Wave wrestling places 4 in all-state team

It’s only been a little over a month but the Greenwave wrestling team is still picking up some accolades.

After winning their first-ever state team title, four Fallon wrestlers were named to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s all-state wrestling team, which includes wrestlers from all four divisions.

“Since we are in the Division 1-A, I don’t think athletes get the credit they deserve because they are not the top division in the state, so being in this list is a huge accomplishment,” Fallon coach Trevor de Braga said. “It doesn’t surprise me to see Sam, Trae, Sean and Matt on this list. Each of them are state champions and could be state champions in any division in the state.”

Seniors Trae Workman (160 pounds) and Sam Goings (170) were named to the first team while freshman Sean McCormick (138) was a second-team mention. Sophomore Matt Goings (152) was named honorable mention.

All three won both the regional and state individual titles to help the Greenwave stun Spring Creek and Lowry in Primm last month at the state tournament.

Goings finished the year 52-3 and won the Spring Creek Kiwanis Invitational and Pine View Invitational (Utah) in addition to the regional and state titles. Goings, who has three state titles to his name, is garnering interest from Division I schools across the country and will be competing in a national event this weekend in Virginia.

“Sam was dominant all year winning several tournaments and placing at the tough national tournaments,” de Braga said. “He could be a champion at any division, hands down at his weight.”

De Braga also said Sam has several looks from colleges in all divisions but this will be more exposure to more school.

“He’s going to be missed tremendously by the team as he was a leader and captain the past four years,” de Braga said.

Workman won four tournaments this season, as well, including the Spring Creek and Utah matches and also has two state titles in his career with the Greenwave.

“Trae as well had an incredible dominant season,” de Braga said. “His toughness and strength are world class and without a doubt would win in any division in the state. He has wrestled his whole life and it’s going to be sad to see him hang up his shoes as he heads to the air force after graduation.”

McCormick captured five individual titles including the same four from his senior teammates as well as the Sparks tournament two days after the brutal Sierra Nevada Classic. McCormick, who got a late start because of an injury in December, became the first freshman to win a state title at Fallon.

“After losing two matches in his first tournament at Sierra Nevada Classic, he really turned it up, got in great shape, felt great from the injury and was dominant everywhere he went,” de Braga said. “He has a chance to make school history being the first four-time state champion. Sean’s work ethic and wrestling background is what made him stand on top of the podium, and I know he wants nothing more than to be a four-timer. His future is bright and I’m excited I get three more seasons to coach him.”

Matt Goings’ story to his first championship was no truer than the Cinderella fairy tale. Goings, the younger brother of Sam, wrestled as a backup most of the season but still placed in the top five. After de Braga dropped him down to the 152 class, Goings helped his own cause as well as Fallon’s push to winning the team title. He bounced back from a third-place finish at the regional to take the state title.

“Matt’s hard work ethic and determination persevered him in state to capture his first state title,” de Braga said. “He was never a huge fan of the sport of wrestling but still worked and worked each and every day and it paid off. Matt deserved to be recognized for honorable mention in the state and we won’t settle for anything less than two more state titles for Matt.”