On May 16-17, the NIAA 2A State track and field meet took place at Moapa Valley High School.
As a team, the Bobcats’ boys team placed fifth at 60 points and four points ahead of Battle Mountain.
“Finishing fifth through 15 teams is pretty good with the amount of boys that we took. I think it’s awesome,” White Pine coach Jose Martinez said. “On the girls’ side as well, they finished seventh out of the 15th. They pretty much went out there and competed.”
McCaul and Zephen Nicholes take their place on the podium at state
White Pine brought home two individual state championships. Seniors McCaul Nicholes won the triple jump while Zephen Nicholes claimed the high jump crown.
McCaul Nicholes reached 40 feet, seven inches in the triple jump to earn his second state triple jump crown in the years. He won the triple jump in 2023 as a sophomore before being the runner-up last year.
“McCaul’s been one of those athletes who has pretty much been the top dog in the triple jump,” Martinez said. “It’s incredible. I think the amount of work he puts in is awesome. And then just seeing how hard he practices, it’s awesome.”
Zephen Nicholes edged out his brother in the high jump. Both Zephen and McCaul Nicholes reached five feet, 10 inches. However, because Zephen had less scratches, that gave him the gold medal.
Martinez said his work has led him to reach the limelight to be a state champion.
“Zephen’s been working hard in those same events as his brother in high jump,” he said. “Just seeing him come out on top, I think, for the first time, against his brother in high jump in a big event like this is pretty nice. It shows the amount of work he can put in, the amount of difference he can make.
“I don’t know what that rivalry between them is, but I know having a twin brother who does the same events as he does is kind of hard. But, if he can’t come out on top, either one of them is always awesome. Luckily for Zephen, it became his time to come out on top. But I have no doubt that McCaul is also excited and happy for him.”
Zephen Nicholes also earned runner-up honors in the pole vault, clearing 11 feet, three inches.
Meanwhile, in the girls pole vault, Ava Ahlvers placed third and eight feet, three inches.
Martinez said the success of pole vaulters is credited to assistant coach Rebecca Bath.
“Ms. Bath has taken over that pole vault position for coaching,” he said. “Luckily, we have pole vaulters that are willing to listen and push hard every week.”
White Pine also took a silver medal in the girls discus with Miley Oxborrow reaching 108 feet, 3.50 inches.
Like Bath, Martinez said the addition of assistant coach Chris Baldwin has made a crucial impact in both shotput and discus for players like Oxborrow.
“Miley is also one of those incredible athletes that we have that just works and works and works,” he said. “Having Chris Baldwin that has taken over the throwing coaching (job), he’s helped every athlete and improve on the throwing. If we look at the records, I think each athlete has PR by a whole bunch this year.”
In the relays, both of the 4×100 meters relay teams from White Pine each placed fourth. White Pine edged out Green Valley Christian on the boys side by 0.05 seconds and missed third place by 0.18 seconds to Coral Academy.
On the girls side, the Ladycats missed third place by 0.28 seconds and took fourth place by 0.17 seconds.
“I was shooting for the 4×1 teams a lot this year,” Martinez said. “I lost my voice screaming at them, because that race was so crazy. It was a scary race. I was on my toes the whole entire time.”
As a result, that caps off a 2025 season where there was a mix of learning opportunities and a chance to compete for championships while facing the state’s best players.
Martinez said every personal record achieved, no matter how big nor how small, goes a long way to the success of the season.
“It’s sad that the season has ended, and then just pretty much seeing how everybody has improved from the beginning, no matter how little the PR was, the same amount of effort that they put in, it’s always a great thing to have,” he said.
“I’d like to thank everybody who has watched our meets, all the parents who have gone to all of the meets and have been there for us as a team. It’s been an incredible year with them. Thank you to our coaches, (Baldwin and Bath, for pushing our kids to be as successful as they can.”
Team scores
Girls – 7th (49.50) 10.5 back of 6th place Sierra Lutheran
Boys – 5th (60) 4 ahead of Battle Mountain
B Triple Jump
McCaul Nicholes 40 feet, seven inches
2nd state title in triple jump in 3 years (runner-up last year)
B High Jump
Zephan Nicholes J5-10
McCaul J5-10
B Pole Vault
Zephen 11-03
G 4x100m
4th – 54.28 Keziah, Amaia, Paityn, Jesta
G Pole Vault
Ava Ahlvers 8-03
G Discus
Miley Oxborrow 108-3.50
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