Wrestling season is under way for Lincoln County and Pahranagat Valley, who are both part of the Division III Southern League.
Pahranagat Valley coach Brad Loveday is in his 13th season with the Panthers and has five returning lettermen, including juniors Mateo Linares and Oscar Heredia, and senior Austin Horrocks.
Loveday said Linares, who is slated to go at 220 pounds this season, was the Southern Region champion and placed fourth in the state meet last year. Heredia (126) placed third in the regional finals last year.
“We are going to work hard and see what happens,” Loveday said.
At Lincoln High, Coach Steve Culverwell has a good group of returning wrestlers and some talented newcomers.
Returners include Zack Rowe, state runner-up at 106 pounds. “He may be going at 120 this year,” said Culverwell.
Derek Mathews is the defending state champion at 113, and is moving up to 126 this year.
Wrestlers on the team include Alex Samson (132), Dylan Midgley (132), Jesse Mathews (138), William Culverwell (145), Frank Barrett (152), Jesse McClain (160), Nick Thomas (182), “plus we have six or seven other younger wrestlers,” Culverwell said, to round out the Lynx team.
Both Lincoln and Pahranagat Valley wrestled in the Moapa Valley Duals Dec. 2. Lincoln placed second in the 10-team White Pine Tournament in Ely Dec. 5-6, and participate at the Paul Williamson Memorial Tournament this Saturday in Parowan, Utah.
Meanwhile, Pahranagat Valley will be at the Wolverine Invitational in West Wendover on Saturday.
Both teams will compete at the Dixie Storm Invitational Dec. 19-20 in St. George, Utah.
