Six wrestlers reached the podium, including a pair who won it all, as the Greenwave wrestling team finished sixth out of 26 teams in the Walter Marrietta Vaquero Classic in Fernley on Saturday.
Jaiden McFadden (120 pounds) and Isiah Diaz (138) each won their weight class, and Steven Moon (160) finished as the runner-up. Caden McKnight (145) won his final match to take fifth, and Lucas Prinz (132) and Xavier Capton (170) each ended in sixth.
The Greenwave next hits the mat this weekend for a JV tournament before competing in the Northern 3A region duals in two weeks to determine seeding for the regional tournament in Spring Creek next month.
McFadden pinned all four opponents to win his weight class with his quickest coming in at 39 seconds over Douglas Orange’s Logan Boeckholt. McFadden pinned Sparks’ Kaiden Irwin and Spanish Springs’ Anthony Hallert each in the second period before taking down Douglas Black’s Hunter Morris with 43 seconds left in the final period.
“Jaiden, a freshman, has really come along the last few weeks,” Fallon coach Trevor de Braga said. “He’s down to the weight class he needs to be at and really wrestling well.”
Diaz opened with a pair of falls over Elko’s Treagen Hansen and Yerington’s Mason Alarcon with each occurring with 8 seconds left in the first period. Diaz won his final two by decision, including a 9-5 score over Reed’s Damien Taylor. The junior grappler defeated Lowry Blue’s Wade Mori, 17-5, to win the division.
“Isiah had another great weekend capturing gold,” de Braga said. “He’s really turned it on in the practice room and it’s paying off during competition.”
Moon cruised into the championship with four-straight falls, all in the first or second period. Moon pinned McQueen’s Dillon Heard, Yerington’s Aiden Pope, Spanish Springs’ Carter Waite and Douglas Black’s Connor Jackson to set up the battle for first place. Moon fell to Yerington’s Jonah Eriksen 38 seconds into the second period.
“Steven has a lot of skills and the tools to cap off a rewarding junior year,” de Braga said.
McKnight won his first two bouts, both falls over Elko’s Major League and Tonopah’s Jake Callaway, before falling to Lowry Blue’s David Hunter in the second period of the quarterfinal. McKnight finished 2-2 in consolation, including pins over Douglas Black’s Kolton Zinn and Fernley Black’s Teague Kenison.
De Braga said a few critical mistakes prevented McKnight from placing higher, but the seventh-year coach knows his underclassman has what it takes to end the season strong.
“We’ve got to fix some of the big mistakes that cost him in a couple matches but he is a strong kid with lots of talent. I hope he continues to get better these next few weeks,” he added.
Capton advanced to the quarterfinals before falling into the consolation round where he finished 2-2. He opened the bracket with a pair of falls in the championship bracket and then opened with falls over Wooster’s Xavian Velaquez Villa and Reed’s Tristan Oneil to open consolation. Capton fell in his final two bouts to finish fifth.
Prinz won his first match by major decision after a bye to make it to the semifinals where he lost by decision, 10-6, to Lowry Blue’s Christopher Gildone. Prinz, though, lost 12-10 to Pershing County’s Devin Moura and 4-2 to Spanish Springs’ David Estrada Chavez.
De Braga said both Capton and Prinz are dealing with health issues but he’s pleased with their determination each weekend.
“Xavier earned six while battling an injury but he’s making strides each week,” de Braga added. “I feel if Lucas was fully healthy, he would have been on the top of the podium. He’s having a good senior season and I’m excited for him these next few weeks.”
Quentin Hornbeak (145) won by decision in both of his wins, 3-1 final over Tonopah’s Callaway and 8-5 victory over Dayton’s McChesney. Troy Shelton (152) finished 2-2 with both wins coming in the championship bracket: falls over Hug’s Jay Cee Hall and Lowry Gold’s Jakob Bauman. Colton Blankenship (182) finished 2-2, which included falls over Douglas Orange’s Travis Haliwell and Fernley Black’s Anthony Robles in the consolation rounds.
Lonnie Adams (126) finished 1-2 with his lone win coming by fall over Dayton’s Ian Leavitt in the consolation. Andrew Douglas (126) and Manuel Karaway (138) each finished winless in two bouts.
