Wrestlers ready for state meet

Charles Whisnand

With the Carson High wrestling team coming off its first Northern zone title in 15 years, the next logical goal for the Senators would be to go for the NIAA 4A state championships.

In past years with this team, the Senators may have been able to make a serious run at the state title. But while the Senators aren't completely counting out the possibility of a state title, if Carson was able to win it all, it would be a most improbable run.

It appears the Senators just don't have enough wrestlers to make a run at the title when the state championships are held Saturday at Cimarron Memorial High School in Las Vegas.

Cimarron Memorial is the overwhelming favorite to win the crown as it has the most wrestlers in the event with 11. But the Senators should be right there in what could be a logjam competing for second with Las Vegas, Centennial, Green Valley and Fallon.

Las Vegas qualified 10 wrestlers for state, Centennial, Green Valley and Carson all have eight and Fallon has seven.

It seems that this year's format may have favored the two regions in the South - the Sunrise and the Sunset. Those two regions and the North all qualified three wrestlers to state. In the past, each region qualified five wrestlers to state.

Thirty-nine of the 42 North wrestlers who qualified for state are ranked in the top six in the Nevada high school coaches poll.

"No question about it in my mind," said Carson coach Dean Schmanski about this year's format favoring the Southern regions.

"But we're bringing eight good guys down there. We're going to do our best. My goal is second. W'd be happy to place in the top three."

Although the qualifying process may have favored the Southern regions, the format of the meet may actually favor Carson. In the past, six places were awarded and fifth-sixth place matches were held. But this year, only four places will be awarded.

That means less matches to score points, which could favor a Carson team that doesn't have as many wrestlers.

"Every one of our wrestlers has the potential to place in the top four," Schmanski said. "We've wrestled in tough tournaments. We've seen the better wrestlers.

"These guys are well prepared. Our expectations is for all our wrestlers to place in the top four."

Schmanski said based on what was done in the past, he thought it would have been possible for all 14 of his wrestlers to qualify for state. It's still an impressive feat for the Senators to have eight going to state since just the top three qualified.

With the top five qualifying, the largest number that Carson has qualified for state in recent memory is nine. The Senators had 10 wrestlers place in the top four at zone this year, which is the highest in recent memory.

Owen Craugh (103 pounds), Robbie Bozin (112), Eric Aguilera (125), Travis Lamborn (140), Joe Roman (171), Chris Ceccarelli (189), Nick Shine (215) and Jason Klug (heavyweight) have all qualified for state. Micah Whitcome (145) and Loren Wooldridge (160) both placed fourth at zone.

Carson has two wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the state - Shine and Roman. Shine is the odds on favorite to win the title at 215. Among Roman's top challengers for the title should be Fallon's Darren Lewis.

Roman has beaten Lewis in both their meetings, but by one point both times, 3-2 earlier in the year and 7-6 for the zone title.

Two of Galena's four wrestlers at state are ranked No. 1: Joe Sanford (119) and Joel Rivadeneyra (125).

Rivadeneyra and Aguilera could be on a collision course for a showdown for the state title. Aguilera is ranked No. 3 in the state and has been ranked No. 2 for much of the year.

In the three meetings, Rivadeneyra has won twice. Aguilera has a 10-6 win while Rivadeneyra beat Aguilera 6-4 for the zone title.

Galena's Spencer Christian is ranked No. 2 while Lamborn is ranked No. 3 at 140. Christian beat Lamborn for the zone title.

Ceccarelli is ranked No. 4 at 189 and would have to pull off a major upset to win the state title. If he wins his first round match, Ceccarelli would likely face defending state champ Chris Gifford of Las Vegas in the semifinals. Ceccarelli has been ranked third much of the year and a top three finish is definitely a possibility.

Bozin is ranked third at 112 and Klug is ranked sixth at heavyweight. Craugh had been ranked sixth, then was replaced at sixth by Douglas High's Devin Barker, who beat Craugh at zone. Craugh had won their two previous meetings.

Craugh weighs 85 pounds and wrestles against opponents who weigh up to 20 pounds more than he does.

"He's going to give them a challenge," said Schmanski about Craugh at state. "Craugh's got a huge heart."

All five of Douglas High's wrestlers at state are ranked. The others are: Bryan Kaplan, 112, fourth; Brad Johnson, 145, fourth; C.J. Keith, 152, third; Louis Gabriel, 160, third. Galena's Mike Sanford is also ranked fifth at 135.

Since there are nine wrestlers in each class, two of the third place regional finishers have been seeded eighth and ninth and will have to be in what's effectively a wrestle-in match.

Craugh and Klug placed third at zone. Craugh won't have to be in a wrestle-off match, but Klug will. Schmanski, though, said that could actually be an advantage for Carson as it gives Klug a chance to score more points for the team.

Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor. Contact him at cwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214.