State wrap-up: Greenwave athletes strike gold

The Greenwave struck gold in more ways than one on the final day of the spring season.

The Wave softball team took advantage of junior Vernita Fillmore’s strong pitching for the second weekend in a row to capture the 3A state championship over Fernley, 11-1, Saturday morning at the Ed Arciniega Athletic Complex.

Fillmore had a perfect game going until the fifth inning in Thursday’s opening win over Pahrump Valley before the bats exploded for Fallon in wins over Fernley on Friday and Saturday. The Wave belted two home runs in Saturday’s championship to give Fallon its first softball state title since 2018.

Minutes later, Fallon senior Jessalyn Lewis was crowned the 3A state champion in the triple jump, one day after finishing second on her final attempt in the long jump at Carson High School. Her state crown is the first time since 2017 Fallon won a title in either of the long or triple jumps.

Later in the afternoon, another Fallon senior stood on top of the podium.

Zachary Koenig won both the 100-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke 3A state titles in Las Vegas, becoming the first swimmer in Greenwave history to win a title since the 3A, 4A and 5A classes were separated in 2013.

Fallon also saw junior Edwin Ugalde and sophomore Bransyn Wright finish second in the 800-meter and high jump events in Carson, while senior Gracie Cosman medaled in two swim events.

Although it didn’t capture a title, the Fallon boys golf team finished second earlier in the week at the state tournament in Pahrump while the baseball team went 1-2 in the state tournament to finish as the third-best team in the 3A.