February 14, 2008
PVHS takes second at State Wrestling

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

Battle Mountain won their eighth consecutive A/2A state wrestling title at Laughlin February 10, amassing six individual state champions and three runners up and racking up 198 points. Pahranagat Valley placed second with three individual state champions and 83 points. Lincoln County finished in 17th place with 18 points.

Alamo wrestlers who won state titles included Jenson Jones, with a 6-1 decision over Lincoln’s Mauri Escobedo in the 112-pounds class; Isaac Spencer at 189-pounds; and Dane Mulliner, who successfully defended his championship at 125-pounds.

Mulliner defeated Bob Tipton of Battle Mountain with a pin the first period to become the first PVHS wrestler to win consecutive state titles since Josh Sampo turned the trick in 2001-2002.

Senior Isaac Spencer won his first championship at 189-pounds pinning James Stout of Laughlin in the first period.

However, Panther Coach Brad Loveday said he thought the best match of the tournament was 160-pound third place match Saturday between Alamo’s Nathan Whipple and his opponent from Rite of Passage. Whipple made a fantastic comeback in the last period Loveday said. Trailing by three points with less than 20 seconds remaining, he got an escape, and then a take down on the edge of the mat as time expired in regulation to tie the match. He scored an exciting take down in the overtime for the win.

It was the first time Alamo has ever had three state champions in the same year. In addition, Loveday said, Whipple’s win for third place was a major factor in helping Alamo to earn the second place team trophy just ahead of Rite of Passage. He said to get to the medal round Nathan had to beat Cord King of Eureka, a man he had lost to three times already this season.

Escobedo was the only wrestler from LCHS to make it into the medal round.