This state championship was different for wrestler Ty Smith of Virgin Valley High in Mesquite. Smith won the 120-pound championship in February, needing less than two minutes to pin his opponent and add his name to an exclusive section of the state record book.
Smith became the 13th wrestler in Nevada history to win four state championships. His uncle and coach, Scott Woods, is one of the others. “It was amazing, truly a blessing,” Smith says. “It doesn’t happen very often, so I was just so proud to be part of it.”
Smith went 61-2 this season—the defeats came in tournaments out of state. He finished his career with a 221-7 record and was ranked No. 7 nationally at 120 pounds by USA Wrestling. He’ll compete at 133 pounds at Drexel University.
Finalists:
• Jamal Bey, Bishop Gorman basketball: Named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 22 points and eight rebounds in leading the Gaels to a state championship.
• Jacob Heese: Desert Oasis basketball: Led the state in scoring at 28 points per game, also averaged 10 rebounds.
• Jeriel Thomas, Legacy track: Won the 400 meters in five of Legacy’s meets this spring, including establishing a new school record at 47.83 seconds.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bishop Gorman football: Passed for 3,275 yards with 37 touchdowns and just three interceptions to lead Gorman to its ninth-straight state championship.
This story originally appeared in the Las Vegas Weekly.