Flathead takes Sierra Nevada Classic mat title

The Daily Inter LakeJoaquin Calderon first at 125 pounds; Stacy, Thomas place second

RENO, Nev. - They're the best in the west.

The Flathead Braves won the prestigious Sierra Nevada Classic wrestling tournament title on Tuesday with a dominating big-meet performance at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

Flathead finished the 31st edition of this event with 239 1/2 points, and a very comfortable margin over runner-up Snohomish High School from Snohomish, Wash., which totaled 207.

There were 96 teams from seven states (California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington) at the two-day tournament. Flathead and Snohomish were the only two schools to break the 200-point barrier.

Just to illustrate how dominating Flathead's showing was, Los Gatos, Calif., won the 2007 title with a 148 1/2 points.

Missoula Sentinel also competed, but no information was available on where the Spartans placed.

Flathead had one individual champion - Joaquin Calderon, a junior at 125 - and two runners-up - Bryce Stacy, a senior at 160, and Tyler Thomas, a senior heavyweight.

Calderon topped Jack Samuel of Thurston, Ore., in the final, 8-2.

Calderon wrestled six times in Reno, winning twice by pin.

"He controlled the whole match," Flathead coach Matt Owen said of the finale.

"Every match he dominated."

Calderon, now 20-4 on the season, also won once with a tech fall.

Thomas dropped a heartbreaker in his final, 3-2, to Peter Anguiano of Franklin, Calif.

"Tyler had a couple shots at the end, he just couldn't finish them," Owen said.

"He was close to winning that match."

Stacy was decisioned by Trent DeBraga of Churchill, Nev., in his final, 6-2.

"Bryce wrestled tough," Owen said.

"The other kid was very solid."

Stacy and Thomas both went 5-1 in tournament action. Stacy is now 21-2 on the year, Thomas 18-2.

Flathead had two wrestlers finish fourth - Caleb Piasecki at 103 and Tanner Beaman at 135.

Ryan Thiel, at 152, was seventh, and Alejandro Calderon, at 119, was eighth.

Medals were awarded to the top eight placers.

Flathead had seven of its 14 wrestlers place.

"It was definitely worth (the trip)," Owen said.

"We had a blast down here."

Owen said the first couple of rounds on Monday were a little weaker than the Tri-State Tournament the week before in Coeur d'Alene. He said that was due to each weight class having 64 wrestlers.

"Once we got down to the second day, it was just as tough as Tri-State," he said.

Flathead finished second at Tri-State. The Braves won it the year before.

"The kids had a great time (in Reno)," he said.

"I would definitely be interested in doing this again (next year) if the kids want to. It was a fun tournament."

Owen said Flathead followed through with another great team effort.

"I think we stepped it up another step this week," he said.

"Just keep building and get ready for state."

Owen said the team would spend the night in Winnemucca, Nev., 164 miles east of Reno on Interstate 80. Owen hoped the team would arrive home late tonight.

Flathead will have just one day to recuperate as the Braves compete in a two-day tournament in Spokane, which starts Friday.