Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

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Del Sol wrestler anxious for second chance at state

Kaleb Darby

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News

Dragons grappler Kaleb Darby, bottom, struggles against Liberty’s Michael Reveles during his final regular season match wrestling for Del Sol on Jan. 29 at Liberty High School.

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Del Sol varsity wrestler Kaleb Darby, left, locks up with Patriots grappler Michael Reveles during his final regular season match as a Dragon at Liberty High School on Jan 29.

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Del Sol senior Kaleb Darby is ready for his last shot at a high school wrestling title.

"I'm confident I can win," he said.

Darby has already won a state championship, but it didn't come in high school. He won a state club championship when he was 8 years old.

"I was intimidated. The guy's name was Rocky and he was undefeated, but I beat him and won the title," Darby said.

Darby grew up in Reno and attended North Valleys High for two years before moving to Southern Nevada. As a freshman, he lost in the Northern Regional tournament by two points in the 103 pound weight class to miss a berth in the state tournament.

"It was tough. I was so close and then I missed by just a couple points," Darby said. "I've been trying to get back every since."

Darby now wrestles in the 135 pound division, and with only two losses against Southeast Division opponents, will be one of the top seeds at the Sunrise Region tournament on Feb. 6 and 7.

"He's our most experienced wrestler and he's good enough to qualify for state," Del Sol coach Paul Sader said.

Wrestling is a family sport in the Darby household.

"My dad wrestled. My brothers wrestled and as soon as I was of age, they put me into the program," Darby said.

In between his sophomore and junior years, his family moved from Reno to Las Vegas. He did not wrestle and as a sophomore and found there is more quality grapplers in the South than the North.

"It was eye-opening. It's a lot more competitive and there's more wrestlers here," Darby said.

Upon moving to Las Vegas, Darby returned to the sport. Despite a 13-6 record, he didn't make the regional tournament as a junior.

But it has given him the motivation he needs when he steps onto the mat at the region tournament on Feb. 6

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or [email protected].

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