The Pahrump Valley High School wrestling teams showcased resilience and determination during the Shadow Ridge Tournament, competing in nine grueling matches over two days. The varsity boys’ team ended with a 5-4 record, while the girls’ team delivered strong performances, highlighted by a second-place finish from Tiler Ledford in her weight class.
On Friday, the boys’ team came out strong, earning decisive wins against Desert Oasis (62-17), Alemany (60-18), and Lake Mead Christian Academy (69-12). However, they faced stiff competition later in the day, falling to Desert Ridge (55-21) and Hesperia (52-29). Despite the losses, Head Coach Frank Lopez was proud of the team’s effort and determination.
“Friday at Shadow Ridge was a good day for us. We came out tough, had great pace on our feet, and controlled the action starting the tournament 3-0,” Lopez said. “The end of the night was tough as we wrestled two solid programs in Desert Ridge and Hesperia, but we made them earn their points. Our boys didn’t back down and kept wrestling our brand.”
Saturday presented another challenging day for the Trojans, who opened with losses to American Fork (54-30) and Temecula B (38-35) before regaining momentum with victories over Cimarron (48-33) and Silverado (54-27). Coach Lopez noted the difficulty of maintaining peak performance after Friday’s demanding matches.
“Saturday, we came out flat, and it took a couple of duals to get our feet under us,” Lopez explained. “Yes, it’s tough to operate at a high level on 3-4 hours of sleep after wrestling five matches and then expect to wrestle four more. But we pride ourselves on our toughness and ability to overcome those obstacles.”
The Bosket brothers stood out for their exceptional performances, with Oscar finishing undefeated at 9-0 and Iyan earning an impressive 8-1 record. Sparks also excelled, going 8-1 over the two days. Flores and Carter each contributed six wins, finishing with 6-3 records. Rouse, Chiancone, Alvarez, and Ackerman all battled hard to 5-4 records, while Scheer fought his way to a 4-5 finish. De Santiago, Crisler, and Hamlin each earned three victories (3-6), and Clayton gained valuable experience while finishing with a 2-7 record. Each athlete contributed to the team’s overall success and growth throughout the weekend.
The girls’ team also competed fiercely, with Tiler Ledford shining in the 170-pound weight class. Ledford finished 5-2 and earned a second-place medal, a highlight of the tournament. Payton Weaver also delivered a strong performance in the 120-pound division, finishing 3-3. Coach Lopez praised the girls’ efforts, noting their determination and improvement.
“Tiler’s performance was a highlight for us,” Lopez said. “She’s proving to be a strong competitor, and her efforts over the weekend were outstanding.”
After a whirlwind 18 days and 25 matches, including a perfect 4-0 record in league competition, the Trojans now look ahead to their next challenge. The team will use the break before the Sierra Nevada Tournament on December 27 to rest, refine their skills, and prepare for the upcoming competitions.
“Our season is off and running, and we’ll keep grinding and getting better,” Lopez said confidently.
The Pahrump Valley wrestling program continues to exemplify toughness, resilience, and dedication, making their community proud with every match.
