Holbrook senior Theron Johns reaches Division III finals

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz.

Holbrook senior Theron Johns is one win away of earning his first state crown as an individual.

Johns went 3-0 as the third seed during the opening day of the Arizona Division III state wrestling tournament at the Prescott Valley Event Center and improved his overall record to 46-4.

The Holbrook senior will take on top-seeded Ted Rico of Combs High of San Tan Valley, Ariz., in tonight’s championship bout in the 126-pound weight class.

Last season John was one eight wrestlers that placed at the state tournament for Holbrook as the Roadrunners earned the team title.

But in his weight class Johns earned his second consecutive fourth place finish at state.

“It’s my senior year and I don’t want to take fourth again,” Johns told the Navajo Times after winning last week’s section tournament. “I’m sick of it and honestly all I want to do is win a state title.”

Also in Division III, Flagstaff junior Wyatt Nez advanced into the third place match after he defeated Trevor Anderson of Payson by a 14-11 decision in the consolation semifinals.

Nez is scheduled to wrestle Omar Casillas of Tempe High.

In the 182-pound division, Quentin Begody of Winslow fought his way through the consolation round and will grapple with Richard Matthews of Apache Junction for fifth place.

In Division IV, Hopi senior Adam Laban and Tuba City senior Adraian Sixkiller will wrestle for third place in their respective divisions.

Laban posted a 5-2 win over Nico Carrasco of Morenci in the consolation semifinals of the 120-pound class while Sixkiller edged Ganado’s Trent Peterson by a 7-3 count in the 220-pound division.

Other area wrestlers that made the medal rounds include Tuba City’s Shayne Yazzie (106), Pinon’s Joehansin Nutlouis (170) and Tyrone Chilly (285). Those wrestlers will contend for fifth place.

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