By Vern Hee

After dominating the Clark Chargers last week, the Trojans matmen finished the week at Indian Springs High School and captured the Desert Invitational title.

At the invitational, the Trojans wrestled the following teams: Arbor View JV, Beaver Dam, Laughlin, and Indian Springs. They came out on top with 282 points. Arbor View JV finished second with 188 points and Laughlin finished in third with 168 points.

Craig Rieger, head wrestling coach, said it was a good workout for his team in preparation for divisionals in February.

The tournament was not as strong as it has been. In the past, it has been as many as 15-20 schools. Still each wrestler was able to wrestle four times. He said a bigger and better tournament will be at the end of this week.

“This Friday at Mohave will be big. We will wrestle 7 duals and if you are in the top two you get to be in the finals. If a wrestler is 7-0 then they will wrestle in a final that is kind of cool, very challenging for the wrestlers,” said Rieger. The Trojans are at home on Jan. 23 against Faith Lutheran. This is the last team they face prior to zone. Faith Lutheran always brings a lot of spirit and this should be a good brawl.

After Faith, the team will be in divisionals. That is when all the teams from both the Sunrise and Sunset leagues will get together and wrestle.

“All 12 teams come together and then the top four go to state. Seeding is important going into the divisional. Let’s say one person in your class is 5-0 and another is 6-0. The two with the best records end up on opposite sides and do not see each other till the final,” said coach. They should wrestle in the finals if they wrestle well. It keeps the tough guys away until the finals,” said coach.

Matt Hughes is the Trojans wrestler of the week. He is a junior this year. He said he just started wrestling in high school. He went 4-0 at the Desert Invitational and beat his man at the Clark match last week.

He uses a double leg takedown to get his opponent to the floor.

“I take him down with double leg and then once on the mat I use a far wrist bar for the pin combination. I have used this technique every match and it has worked,” said Hughes.

He said he is successful because he practices hard and eats right. Hughes is a junior and this is only his second year wrestling. He did football through his sophomore year but not this year. He will be doing track this year to keep in shape.

Jaxon Clayton led the way, winning his 195-pound title match in just 18 seconds. Individual champs for Pahrump were Aaron Alcarez 106 , Nick Nelson 120 , Matt Hughes 132 , Stephen McCormick 138 , Jessy Richardson 145 , Michael Rouisha 152 , Scott Maughan 160 , Dilyn Vargas 170 , Jace Clayton 220 and Kyle Daffer 285 .