Wave shakes off dust in 6-3 effort at meet

The Greenwave got a glimpse at how competitive this season will be on the mats.

Fallon’s wrestling team finished 6-3 in last weekend’s Earl Wilkens Invitational at the Elmo Dericco Gym as it travels to Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas) this weekend for the second tournament of the year.

“The tournament went really well,” second-year Fallon coach Trevor de Braga said. “The first tournament of the year, I expect the kids to wrestle hard but also get rid of some of that offseason rust. There was a lot of awesome things, and a lot of things we need to correct, but that’s expected for the first tournament.”

Competing against schools from the top three classes in the state, Fallon held its own against the 4A, defeating Manogue (60-18), Douglas (42-28), Galena (66-0) and Wooster (48-33). Fallon, though, dropped a four-point match to Carson (35-31) and Spanish Springs handed Fallon its only lopsided loss (72-9) of the tournament.

De Braga was impressed with how dominant Spanish Springs wrestled.

“Spanish springs put a little hurt on us,” he said. “They’re a very well-coached team and have a lot of intensity. I told our kids tonight at practice that’s the team we need to be. I think Spanish Springs is going to make a really strong run at the state title and (their coach) has that program going on the right direction and I see a bright season for them.”

Against the 3A schools, Fallon lost only to Lowry (45-29) but defeated Elko (48-27) and then defeated 2A school Yerington (60-18).

De Braga said the tournament helped the younger and inexperienced wrestlers get varsity experience, which will continue this month with the tournament slate.

“Lack of effort wasn’t by any means why we lost matches,” de Braga said. “Our kids fought hard, just found ourselves in bad positions, but that’s OK being this early in the season. We need to sharpen our conditioning more, sharpen technique and finish teaching a few more things and I think we will have a great season.”

Ben Dooley (220 pounds) was the only Greenwave to stay unbeaten in all nine bouts as he picked up the upper weight award of the tournament. Mason Smith (126) and Matt Goings (182) went 8-1, while Tommy McCormick (120), Jack Swisher (160) and Chase Hyde (195) finished 7-2. Kobe Abe (285) ended the weekend at 6-3, and Dylan McAfee (138), Leo Aicher (145) and Conley Hyde (170) were 5-4. Blane Aicher (152) finished 2-7.

“I’m excited with this group of kids and I think we are a little ahead of last year’s team at this point in the season,” de Braga said.