The Pahrump Valley High School wrestling team opened the 2025–26 season with a strong and competitive showing at the Shadow Ridge Mustang Duals, held Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13. Facing a deep field of programs from across Nevada and neighboring states, the Trojans logged multiple dual wins, battled nationally recognized programs, and finished 10th overall out of 30 teams—an encouraging start that highlighted both experience and emerging talent across the lineup.
Friday’s action set the tone early as Pahrump Valley picked up a 49–28 victory over Kofa High School. The Trojans jumped out quickly behind a series of dominant performances, including falls from Ethan Rouse at 113 pounds, Joaquin Flores at 132, and multiple forfeits that helped build momentum throughout the dual. Zachary Hulderson added a decisive major decision at 120, while Wesley Cruff controlled his match at 157 with a 6–2 decision. The opening win reflected a balanced effort, with contributions spread throughout the weight classes.
Pahrump Valley carried that energy into its next dual against Oak Hills, earning a 53–27 win. Timothy Stutzman and Ethan Rouse wasted little time, both securing first-period falls, while Hulderson continued his strong start to the season with a technical fall. Benjamin De Santiago and Jayden Crisler each added falls of their own, and Austin Alvarez delivered another key pin at 165. Paul Walker and William Sparks also came through with falls, helping the Trojans separate themselves as the dual progressed.
The Trojans closed out Friday with an impressive 49–27 victory over Bishop Gorman, one of the state’s perennial powers. Joaquin Flores posted a major decision, Jacob McLaughlin picked up a fall at 138, and De Santiago added another pin at 144. Alvarez continued his productive weekend with a first-minute fall, while Sparks and Marlon Garcia also delivered pins in the upper weights. Stutzman battled through a tough decision win at 106, and Hulderson capped the dual with another fall, underscoring the depth of Pahrump Valley’s lineup against elite competition.
Saturday presented new challenges, beginning with a dual against Fernley. While the Trojans fell 46–29, several wrestlers turned in standout performances. Flores recorded a technical fall at 132, McLaughlin earned a hard-fought pin at 138, Crisler secured a decision at 150, and Walker dominated his bout with a technical fall at 190. Sparks added another pin at 215, and Hulderson closed the dual with yet another technical fall, continuing one of the most consistent individual performances of the weekend.
Pahrump Valley rebounded in a big way against Alta, earning a commanding 58–21 victory. The Trojans showcased their depth as De Santiago controlled his match with a major decision, while Crisler, Cruff, Alvarez, Walker, and Iyan Bosket all secured falls. Multiple forfeits in the lower and middle weights further padded the score, with Flores, Hulderson, Rouse, and Dominic Chiancone all picking up team points. The dual highlighted the team’s ability to bounce back and respond after a tough loss.
Later Saturday, Pahrump Valley faced Bishop Gorman for the second time and came away with a 43–30 win, once again proving their ability to compete at a high level. De Santiago opened with a composed decision, Crisler picked up another forfeit, and Bosket delivered a quick fall at 215. Stutzman impressed with a third-period pin at 106, while Chiancone and McLaughlin both earned falls in the middle weights. Hulderson added a major decision, continuing a weekend that saw him score bonus points in nearly every match.
The Trojans wrapped up the tournament with a narrow 39–36 loss to Desert Oasis in a dual that came down to the final matches. Crisler opened with a lightning-fast fall, Walker and Bosket added key points in the upper weights, and Stutzman, Rouse, and Hulderson all contributed victories. Despite the close result, the dual reflected the team’s resilience and competitiveness through the final whistle.
The Trojans’ girls wrestling team also competed hard throughout the two-day tournament, gaining valuable experience against a strong field. Quinn Kaucky saw action in the varsity 123–125-pound division, earning a first-round fall over Silverado’s Siduria Oaxaca-Haro before facing tough competition from Desert Oasis and Shadow Ridge. Kayla Simpson competed at 115 pounds on Saturday, picking up a consolation-round forfeit win after battling Desert Oasis’ Ryleigh Sharpsteen and SLAM! Nevada’s Bianca Marmolejo. Patience Moore wrestled at 130 pounds, facing opponents from Liberty and Cheyenne in competitive early-round matches.
Following the tournament, Head Coach Antonio Sandoval praised the team’s overall effort and growth. “We wrestled really well this weekend,” Sandoval said. “Saw a lot of things that surprised us in a good way, and some things that we knew we would need to work on. The boys finished 10th overall out of 30 teams, beat some really tough competition and battled with some teams we didn’t get the best of. The girls all wrestled hard, and showed a lot of intensity. Really proud of how the boys and girls wrestled and excited to see how much we grow from this weekend moving forward.”
With a demanding opening tournament now behind them, the Trojans leave Shadow Ridge with confidence, valuable mat time, and a clear foundation to build on as the season continues.
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