WINNEMUCCA — SLAM! Nevada’s wrestling program made history again Saturday, winning its fifth consecutive 5A state team championship with a record nine individual weight-class champions at the two-day tournament.
The Bulls amassed 247.5 points to easily outdistance runner-up McQueen (114), with Liberty (82.5), Spanish Springs (70.5) and Green Valley (64) rounding out the top five. All 15 SLAM! wrestlers who competed placed, a feat coach Jake Rollans credited to depth and preparation.
“More than the five (team titles), I’m even more excited about the nine individuals,” Rollans said. “I really wanted that record, and I knew this team could do it.”
Two four-time champions headlined the SLAM! haul: Brenden Agcaoili (138 pounds) and Drake Hooiman (150). It marked the first time two wrestlers from a 5A school won their fourth state titles in the same year. Rollans noted that Agcaoili will wrestle at North Dakota State next season and Hooiman at Purdue. “They’re ready (for collegiate competition),” he said. “I think they’ll step right in there, make an immediate impact and achieve their goals.”
Other SLAM! winners included Vander Tran (106), Destin Maestas (120), Frank Soliz (132), Anthony Delgado (144), Isaac Balden (157), Santiago Cabrera (175) and Satoshi Davis (215).
Individual champions from other schools were McQueen’s Cooper Sandoval (113), McQueen’s Abe Coronado (126), Bishop Gorman’s Maddox Frerking (165), Green Valley’s Daniel Leal (190) and Liberty’s Braiden Armstrong (285).
In the 3A tournament, Lowry won the team title with 154 points, while Moapa Valley led Southern Nevada teams with a fourth-place finish (91 points).
Girls wrestling
Centennial captured the 5A girls state invitational team title with 124.5 points Saturday. Girls wrestling will become an NIAA-sanctioned sport next year, and coach Kevin Caruso said the victory shows the program’s strength. “I think this reflects on us very well,” Caruso said. “It’s just a testament to the work these girls have put in. They’ve done a fantastic job showing why girls wrestling should be a sanctioned sport.”
Reed finished second (95.5 points), followed by SLAM! Nevada (95). Centennial got individual titles from Kaydyn Brooks (100 pounds), Tylene Tran (110), Alina Bardoni (120) and Madison Worden (140). Other Southern Nevada champions included SLAM!’s Kaliya Klise (105), Sierra Vista’s Taylor Rogers (115), Foothill’s Lilly May (130), SLAM!’s Mika Yoffee (135) and SLAM!’s Nichole Simmons (145).
