mestas won the Mustangs’ only individual title, edging Bonanza’s Michael Zellner 5-4 in the 112-pound final.

“It feels like (four years of wrestling) are worth it,” the senior said. “It feels good to finally do something great.”

The Mustangs put five wrestlers in the finals. They had two wrestlers finish third and three place fourth.

Palo Verde had four finalists, including 135-pound champion Paul Educate, who picked up a big 3-1 victory over Colbey Garrison of Cimarron, and Jason Preus, who took home the title at 140 pounds.

“It’s awesome. (Garrison) beat me twice before this season, and it feels good to get him back finally,” Educate said. “I know I’m going to be on his mind for the whole week. I can’t wait to wrestle him in the state finals; I guarantee it will be the two of us. It’ll be a hard showdown.”

Bishop Gorman’s Steven Hernandez pinned Dillan Knowles of Legacy in 3:07 to set up a run for his fourth state title.

“It feels good, but I’ve still got one more to go,” said Hernandez, who also took home Sunset Region Wrestler of the Year honors. “I can’t be too satisfied.”

Other individual winners were: Cimarron’s Bronson Ashjian (103) and Aaron Garcia (189); Bonanza’s Billy Wosik (119); Arbor View’s Ruben Rodriguez (125) and Brandon Brian (130); Spring Valley’s Ray Waters (145) and Rashad Waters (152); Gorman’s Johnny Field (171); Legacy’s Anthony White (215); and Sierra Vista’s Andrew Ramos (285).

 

Shadow Ridge 189, Palo Verde 162½, Cimarron-Memorial 149, Arbor View 140½, Spring Valley 136, Bonanza 130½, Bishop Gorman 108½, Legacy 86, Sierra Vista 83, Desert Oasis 80, Cheyenne 79, Centennial 78, Pahrump Valley 57, Clark 39, Durango 34, Faith Lutheran 32, Western 25, Mojave 18

103—Ashjian, CM, d. Hart, Palo, 3-2. 112—Mestas, SR, d. Zellner, Bon, 5-4. 119—Wosik, Bon, d. Saavedra, CM, 11-2. 125—Rodriguez, AV d. Harbinson, Dur, 7-3. 130—Brian, AV, d. Caldwell, SR, 10-5. 135—Educate, Palo, d. Garrison, CM, 3-1. 140—Preus, Palo, d. Caruso, AV, 4-1.145—Ray Waters, Spr, d. Washington, SR, 8-3. 152—Hernandez, BG, p. Knowles, Leg, 3:07. 160—Rasha. Waters, SpV, d. Ferguson, Bon, 16-6. 171—J. Field, BG, d. Tootle, SR, inj. def. 189—Garcia, CM, d. Kurth, SR, 3-0. 215—White, Leg, p. McCormick, Pah, 1:06. 285—Ramos, SVis, d. Baird, Palo, 4-0.

Third-Place Matches

103—Siedlecki, SpV, p. Strobeck, Palo, 0:43. 112—Rumsey, SR, d. Jury, DO, 9-6. 119—Quemado, SVis, d. Owens, Pah, 5-2. 125—Mckee, SR, d. Tempel, Leg, 21-7. 130—Buckhannon, Palo, d. Bradley, SVis, 9-2. 135—Mayes, AV, d. Hansen, Wes, 5-2. 140—Pero, Chey, d. Andasol, SR, 7-4. 145—Russo, AV, d. C. Bernadino, CM, 6-5. 152—Kinney, Bon, d. Heaps, CM, 15-0. 160—Strback, SVis, d. Mulvey, Chey, 5-3. 171—Enokenwa, Chey, d. Judd, Palo, 16-7. 189—Easley, Cen, d. Portillo, Spr, 4-3. 215—Fisher, SR, d. Jones, SVis, 14-12. 285—Grazzini, SpV, d. Fisher, SR, 5-1.