Dynasty looms for Greenwave wrestling

The Greenwave wrestling program is a dynasty in the making.

Fallon proved over the weekend that it doesn’t take the most numbers to make the biggest impact. After qualifying nine wrestlers to the state tournament, the Greenwave was one win away from becoming the 3A state champions after it took second behind Spring Creek, the 3A North regional champ.

Fallon crowned two individual champions, four wrestlers finished second and one took third. For a team that placed higher than the 3A South regional champ, which sent 16 to the state tournament, Saturday’s performance was a great success. Although it wasn’t another team championship like the 2016 squad, Fallon still surpassed expectations by finishing ahead of rival Lowry and also taking home the academic state team title.

The numbers game, though, isn’t new to the green and white. It’s always been a problem for Fallon to fill all 14 weight classes, let alone be two wrestlers deep in some of the divisions. For this season, the Greenwave couldn’t fill three to four weight classes and it showed during the 3A league duals preceding the regional tournament. Fallon lost duals it would have won if not for the forfeits. And it also lost an opportunity to qualify more wrestlers for the regional and state tournaments.

Fans have seen what Fallon can do with nine wrestlers in the state tournament. Can you imagine if it had more? Fallon could be the next wrestling dynasty in the Silver State, challenging Lowry’s record run several years ago as well as Spanish Springs’ dominance in the 4A and Battle Mountain’s supremacy in the 1A/2A. Fallon could become the best team in the state regardless of classification.

Wrestling’s a tough sport and it takes a certain breed of athletes to overcome the grind and challenges. It’s exhausting and requires your mental focus to be sharp. But for Fallon to become the best, it needs more young men like the McCormick brothers, Goings brothers and senior state champ Jack Swisher.

“Getting more kids out and getting more kids to stay. It’s a tough sport,” Swisher said about the key to Fallon becoming the top program. “Not everyone can make it. You just need to find those tough kids for the program.”

Fallon’s quality rivals many schools in the state. Quality has never been an issue as the Greenwave send wrestlers to the podium at every regional and state tournament. But by filling those voided weight classes, Fallon can be unstoppable. Fallon can be the team everyone looks up to every season.

And it starts with the feeder programs, including the middle school and weekend youth tournaments throughout the year. Assistant coach Dan Shaw leads the middle school.

“They’re working hard down there trying to get more kids involved and making it a tougher program. It starts with the youth clubs,” second-year Fallon coach Trevor de Braga.

Tommy and Sean McCormick wrestled at many youth tournaments and were able to place in the top two at the state tournament as freshmen. Sean McCormick won the title as a freshman and followed with another last weekend, while freshman Tommy McCormick took second this year. Like with any sport, it’s the commitment outside of the high school season that will drive these student-athletes to greater success, which will lead to the team’s success.

Fallon is one of the best wrestling programs in the state because of the individuals’ commitment to the sport and themselves, as well as the coaching staff’s experience and knowledge. The Greenwave shocked everyone but itself last year when it won state after taking third in regionals. Fallon almost did it again this year with one less wrestler.

Fallon is built to become the next wrestling dynasty in the Silver State and it starts with the youth clubs. The success will shortly follow and everyone will be chasing the Greenwave.

It’s only a matter of time.

Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.