The May River wrestling team’s state championship quest ended at the hands of Gilbert for the second straight year, as the Sharks fell 34-29 at the host Indians on Monday.
Isham Peace and Chad Hadden won hard-fought decisions to stake the Sharks to a 6-0 lead, but the Indians won the next two matches — once by decision and one by major decision — to take a 7-6 advantage.
May River’s Anthony Nelsen stopped the momentum with a decision at 145, and Gabriel Juarez followed with a pin to give the Sharks a 15-7 advantage. Gilbert bounced back with pins in two of the next three weight classes, with a major decision from May River’s Anthon Funderburk sandwiched between, forging a tie at 19 with five matches left.
A decision at 195 put the Indians back in front before Rod Grant won by major decision to give the Sharks a 23-22 advantage, but the Indians recorded pins in the next two weight classes to clinch the win.
The Sharks now turn their attention to the individual postseason and will host the Class 3A Lower State qualifier Friday and Saturday.