Emotions ran high in the finals of the state wrestling tournament, as several seniors and a coach closed out their wrestling careers.
Lowry dominated in Division I-A, as the Buckaroos (221 points) nearly doubled the score of second-place Spring Creek (130). The team had nine wrestlers in Saturday's finals, and won five titles.
Among those were brothers, Beau and Michael Billingsley. Beau, a sophomore, took the 160-pound title, winning his second straight state championship.
"It's the best feeling ever," Beau said moments after winning. "I'm trying to get four times just like my brother, who's about to."
Beau's prediction for older brother Michael would hold true, as the senior took the 170-pound championship immediately after watching his brother win. The win marked his fourth state title.
"I expected both of us to win," Michael said. "We pretty much live for each other. Seeing him win was so much better than myself winning."
In other action, Battle Mountain edged Yerington, 185-150.5, to take the Div. III/IV title.
"For them to see that hard work pays off like this, that means the world," Battle Mountain coach Mitch Domagala said. "We went through lots of ups and downs. Everything we threw at them. Every situation we put them in. They responded, and now they're champions."
The Longhorns sent six wrestlers into the finals, and three won titles.
"I decided to work hard, keep fighting to the top and I'll be a champion," Battle Mountain senior Justin Cordova said. "Now, it's just emotional. I'll miss all the people I've met, my coach. This is my passion, my life. I don't know what to do after this."
Other winners included Pershing County senior Jared Jensen (170), who took his fourth state title.
One of the most emotional farewells was from Truckee coach Ron Curtis. Curtis stepped down after 34 years of coaching. His son, Tyler, participated in the final match of Curtis' career, dropping the title to Fernley's Erik Wilson.
