For the first time in school history, Coronado High School can call itself a state wrestling champion. The Cougars edged Las Vegas High 106-104.5 to win the Class 4A team title Saturday at Desert Oasis High School.
Coronado got individual championships from senior Vaughn Geisendorf (132 pounds) and sophomore Ryder Siegfried (190 pounds). The team title came down to the final match at 285 pounds, where Sunrise Mountain’s Roman Pulefaasisina defeated Las Vegas High’s Ky Brinkerhoff, denying the Wildcats the points they needed to overtake Coronado.
“It was nerve-racking knowing that heading into the last one that it isn’t one of my boys to help us win the championship,” Coronado coach Irais Pineda said. “It was a little nerve-racking in the beginning, then as the championship matches progressed, I got more and more confident.”
Geisendorf, who wrestled for the first time since his sophomore year after stepping away from the sport, defeated Clark’s Jonathan Castillo in the 132-pound final. He said he returned because the loss in his sophomore state championship match ate at him.
“I lost all motivation. … I didn’t like the sport anymore,” Geisendorf said. “The only reason I came back was because it ate at me that I didn’t win sophomore year.”
Saturday’s win was also his birthday. “It feels amazing. I came back this year and got my lifelong dream,” he said.
Siegfried beat Chaparral’s Lamar Jenkins for the 190-pound title. “I just went out there like I’m going to handle business,” he said.
Palo Verde finished third with 103 points, and Desert Oasis was fourth with 102. Desert Oasis had five wrestlers in championship matches but won only one individual title — Max Mannino at 126 pounds.
Faith Lutheran’s Caden Cook won his third straight state title at 144 pounds, defeating Mater East’s Axel Thomas.
“That feels awesome,” Pineda said. “It’s a lot of hard work, and it paid off tonight. We all had a mission, and we all had a quest to do it, and everyone did it.”
4A state championship results
106 pounds: Ja’Mirr Johnson, Cheyenne def. Ryan Birrell, Desert Oasis
113: Adam Fender, Palo Verde def. Jaiden Arredondo, Desert Oasis
120: Adrian Camarena, Eldorado def. Tysin Kealiinohomoku-Salcedo, Desert Oasis
126: Max Mannino, Desert Oasis def. Jason Carey, Bonanza
132: Vaughn Geisendorf, Coronado def. Jonathan Castillo, Clark
138: Khy’ree Hines, Legacy def. Sebastian Quintana, Desert Oasis
144: Caden Cook, Faith Lutheran def. Axel Thomas, Mater East
150: Kainoa Lopez, Las Vegas High def. Malik Johnson, Cimarron-Memorial
157: Brodee Garcia, Cheyenne def. Evan Paszek, Coronado
165: Tyler Shimano, Rancho def. David Castellanos, Las Vegas High
175: Nico LaRocco, Desert Pines def. Kingston Buffington, Coronado
190: Ryder Siegfried, Coronado def. Lamar Jenkins, Chaparral
215: Braudrick Coleman, Valley def. Joseph Nicci, Faith Lutheran
285: Roman Pulefaasisina, Sunrise Mountain def. Ky Brinkerhoff, Las Vegas High
