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Moapa Valley Hosts State Wrestling Tournament

	By Jonathan Oglesby Moapa Valley Progress After weeks of preparation, Moapa Valley High School hosted the 2008 NIAA Nevada Class 3A Wrestling Tournament last weekend in the Moapa Valley High School Gary Batchelor Gymnasium. The event was awarded to Moapa Valley High School several months ago by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and ever since, Moapa Valley High School,in partnership with the NIAA, has been preparing for the event.The State Championship event was directed and led by Southern 3A President,	MVHS Wrestler, Cyle Durham, completely controlled his final match against Lowry wrestler at the State Tournament on Saturday at the Moapa Valley High School
	Rod Adams, and MVHS Athletic Director, Matt Messer. The State Wrestling Tournament is one of the most highly attended championship events in the state every year and the 2008 version was no different as eleven different schools were represented by athletes and fans. The day’s events began with the introduction of the athletes in an opening ceremony that is very similar to an Olympic introduction. Afterwards, fans were treated to hours of high quality wrestling action. The Pirate wrestling faithful were also treated to a great showing as four Pirate wrestlers: Cyle Durham, Justin Ibarra, Colby Powell, and Riley Staley, were a big part of the day’s action and were very successful.
	Colby Powell takes on his final opponent from Virgin Valley at the State Tournament held at the Moapa Valley High School on Saturday.	Moapa Valley’s Riley Staley, who took the runnerup spot in the Southern 3A tournament and is one of the state’s finest wrestlers, made it to the consolation quarterfinals in the 189’s as did Justin Ibarra who made it to the 215 consolation quarterfinals. Colby Powell would make it to the consolational semi-finals in the heavyweight bracket where he would face off against Virgin Valley’s Brent Horlacher, eventual third place finisher, and wrestle a fine match, taking Horlacher to the limit. Cyle Durham would make it to the consolation finals in the 103 bracket where he would eventually take third place in the state as one of the state finalists.
	Before the championship rounds, Moapa Valley’s Pirate Motion entertained the crowd while the individual matches went on. After the rounds, the NIAA thanked several of the volunteers and service groups for their fine representation of Moapa Valley High School throughout the tournament. Head Coach Kelby Robison said that it has been a good Pirate Wrestling season. “Our team did well this season,” he said. “All of the wrestlers have really worked hard this year.” The team was young, mostly comprised of freshmen and sophomores. “We were a young team this year, but we will grow, and I expect a lot from these guys in the next couple years,” Robison said. Coach Robison would like to extend thanks to all who helped the wrestlers this year. Special thanks go to the Booster Club, the Rotary Club, the school administration and the students and parents at Moapa Valley High School. “They really helped make this year a success, ” he said. “I would also really like to thank Coaches May, Belcher and Bounds for all their hard work this season. And most of all I would like to thank the wrestlers for working hard, and their parents for helping to make things happen.”