Dayton head football coach Tom Eck announced this week he will not return as the high school’s head football coach in the upcoming 2016 season.
“For personal reasons, we decided to step down,” he said. “I wish nothing but the best for Dayton High School.”
Eck, a former assistant coach at Santa Barbara High School before moving to Dayton two years ago, said he was asked to stay as the head coach after the 2015 season ended last November.
Eck told administrators on Tuesday, however, he was leaving the program.
Steve Henderson, Dayton principal, was unable to be reached via telephone.
Dayton junior quarterback Dylan Torgerson, who scored the Dust Devils only touchdown of the 2015 season, said he was “shocked” and nobody on the team expected Eck to step down as coach. But he said he understands the situation, given health issues the family has recently faced.
Torgerson also said he and his teammates hope the school hires a head coach soon and not wait until the end of the school year as Dayton did in 2015.
In 2015, Dayton failed to score a point in its first nine games of the season. The Dust Devils first score came on the team’s final possession of the season with the team trailing 48-0 at home against Fernley.
“For right now, I’m still in the special education department (at Dayton),” said Eck, who began teaching special education last semester after he transitioned out as the school’s custodian.
Eck worked as the school’s custodian before becoming the head football coach at Dayton last year.
WRESTLING
Carson wins Sutter tournament
SUTTER, Calif. — Carson High won seven individual weight classes en route to winning the 2016 Sutter Lions Under Armour Wrestling Invitational.
Terin Keller (106, 4-0), Brandon Basa (120, 3-0), Nathan Mersino (138, 4-0), Brady O’Keefe (145, 3-0), Connor Sievers (195, 4-0), Corey Jasper (220, 4-0) and Sheldon Miller (heavyweight, 2-0) all came away with titles.
Carson finished with 296 points, Eureka was second at 195 and River Valley was third at 168.
Jarod Butler (160, 4-1), Abel Carter (170, 3-1) and Kevin Rusler (182, 4-1) all finished third. Ethan Lepire was fifth at 113 with a 3-2 record as was Kyle Rudy (126) and Austin Rudy (152). Jake Roman went 1-2 at 132.
Carson coach Justin Shine was pleased with his team’s performance, especially Jarod Butler.
“This tournament was a great test of heart and grit for a couple of our boys,” Shine said. “Butler wrestled today with a banged up elbow. He lost early and had to wrestle back in the consolation bracket. He made it to the consolation semifinals where he faced the same kid that knocked him out of the championship bracket. Butler got down late and wrestled one of the gutsiest periods I’ve seen in high school sports to secure the win.
“Our entire team seemed to get energized by it and we went on to completely dominate the medal round.”
Keller was named outstanding wrestler for the tournament.
Carson returns to action Wednesday with a home meet against Galena at 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Truckee outlasts Dayton
TRUCKEE — The Wolverines pulled away in the final minutes of the game to grab a 45-34 victory Saturday afternoon in a 1A contest.
Elora Neep had her best game of the year with 20 points and seven rebounds. Angela Sikora added seven points, four steals and 11 rebounds.
“It was a good game through three quarters but in the fourth we let Truckee pull away,” Dayton coach Kelly Frantz said. “Elora is a steady hand for us, and this was a great game for her to break out and put in a career high for scoring. “Overall we played a great game, but I was disappointed with the fourth quarter. We fought them to the end, and then stopped being aggressive once Truckee went ahead by four points.”
Sierra Luthran falls
Pyramid Lake — Elaine Marchegger and Jee Youn Benton each scored six points for Sierra Lutheran in its 33-23 loss to Pyramid Lake.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dayton wins thriller
TRUCKEE — Josh Riders scored 22 points to lead the Dust Devils to a narrow 48-47 win over the Wolverines Saturday afternoon.
Dayton led 38-29 after three quarters, and managed to hold off a late Truckee rally.
“To get out to a lead like we did and then being able to hold it at the end is good,” assistant coach Kevin Ply said. “To get a road win is really good stuff.”
J.J. Ply scored nine points, pulled down seven rebounds and blocked four shots, and Weston Hill scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Trevor Burrows had eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
Muckers roll over Coleville
VIRGINIA CITY — Colt Hess scored 19 points and Tristan Steele added 12 to lead Virginia City to a 67-13 win over Coleville in a Division IV game on Friday. Tanner Uken contributed 10 for VC which hosts Silver Stage on Tuesday.
