Tommy McCormick knocks his opponent over during the 138-pound division's consolation final.
The Greenwave medaled five wrestlers, including two champions, at last weekend’s Spring Creek Kiwanis Invitational.
Juniors Sean McCormick (160 pounds) and Ben Dooley (285) rebounded from the Idaho tournament two weeks ago to win their division, while sophomore Tommy McCormick (138) took third, senior Marcel Poracky (170) finished fourth and senior Mason Smith (120) was fifth.
The numbers game continues to plague Fallon as Trevor de Braga filled only nine of the 14 weight classes. But the third-year coach is pleased with the team’s performance as Fallon competes in Morro Bay, Calif., this weekend before next week’s league duals. Fallon, though, finished behind only 3A schools Lowry, Spring Creek and Virgin Valley.
“We wrestle well and win a bunch of matches but only filling nine weight classes makes it tough to beat the teams who have full squads,” he said. “We’re still sitting OK in league with a bunch of potential state champs for us.”
Sean McCormick pinned all but his final opponent to win his third tournament of the season. McCormick pinned two league opponents before scoring a 5-2 win over Minico’s Anthony Rawson for the title.
Dooley won his first two by pin to set up a 15-3 major decision victory over Reed’s Randy Nemedez in the semifinals. Dooley blanked Minico’s Juan Ruiz, 3-0, in the championship.
“Sean and Ben both wrestled Minico, Idaho, kids in the finals and they were both tough kids. Minico, as a whole, was very tough,” de Braga said.
Tommy McCormick made it to the semifinal round before losing to league rival Dyllan Fuches of Spring Creek, 7-1. McCormick, though, won his first consolation bout by pinfall and then decisioned Pershing County’s Jayce Leyva, 6-2, to take third.
Poracky advanced to the quarterfinals but dropped into consolation after losing to Caldwell’s Carlos Flores. Poracky won his next three matches to set up the third-place bout but he lost to Minico’s Tazyn Twiss, 8-4.
Smith exited the championship bracket early when Minico’s Dawson Osterhout scored a 13-5 major decision win in the second round. Smith, though, bounced back to win the first five consolation rounds before losing a sudden-death bout against Osterhout. Smith defeated Twin Falls’ Anthony Maldonado to take fifth.
Wyatt Hatch (120) split his matches to finish 2-2. Blane Aicher (152) finished 2-2, including a win over brother, Leo, who finished 1-2 in the tournament. Case Cornmesser and Josiah Rosario (113), Drew Kramer (145), Mark Moyle (220), and Sione Otuafi (285) lost both contested matches.
“We’re just over two weeks away from regionals and really have to step up our game,” de Braga said. “Our conditioning is great. The kids have all the tools. They just have to believe and go wrestle to the best of their ability. I tell them to take care of themselves first and the team will take care of itself.”