Roundup: Golfers win regional tourney

Boulder City High School boys golf team is making its eight consecutive 3A state tournament appearance after winning the 3A Southern Region tournament Tuesday, May 7, at Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Hosting the regional event, the Eagles finished with an overall team score of 651, edging out rival Pahrump Valley (709).

Tying with Western’s Jared Smith, sophomore Blake Schaper placed first with a score of 147, shooting a 71 on day two on the par-72 course after shooting a 76 on day one.

Finishing fourth, junior Dustin Landerman shot a 166 and sophomore Kyle Carducci finished fifth with a score of 167.

Senior Kevin Phelps rounded out the Eagles’ effort with an eighth-place finishing, shooting 171 over the two-day event.

Looking to repeat as 3A state champions, the Eagles will travel to Genoa Lakes in Genoa, Nevada, on Monday, May 13, for a two-day state tournament event.

Track

Competing in the Grant Bushman Invitational at Moapa Valley High School on Saturday, May 4, Boulder City High School’s girls track team finished seventh out of 14 programs, while the boys finished 16th out of 20 programs.

Senior Geri Wacthel led the way for the girls, finishing fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, while placing fourth in the triple jump and 10th in the long jump.

Also finishing near the top of the pack, sophomore Sophie Dickerman finished second in the 3200-meter run and seventh in the 1600-meter run. Sophomore Chloe Payne finished sixth in the 300-meter hurdles and triple jump.

Sophomore Christina Dunagan finished third in the pole vault.

For the boys, sophomore Sonny Peck finished fifth in the pole vault and eighth in the 110-meter hurdle. Sophomore Sean White finished seventh in the 1600-meter run.

Sophomore Rafe Echeverria finished sixth in the shot put and senior Justice Tilman finished 11th in the 300-meter hurdles.

Traveling back to Moapa Valley High School this Friday, May 10, both Eagles program will compete in the 3A Southern Region meet.

Boys volleyball

Boulder City High School’s boys volleyball team is poised for postseason success, ending the regular season with a 17-game winning streak.

Defeating Western 3-0 on May 1 and 4A Eldorado 3-0 on May 2, the Eagles locked up the third seed in the 3A Sunrise League for the playoffs.

Senior Karson Bailey generated nine kills and junior Preston Jorgensen added eight kills offensively in the 25-11, 25-14, 25-12 victory over the Sun Devils.

Fueling the winning effort, junior Boen Huxford dished out 16 assists, and freshman Kenny Rose added 10 assists. Freshman Kannon Rose added six digs defensively.

Routing the Warriors 25-10, 25-8, 25-5, Jorgensen led the way with nine kills, while Bailey added six kills.

The Eagles will play Chaparral at 5 tonight at host Mojave High School.

Football

Looking to continue its retooling of the football program, 23 eighth-graders packed the theater at Boulder City High School on Tuesday, May 7, for its second annual eighth-grade signing day.

Head coach Chris Morelli, who stated from day one that he wanted to rebuild the lower levels of the Eagles’ program, called the event a success.

“This is our second year doing it and the numbers have grown from last year,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for these kids to see what the program is all about. We’re trying to get them excited about what’s in their future for the next four years.”

Helping turn the Eagles around in year four of his coaching tenure at the varsity level, Morelli said he sensed a new vibe around the program after making the postseason for the first time since 2014.

Finishing with a 7-4 record this past season, the Eagles were rewarded for their long rebuilding process, after finishing 5-22 in Morelli’s first three season.

“There is a different vibe right now surrounding Boulder City High School football,” Morelli said. “Obviously, that’s contributed to the success of this past season and what we were able to accomplish. ... Kids want to be here.”

The Eagles have reached new heights under Morelli but aren’t content with just moderate success. Looking to build the Eagles into a stable program for the long haul at all three level of football (freshman, junior varsity and varsity), Morelli said he is happy with the progress but knows his work is far from finished.

“We started with a plan of wanting to build up this program organically and we’re not deviating from that path,” Morelli said. “We’ve seen a lot of improvements and things are working right now. We’re excited to keep building and heading in the right direction.”