Fernley wrestlers place 4th at Cody Louk Invitational, Slapinski wins weight class

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

With seven wrestlers placing in the top six, and heavyweight Lonnie Slapinski winning his weight class, the Fernley High School wrestling team placed fourth out of 24 teams at last weekend’s Cody Louk Invitational in Winnemucca.

For the second straight week, Slapinski took first place in the heavyweight division, while Setriano Piroddi also reached the championship match.

“This week Lonnie Slapinski solidified himself as one of the top guys in the heavyweight division,” coach Scott Gillespie said. “Setriano Piroddi also had an awesome tournament, losing to the Spanish Springs 220 pounder in the finals.”

Other placers for Fernley were Jared Caulk 6th, A.J. Kuha 5th, Shawn Gleason 5th, Carter Chapin 4^th and  Gabe Richards 3rd.

Fernley finished fourth as a team, behind Spanish Springs, Lowry and Lovelock.

The Vaqueros took most of their varsity roster to Winnemucca, but some JV and younger wrestlers competed at the McQueen JV tourney in Reno.

There, Mason Sloan and John Owens placed 1st, while Dillon SantaCruz and the team’s newest member, Andrew LaVallie both placed.

“We have a phenomenal group of young wrestlers who are constantly working to improve their level,” Gillespie said. “We have an awesome room from top to bottom.  Our guys have bought in and are willing to do the work that is needed to excel.”

This week, some of the teams wrestlers will compete Friday and Saturday at the Reno Tournament of Champions, while others will head to the Mustang Invitational in Lovelock.

“Our goal every week is to win each tournament,” Gillespie said. “We want to be a top team and in order to do that we have to have high expectations. Our guys expect to win, we ask for nothing less.”