Fallon's Carson Melendy led the Greenwave to a seventh-place finish at the 3A state tournament Friday.
Photo by Thomas Ranson.
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. – Fallon sophomore Carson Melendy won his second state wrestling title in as many years as the Greenwave put four on the podium in Friday’s 3A state championship at the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse in Bullhead City, Ariz.
Even with only six wrestlers, Fallon managed to place seventh with 54.5 points as Elko won its third state title in a row with 187 points. Ex-Fallon coach Mitch Overlie is at the helm of Elko’s wrestling program.
“Just like every state tournament, there was a whirlwind of emotions. You have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” Fallon coach Trevor deBraga said. “Each kid has worked all season for the state tournament. You want every kid on your team to get a chance to wrestle for a state medal, so every kid that didn’t get that opportunity, you feel for.”
After winning the crown last year in Winnemucca, Melendy won his first two matches by fall with the first being a 15-0 tech fall. He decisioned Elko’s Kody Goss, 10-3, to win the title.
With the difficulty of winning just one championship, Melendy is halfway to completing the prestigious feat that’s been done by only one Greenwave wrestler. Sean McCormick won four state titles with the last coming in the 2019 tournament in Winnemucca.
“Carson was dominant all tournament, and even though you expect that, it never gets old,” deBraga said. “He had a target on his back all season and he embraced that. I know he has what it takes to get another two titles, and it’s exciting to know I still get to coach him for two more years.”
Junior Lonnie Adams (132) won his first two matches, including an 11-9 decision over teammate Jaiden McFadden, but lost by tech fall (15-0) to Fernley’s Nathan Pritchard in the championship.
Adams competed in last year’s state tournament and deBraga said he had a mission to not only get back to the tournament, but Adams wanted to become a champion. Although he fell short to last year’s state runner-up, deBraga is looking forward to his grappler’s final shot next season.
“He wanted nothing more than to be a state champion,” deBraga said. “He has improved so much from his freshman year and I’m very proud of him. He has one more year to go and I know he won’t settle for anything less than being a state champion.”
Senior Quentin Hornbeak (165) caught a bad break when he lost by fall to Elko’s Hyde Chacon in the semifinals but he rebounded to win the third-place bout with a 6-1 decision.
Hornbeak, who didn’t place at last year’s regional title, won this year’s regional crown because of his work ethic this winter. Although one mistake cost him a shot at wrestling for a state title when he was caught on his back, deBraga was proud that he came back to win his next two. He scored wins by major decision (12-2) over Pahrump Valley’s Iyan Bosket and a 6-1 over Moapa Valley’s Gary Leavitt.
“Quentin Hornbeak is a coach’s dream. His dedication and hard work are top class and it really makes you, as a coach, want him to succeed,” deBraga said. “There’s situations where you can’t panic, and just have to hold on and ‘roll through’ but Q tried to get back to his belly before getting caught. That’s the nature of this sport, one minute you can be up and dominating, next minute you’re on your back.”
McFadden upset Valley’s Jalen McGruder, the South’s No.1 seed, by a second-period fall before a two-point loss to Adams.
DeBraga said his senior grappler was put into a tough position competing against Adams in the same weight class this winter. But it made for a competitive rivalry that led to McFadden posting the big upset in the quarterfinals.
“It’s not easy wrestling your own teammates because they know how you wrestle,” deBraga said. “They wrestle live with each other all week. It’s hard to coach your two wrestlers fighting for a spot at a state title. It was a great match and Lonnie ended up on top.”
McFadden, though, came back to win his consolation semifinal by fall before falling in the third-place match.
“Jaiden had a great year and a great four years,” deBraga said. “He will be missed in this program and I hope nothing but the best for him in the future.”
Manuel Barros (106) and Evan Mackuliak (113) were one win shy of placing after both fell in the consolation semifinals.
Barros was battling an ankle injury and wasn’t at full strength while a couple mistakes kept Mackuliak from advancing. DeBraga, though, is excited for these two sophomores’ final two years with the program.
“Manny worked through the pain but still didn’t have full strength in it and that might have set him back just a hair at state,” deBraga said. “Evan has really turned it on at the end of this season and was also one match away from the podium. Just a couple little errors is all that held him back from doing that. Both kids are sophomores and I don’t expect anything less than state medals for them next year.”
With almost 30 expected back next season, deBraga’s program is running strong to numbers not seen since prior to the pandemic. With new changes coming, the ninth-year coach is looking to return the team to the top after Fallon won the state title during his first year (2016).
“Overall, this was a fun season. We are very young so we will be able to build from this year and hopefully hit the ground running next season with the returners,” said deBraga, who added he’s thankful for the wrestlers and their families and the community’s support. “I’m going to make some changes, for the better, which I believe will make the program stronger and hope we can challenge teams like Elko for a state title next season.”