Las Vegas Sun Standout Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Gerald Pentsil win inaugaral award to cap storied Eldorado career
- Sun Standout Award: Bishop Gorman High School football team
- Game of the Year: Chaparral High School football vs. Faith Lutheran
- Rising star: Undefeated wrestler Ty Smith best underclassman
- Team of the Year: Centennial High girls basketball team
- Female Student-athlete of the Year: Guadalupe Gomez-Navarro
- Female Athlete of the Year: Boulder City's Jeanne Carmell passes her way to award
- Male Athlete of the Year: Nick Quintana had 15 home runs in 89 at-bats for Arbor View
- Male Student-athlete of the Year: Christian Ong
- Moment of the Year: Desert Oasis team manager makes most of playing time
- Coach of the Year: Clark's Chad Beeten had the winning game plan
- Support Staff of the Year: Tony Betka's work behind the scenes gets athletes to games
Ty Smith can remember rolling on the mats as a 3-year-old with his uncles Skyler Woods and Scott Woods, former University of Oregon wrestlers who now serve as his coaches at Virgin Valley High.
“Wrestling keeps me going,” Smith, a 106-pound sophomore, said. “It’s always been a big part of my life, and it always will be a big part of my life.”
Smith has started his high school career with back-to-back state championships, and this year went 53-0.
He also won three major tournaments, including the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno, which attracted competitors from across the country. Smith beat out a 64-man bracket littered with fellow state champions.
“It opened up whole new possibilities and showed me what I can do if I stay on top of it and keep my mind set,” Smith said.
Smith’s goals over the next two years include securing his third and fourth state championships and traveling to bigger tournaments. He hopes the latter helps draw attention from college programs so he can carry on the family tradition.
Smith also praised practice partner Jacob Vaird, the only teammate in his weight class.
“If I didn’t have all the support motivating me, I wouldn’t have had a chance to go undefeated,” Smith said.
Rising Star finalists
• Annick Haczkiewicz, golf, Palo Verde: Shot 1-over par 142 to capture state championship, one week after firing 3-under par 69 to win the Sunset Region title.
• Kenyon Oblad, football, Liberty: Passed for 3,106 yards and 34 touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes to lead his team to a Sunrise Regional title and state championship appearance.
• Whittnee Nihipali, volleyball, Shadow Ridge: Recorded a state-best 525 kills.
• Michael Pasimio, tennis, Clark: Won back-to-back state championships.
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