Thornton repeats as state wrestling champion

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The Pahranagat Valley High School wrestling team had seven athletes competing in the state finals in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Feb. 16.

Pahranagat Valley High School junior A.J. Thornton holds up the bracket while wearing his gold medal after winning the 175-pound 2A Wrestling State Title.

Junior A.J. Thornton once again took home a gold medal in the 175-pound division, defeating Lincoln County’s Blake Heaton. Thornton also won the gold last year in the same weight class. Meanwhile, junior Rio Hughes finished second in the 132-pound division, falling to White Pine’s Jackson Armstrong in the championship match. It was the second straight year Hughes brought home the silver, though last year he competed in the 120-pound division.

Juniors A.J. Thornton and Rio Hughes wear their medals after taking first and second respectively at the state wrestling finals in Bullhead City, Arizona.

As a team, the Panthers finished with 50 points, which placed them ninth out of 15 teams. Lake Mead took first with 173 points.

The 2023-24 Pahranagat Valley High School wrestling team.

Overall, it was a successful wrestling season, according to head coach Andy Linares, who saw the team’s numbers grow this year, including many first-year wrestlers. He expressed how proud he is of each athlete and how they competed throughout the year.