The Pahrump Valley High School wrestling team delivered a historic and dominant performance at the Regional Championship on Saturday, February 7, at Virgin Valley High School, capturing the team title while qualifying all 18 wrestlers for the upcoming state tournament.
The Trojans finished atop the standings with 235 team points, outpacing runner-up Moapa Valley (207.5), followed by Boulder City (148), Virgin Valley (120), The Meadows (97), and Equipo Academy (56). The championship marked another milestone for a program that has steadily built momentum in recent seasons, highlighted by individual champions, multiple podium finishes, and depth across nearly every weight class.
Pahrump Valley’s success was fueled by three individual regional champions. At 106 pounds, Timothy Stutzman secured first place with an impressive showing, finishing his day with a 6-0 score and sealing the title with a fall over Moapa Valley’s King Walker in 1:30. At 190 pounds, William Sparks delivered a dominant performance, earning the championship by tech fall over teammate Jacob Stepp in the finals after advancing through the bracket with two earlier pins. At 215 pounds, Iyan Bosket continued his undefeated run, finishing 8-0 and capturing the title with three rapid falls, including a championship match victory over Virgin Valley’s Jaden Flores in just 58 seconds. Heavyweight Julio Ackerman also added a title performance for the Trojans, finishing 6-1 and claiming first place with a fall over Ollie Zunga of Virgin Valley in the finals.
Several Trojans battled their way into second-place finishes, contributing significant team points. Ethan Rouse placed runner-up at 113 pounds after advancing to the finals with a semifinal pin over Virgin Valley’s Tucker Boatright. Zachary Hulderson earned second at 120 pounds, narrowly falling in the championship match in a 10-9 decision after securing a semifinal fall over Boulder City’s Seth Thompson. Jayden Crisler placed second at 150 pounds after back-to-back falls in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Austin Alvarez followed with a second-place finish at 157 pounds, reaching the finals with a quick fall over Moapa Valley’s Michael Riordan. Paul Walker added another runner-up finish at 165 pounds, highlighted by a tech fall semifinal victory over Boulder City’s Julian Vargas. Jacob Stepp also earned second place at 190 pounds after two strong pins on his path to the finals.
Depth proved to be one of the Trojans’ greatest strengths, with numerous wrestlers securing third-place finishes to strengthen the team’s overall score. Joseph Scheer rebounded from an early loss at 120 pounds to earn third place with two consolation pins, including a fall over Virgin Valley’s Collin Baeza in the placement match. Zelin Kamanu finished third at 126 pounds with two consolation-round falls and a third-place victory by injury default. Joaquin Flores placed third at 132 pounds, earning victories by fall and technical fall, including a dominant 19-3 tech fall over Moapa Valley’s Aiden Brooks. Jacob McLaughlin added another third-place finish at 138 pounds, capturing wins by fall and a 12-0 major decision in the placement match.
At 144 pounds, Benjamin De Santiago secured third place with three decisive wins, including an 18-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals and a fall in the third-place match. Teammate Wesley Cruff finished fourth in the same weight class after a strong run through the consolation bracket. Mason Whitney added a fourth-place finish at 175 pounds, earning an early pin to advance through the bracket. Marlon Garcia also placed fourth at 215 pounds, winning two consolation matches by fall to secure his podium finish.
Beyond the individual accolades, the Trojans’ collective effort showcased the balance, determination, and consistency that helped propel them to the regional title. Every wrestler contributed to the team’s scoring effort, reinforcing the depth that has defined Pahrump Valley’s season.
Head Coach Antonio Sandoval praised the team’s performance and the opportunity ahead.
“We went out and wrestled really well. We knew going into it that he had a pretty special opportunity in front of us but that no one was going to just give it to us. Really glad we were able to get all 18 guys to the state tournament this year. They have all been working really hard and it’s awesome to see that hard work paying off for them. Over the past four years the seniors have been able to win now 2 regional titles and been really close the other 2 years, so it is a really nice feeling to be able to get those guys that were freshman my first year on the staff back on top. Super grateful to all of our supporters, and everybody else on the team that have been pushing us to keep bringing our best stuff every time we step out on the mat. This week is all about making sure we are still doing the little things right and giving ourselves the best possible opportunity to go up north and compete at a high level. I’m excited to see what these boys can do up there!”
With the regional championship secured and every rostered wrestler advancing, the Trojans now turn their focus toward the state tournament, where they will look to build on their momentum and continue representing Pahrump Valley on the biggest stage of the season. State is being held in Winnemucca, February 13-14. Good luck, Trojans!
