Wave wrestling finishes 2-3 in Stampede tournament

Circumstances beyond control, the Greenwave wrestling team made the best of a bad situation in filling only nine weight classes in its second tournament of the year.

Facing challenges due to illness and grades, Fallon finished 2-3 in last weekend’s Mustang Stampede in Las Vegas. The Greenwave will compete in the two-day Reno Tournament of Champions this weekend at the Reno Events Center.

“We wrestled well, but giving up 30 points here and there killed us,” Fallon coach Trevor de Braga said. “We did end up winning a few duals with the negative-point margin, but against the full teams, it hurt us.”

Fallon defeated Cheyenne, 48-36, and Canyon Springs, 45-24, for its two wins in the tournament. The Greenwave lost a heartbreaker to Durango, 31-28, and was overwhelmed by Sierra Vista, 45-24, and Temecula Valley, 54-30.

Sean McCormick (160 pounds), Marcel Poracky (170) and Ben Dooley (285) finished undefeated in the Mustang Stampede. They’ll test their grit in one of the toughest tournaments in the country. McCormick won all five of his bouts by pin, as did Dooley in his three, while Poracky won two by pin and another by major decision, 8-0.

Tommy McCormick (145) finished 4-1 and Blane Aicher (152) posted a 2-1 record. Mason Smith (126) finished 2-2 while Case Cornmesser (113) was 1-2. Leo Aicher (152, 0-1), Mark Moyle (220, 0-3) and Wyatt Hatch (120, 0-3) went winless.

With another tournament marked off the schedule, Fallon will turn its attention to arguably the toughest tournament in the West. The top-three finishers will earn All-American status. De Braga said Fallon also will compete in Lovelock on Saturday, giving an opportunity for the younger wrestlers and those who don’t qualify for the second day at the TOC.

“We have a big test this weekend at the TOC and I hope to get a few All-Americans,” de Braga said. “(Lovelock) is a great tournament for mat time and experience.”