Todd and Kyle Banko and Travis Lamborn are all still alive in the chase for individual titles for the Carson High wrestling team at the Sierra Nevada Classic.
All three wrestlers went 3-0 on Wednesday at the Reno Livestock Events Center to advance to today's quarterfinals. In addition, three other Carson wrestlers are still alive heading into the final day of the event: Robbie Bozin, Ahron Osheroff and Jonas Schenzel. Those three still have a chance to place third in the tournament.
With six wrestlers still alive in the event, Carson has a strong chance to place in the top 10 or even to move up into the top five in the tournament that features 94 schools from across the West Coast.
While final standings from the first day weren't available at press time, Carson was in 10th place with 55 points with the tournament still finishing up late last night. The only other Northern Nevada school that was ahead of the Senators could have been considered somewhat of a surprise as McQueen was in seventh with 60 points.
"We're placing in 10th in a very major tournament," Carson coach Casey Schweitzer said. "To be in the top 10 is a great place for us to be."
Schweitzer said his team could move up into the top five if all six of his wrestlers place. "That's what we're looking for," he said. "I feel real good about those guys. I think all six can place in this tournament."
The Senators are also short-handed as they are without a 103-pounder and came into the tournament with just 13 wrestlers.
Kyle Banko came into the tournament as the No. 2 seed at 130. He pinned Kenny Slagle of Sutter Union, Calif., Dennis Sanders of Central, Calif., and Austin Marsh, of Mountain View, Ore., to advance to the quarterfinals.
Lamborn was also seeded No. 2 at 160. He pinned Daryl Toci of Bend, Ore., Petty Thurmond of El Dorado, Calif., and Alex Kovis of Battle Mountain to make the quarterfinals.
Todd Banko made an impressive run to the quarterfinals as the No. 11 seed at 112. He beat Dayton's Travis Wade 9-6, pinned Douglas High's Niko Barker and then won by technical fall 17-2 to make the quarterfinals.
Bozin is also still alive after coming into the event unseeded. He pinned the No. 9 seed, Drew Lipton of Lassen, Calif., and Mike Fabila of Sheldon, Calif., before losing to the No. 8 seed, James Alva of Los Gatos, Calif. Bozin stayed alive with an 8-4 win over a Palo Verde wrestler.
Osheroff came in as the No. 9 seed at 171. He pinned Greg Lewis of Sonoma, Calif., and beat Spanish Springs' Nick Koch 10-4 before losing to the No. 8 seed, Ronnie McCoy of Clayton, Calif. Osheroff stayed alive with a pin in his last match.
Schenzel, the No. 11 seed at 189, pinned Fallon's Ryan Sely and Ben Atchison of Mountain View, Ore., before losing to Jerry Ogg of Santa Clara, Calif. Schenzel came back to win by pin to stay alive.
Four other Carson wrestlers scored points. First-year wrestler Zach Taylor went 2-2, with both of his wins coming by pin. "He's getting better," Schweitzer said.
Brian Halverson went 1-2 at 125 and was eliminated by possibly Northern Nevada's top wrestler at the weight from Damonte Ranch. Blake Davidson also went 1-2 at 145.
In addition, freshman Casey Hill went 1-2 at 140, beating Yerington's Wesley Taliferro 8-4. "We're real proud of his effort," Schweitzer said.
