By DAVID COOK
After placing third at last year’s individual state finals, Carson City-Crystal junior Dallas O’Green dedicated himself to returning and winning a state title.
His hard work paid off, as O’Green captured the 125-pound championship in Division 4.
“I feel like I have come a long way since last year,” O’Green said. “I have been working real hard since last year’s finals, and all that work paid off today.”
O’Green, who finished the season with a 58-1 record, outlasted Clay Ragon of Dansville and won by a 2-0 score in a defensive struggle. O’Green’s lone two points came in the second period.
“My key was not to let him get out of bounds,” O’Green said. “I just tried to keep him in the middle of the mat.”
O’Green gave up very few points in his four matches at the finals. He won both his semifinal and final matches by shutout and allowed just five points in his first two wins, both of which were major decisions.
O’Green was one of three Carson City wrestlers to win state titles, and he is quick to credit his teammates for their help. “We just work so hard in practice,” he said. “Every practice we just go in there and work hard. We are in there grinding every day. It feels great to see all that hard work pay off.”