Sparks Tournament next for Fernley wrestlers

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

After getting a look at some of the top wrestlers in the western U.S. last week, the Fernley High School wrestling team will step back into more familiar terrain this weekend.

The Vaqueros competed last Wednesday at the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno. That tournament annually features some of the top teams and individual wrestlers from Nevada, California, Oregon and Idaho, and simply advancing to the second day is considered a big achievement.

The Vaqueros came up empty in that regard, although three wrestlers, Jared Caulk, Lonnie Slapinski and Cameron Bowman, came up one win short of reaching Thursday’s second day.

“They all wrestled very well,” coach Scott Gillespie said. “Our young crew got a taste of a big time tourney.”

This week, the Vaqueros will compete at the Sparks Invitational Friday and Saturday, at Sparks High School.

“We should be at full strength and full roster for that tournament,” Gillespie said.