The Pahrump Valley High School varsity boys’ wrestling team delivered a strong, well-rounded performance at the Virgin Valley Bulldog Growler tournament, held Friday and Saturday, December 19–20, 2025, at Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite. Competing against a deep field of regional opponents, the Trojans finished third as a team, showcasing both experienced leadership and promising depth across the lineup.
Several Pahrump wrestlers battled their way onto the podium. At 106 pounds, Timothy Stutzman earned a third-place finish, racking up 16 team points. After an early pin in the quarterfinals, Stutzman rebounded from a narrow semifinal loss to secure two more falls in the consolation bracket, closing his weekend with a decisive pin in the third-place match.
Ethan Rouse turned in an impressive runner-up performance at 113 pounds, scoring 22 team points. Rouse pinned his way through the early rounds, including victories over wrestlers from Virgin Valley, Boulder City, and Bonanza, before falling by major decision in the championship bout. Zachary Hulderson followed a similar path at 120 pounds, placing second with 20 team points after back-to-back pins carried him into the finals.
Also at 120 pounds, Joseph Scheer fought through the consolation rounds to earn fourth place and 13.5 team points. After an early setback, Scheer collected multiple wins by fall and technical fall before dropping a hard-fought third-place match.
At 132 pounds, Joaquin Flores delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend, finishing third overall while scoring 21 team points. Flores pinned his opening opponent, rebounded from a quarterfinal loss, and then powered through the consolation bracket with a series of falls and technical falls, including a dominant win in the third-place match. Teammate Zelin Kamanu also competed at 132, picking up key wins and 7.5 team points while advancing deep into the bracket.
Carlos Flores added valuable points at 138 pounds, scoring 10 team points with multiple wins by fall before being stopped in the consolation semifinals. At 144 pounds, Benjamin De Santiago advanced to the championship match and finished second, earning 18 team points after strong wins in both the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Jayden Crisler was another finalist for Pahrump at 150 pounds, placing second and scoring 22 team points. Crisler pinned his first three opponents in rapid fashion before finishing runner-up in the title bout. At 157 pounds, Bryce Whitney contributed seven team points, highlighted by a pair of wins over the same opponent and a quick pin in the championship round.
In the upper weights, Paul Walker placed fourth at 190 pounds, scoring 12.5 team points with a mix of technical falls and decisions. The highlight of the tournament for Pahrump came at 215 pounds, where Iyan Bosket captured first place and 23.5 team points. Bosket dominated his bracket with a technical fall, a semifinal pin, and a composed decision win in the championship match.
Several Trojans gained valuable experience despite not placing, including Dominic Chiancone (126), Jayden McMahon (165), Alejandro Rayas (190), and Esteban Chavez (285), all of whom faced tough competition and contributed to the team’s overall effort.
Head Coach Antonio Sandoval said the weekend was an encouraging indicator of where the program is headed.
“It was a great weekend, really enjoyed watching us compete with some guys we know we are going to see later in the season,” Sandoval said. “Third as a team might have surprised some other people, but based on how hard we’ve been working I wasn’t very surprised. Our older guys looked really tough, and our younger guys showed a lot of fight which is always nice to see. Excited to see how we can compete against some high level competition in Reno next week.”
With a third-place team finish and multiple finalists and champions, the Trojans left Mesquite with momentum and confidence as they prepare for another major test against elite competition in the coming week.
