Lincoln County?s Matthews takes state wrestling title

by

Lincoln County freshman Derek Mathews won the championship in the 113-pound weight class at the NIAA Division III/IV State wrestling tournament last
Lincoln County?s Derek Matthews prepares to takedown Battle Mountain?s Parker Rochester in a preliminary round of the 113-pound weight class at the NIAA Division III/IV state wrestling tournament.

Lincoln County freshman Derek Mathews won the championship in the 113-pound weight class at the NIAA Division III/IV State wrestling tournament last weekend at Primm. He decisioned Beau Kendall of Pershing County 10-4.

The Lynx also had a silver medalist and a fourth place finisher. Pahranagat Valley had a silver medal and a fourth place finish.

Zack Rowe (106), another freshman at Lincoln, took the silver medal. He lost an 11-5 decision to Dillon Thompson, a junior at Battle Mountain.

Jesse Mathews (120), a sophomore at Lincoln, took fourth place losing 13-7 to Riley Kendall of Pershing County.

Coach Steve Culverwell was pleased with the boys? efforts at state, admitting however, ?the north is pretty tough. We had other men in semi-finals matches that I thought we could win each one, but one of those things, sometimes you win, sometimes you don?t, kind of a heartbreaker.?

Looking at the overall season for Lincoln, Culverwell said they had great success. ?To have nine guys qualify for state, (three place finishers), I think that?s the most Lincoln?s had in years.? Danny and Mark Olson were the only seniors on the squad, so Culverwell can look forward with high expectations to next year.

Jeremy Minick (132), a junior at Pahranagat Valley, lost in the finals 8-7 to? Jacob Rochester of Battle Mountain, and Mateo Linares (220) lost by pin in the third place match to Richard Pete of Owyhee.

Battle Mountain won the team championship, their 11th title since 2001, with 209 points.

Lincoln County had 59 points and Pahranagat Valley 32.

An additional note coach Culverwell said, Lincoln County High was presented? the NIAA Division III/IV State Academic Championship for this year. The presentation was made at the awards ceremony at state wrestling.