Carson wrestling looks to defend crown

At the beginning of the season, Carson High wrestling co-coach Tim McCarthy said he expected the Northern 4A title to come down to the Senators and Fallon.

McCarthy also said that he considered Fallon the favorite and that he would be satisfied with a second place finish at zone. While McCarthy still admits that Fallon should still be considered the favorite on paper, he has upgraded his goal.

"As the season went on, we saw that if we wrestle well, we can beat Fallon," McCarthy said. "It will be disappointing if we didn't win it."

Carson will look to defend its zone title from last season when the zone meet is held Friday and Saturday at Galena. The meet begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday with the championship matches set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

The zone title should come down to the Senators and Fallon. "It'd be very suprising if there was another team sneaking in there, but it's still possible," McCarthy said. "It may be Douglas or Elko."

McCarthy also stressed that Carson will have to be at its best to beat Fallon. He noted that the Greenwave have at least three clear-cut favorites to win their weight classes - heavyweight Josh Mauga, Tommy Diaz at 152 and Lyle Gardner at 189. "On paper they're definitely better than us," McCarthy said.

He also noted that his team has only one clear-cut favorite - Travis Lamborn at 160 - to win his weight class. But McCarthy said he believes his team has a little more depth than Fallon. "I think we're stronger overall as a team," he said.

A realistic goal for his team is to meet last year's accomplishment in which the Senators qualified eight wrestlers for the state tournament, McCarthy said. The top three wrestlers qualify for state.

"That's pretty reasonable," he said. "If we wrestle well, we could send 11 or 12. If that was the case, I'd think Fallon would be in trouble."

McCarthy has also made a strategic decision that may be questioned if Fallon edges his team for the title. Teams are allowed to bring four extra wrestlers to zone this year. Those four extra wrestlers can qualify for state, but their performances won't count toward the team standings at zone.

Carson ended up with Todd Banko at 103 pounds and the 92-pound Owen Craugh at 112. McCarthy has decided to put them both at 103, so only one of the wrestler's performances will count toward the team standings. "It could be an all-Carson final at that weight," McCarthy said.

McCarthy also said it would be unfair to place Craugh, a state qualifier last year, at 112. "Throwing him in at 112 would be cruel," he said.

Besides, McCarthy said he has another wrestler who is a contender to qualify for state at 112 in Adam Carmazzi, who took fourth at the Lindhurst Tournament in California.

"He's actually got a shot at going to state at 112," McCarthy said. "Carmazzi is right there with Owen and Todd."

At 119 is Robbie Bozin, a state qualifier from last year, who could be considered a favorite to win his weight class. Other contenders for state berths will be Kyle Banko (125), Kevin Riggin (130), Ahron Osheroff (140), Micah Whitcome (145), Loren Wooldridge (152), Jonas Schenzel (171), David Cadwallader (215) and Jason Klug (heavyweight). Klug is another state qualifier from last year.

Carson's other two wrestlers, Aaron Jolcover (135) and Matt Heath (189) can provide the Senators with valuable points if they can win at least one match.

The Senators' other three extra wrestlers are Brian Mustafa (145), Brian Halverson (119) and Garrett Truesdell (160). Mustafa and Halverson recently won Northern 4A junior varsity titles.

They can indirectly help Carson's cause - if they meet up with and beat a Fallon wrestler. "It's possible at a couple of the weights," McCarthy said.

Carson last wrestled in a 42-18 win over Douglas on Jan. 26. "That was kind of nice not to have to go anywhere for a tournament," said McCarthy about not wrestling last weekend. "I'm sure they'll be chomping at the bit to get out there."