The Pahrump Valley High School Girls Wrestling team put up a strong fight at Regionals on January 24-25, with several wrestlers coming heartbreakingly close to securing a spot at the state tournament. To qualify, wrestlers needed to place in the top four of their weight class, and while none of the Trojans made it to state this time, their determination and grit were on full display.
Senior Payton Weaver (120 lbs.) battled through a tough bracket, finishing with a 4-3 record and placing 6th in her weight class. Fellow senior Tiler Ledford (170 lbs.) had an impressive showing, going 4-2 and securing 5th place. Jemima “Hemi” Chavez (190 lbs.) also placed 6th with a 1-3 record, while Sarah Penner (120 lbs.), the team’s only freshman at the tournament, went 1-2 in her first Regional appearance.
Head Coach Elliott Owens reflected on the team’s performance with pride, emphasizing how close they were to making it to state.
“It went really well, not quite as well as we wanted it to, but we had three seniors in the Consolation Semis—what’s known as the Blood Round. If they had won those matches, they would have gone to state, but unfortunately, we went 0 for 3 on those ones. It was a lot of heartbreak, but all good. All three of our seniors are studs, and I’m super proud of them,” Owens said.
While the season didn’t end with a trip to state, the future of the program looks promising. Penner, a talented freshman, gained valuable experience at Regionals, and Owens is focused on recruiting more athletes to build on the team’s foundation.
“We need her and about 12 other girls to come out next year,” Owens added. “Big on the recruiting—that’s the word at the end of the season.”
The PVHS Girls Wrestling team demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the season, and with a strong push for new talent next year, the future is bright for the Trojans on the mat.
*A special thank you to Marianne Yoffee and Annie Weaver for some of the photos.
