Lowry wins 1st 3A state title since 2010s

Fernley finishes 2nd

WINNEMUCCA – Lowry claimed the 3A state wrestling championship in Winnemucca, its first team title in more than a decade, as Northern Nevada programs filled the podium across multiple weights during the two‑day tournament.

The Buckaroos finished with 154 points and four finalists, including champions Pete Bengochea at 113 pounds, Carlos Gomez at 120 and Odyn Santos at 150. Their depth in the lower and middle weights gave them steady scoring throughout the tournament, allowing them to stay in front of Fernley and Elko as the rounds tightened. Lowry also added runner‑up finishes from Malachi Blanco at 106 and Randy Patterson at 190 to close out a complete team performance.

Fernley delivered the strongest Northern Nevada challenge, finishing second with 112 points behind a lineup that produced four finalists.

Archie Mendez opened the weekend with a runner‑up finish at 106, and Nathan Pritchard followed with a dominant 15‑0 technical fall at 144 to secure the Vaqueros’ lone title. Fernley added two more silver medals from Isaid Solis at 150 and Jayse Jones at 157, then closed with a championship from Riley McCullar at 175, giving the Vaqueros one of the most balanced finals showings in the field.

Elko matched Fernley’s presence in the finals and finished third with 103 points, highlighted by Bradley Nelson’s 10‑5 win at 106 and Kody Goss’ 41‑second pin at 157. The Indians added runner‑up finishes from Hagen Robinson at 175 and Hubert Sharp at heavyweight, along with a third‑place result from Darren Foster at 190. Elko’s ability to place wrestlers across the lower, middle and upper weights kept them in the top three throughout the tournament.

Spring Creek placed fifth with 68.5 points and produced three top‑four finishers, led by Colton Cunningham’s runner‑up finish at 165. The Spartans added third‑place results from Jared Tilger at 132 and Antonio Bautista at 215, along with a fourth from Stephen Stewart‑Jenkins at heavyweight. Their spread of placers across multiple divisions helped them stay ahead of Pahrump Valley and The Meadows in the middle of the standings.

South Tahoe delivered one of the tournament’s standout individual performances when Erik Burkett won the 190‑pound title with a 12‑6 decision over Lowry’s Patterson. The Vikings also earned a third‑place finish from William Causing at 144 and a fourth from Conner Hennessee at 165, helping them reach 40 points and secure a top‑10 finish. Truckee added two placers of its own, with Ace Pena taking third at 113 and Jack Ridgel finishing second at 132.

Wooster produced a state champion when Xavier Glover pinned Elko’s Sharp in the 285‑pound final, giving the Colts their highest finish of the weekend. Wooster also added a fourth‑place result from Caden Sae‑Wong at 144 and a fourth from Mason Ottervanger at 150, helping them reach 39.5 points.

Fallon matched that total with strong upper‑weight results, including a title from Carson Melendy at 165 and podium finishes from Manuel Barros at 120, Braylon Byrd at 120 and Alijah Juarez at 175. The title was Melendy’s fourth in as many years. 

Pahrump Valley placed sixth with 65.5 points behind a championship from Iyan Bosket at 215 and a third‑place finish from Zachary Hulderson at 120. The Trojans added a fourth from Timothy Stutzman at 106 and another from William Sparks at 190, giving them four total placers. Virgin Valley earned two medals, including a runner‑up finish from Malachi Jordan at 113 and a third from Micah Woods at 138.

The Meadows produced three top‑four finishers, highlighted by Brandon Avila‑Ramos’ runner‑up finish at 126. The Mustangs added a third from Jared Fox at 157 and a fourth from Grayson Kim at 132. Boulder City earned two podium finishes, with Otis Ruth taking second at 144 and Coen Burrows placing third at 150.

Moapa Valley finished fourth overall with 91 points and delivered one of the strongest individual showings of the tournament. The Pirates earned three titles from Morris Wolfley at 126, Stetson Houston at 132 and Caleb Anderson at 138, along with a fourth‑place finish from Tyson Houston at 126 and a third from Ryker Katich at 165. Their performance in the middle weights kept them in the top four from start to finish.

Equipo earned a single medal when Rajhul Rodriguez placed fourth at 215, while Sparks and Debbie Smith each recorded one top‑four finisher. Sparks’ William Sparks placed fourth at 190, and Debbie Smith earned three team points to close out the standings.

NIAA 3A State Wrestling Top 4 Finishes