Green Valley Gators bring end to Las Vegas Wildcats’ 10-year title run

Green Valley's wrestling team built a 50-point lead heading into Saturday's championship round of the Sunrise Region tournament at Las Vegas High.

The cushion came in handy for the Gators.

Green Valley's Corey Brathor took first at 112 pounds, Ryder Newman added the 145 title, and Nathan Thomas capped it off with the win at 215 as the Gators withstood a late charge from the host Wildcats to end Las Vegas' 10-year win streak of region championships.

Green Valley finished with 240½ points to the Wildcats' 195½.

"It's the best way to end my high school career," said Brathor, a senior. "We've been wanting this for the past 10 years. I'm proud to be a part of it, and I hope this is not just the first time we do it, but we can continue on. I'd like to know that I started it."

Las Vegas was 4-for-4 in the finals, getting individual championships from Nathan Garcia (119), De'Armon Hall (125), Alex Aniciete (135) and Napolean Aniciete (152).

The Gators also picked up second-place finishes from Jared Brathor (103), Spencer Watson (119), Zack Perry (125) and Stephen Berta (140) to hold on for the team title.

"We never worried. We were pretty confident this year," Thomas said.

Green Valley added three third-place finishes. The top three wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament, which begins Friday at Spanish Springs High in Sparks.

Corey Brathor seldom seemed fatigued in his title match, taking a 2-1 edge after one period and using a three-point third period to seal the win over Jose Mercado of Desert Pines.

"I took it upon myself to be a little selfish and win this for me," he said. "I've been wrestling since seventh grade and waiting for this my whole life."

Newman had one of the quicker pins of the night, finishing off Koran Robinson of Valley in 2 minutes, 19 seconds.

His teammate Thomas would break that mark at 215, handing Rancho's Omar Bickle his first loss of the season with a pin in 1:33.

Despite the large lead, Green Valley coach Jon Ferry admitted to sweating out the win.

"I was nervous every time our kids stepped on the mat," the seventh-year Gators coach said.

Liberty used a late surge, getting championships from Ian Wilson (140), Anthony Terrell (160), Rudy Reveles (171) and Spencer Hill-Hale (189) to edge Foothill for third place, 153½-151.

Erek Cisneros of Liberty placed second at 189 as a nonscoring wrestler.

Contact reporter Sean Walker at swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.