Carson High wrestling coach Tim McCarthy has high hopes for his squad entering the opening day of the annual NIAA 4A State Meet at UNLV.
Action gets under way at 9 a.m.
McCarthy, whose team won the 4A regional title last week, has eight wrestlers entered in the two-day event.
"I think all eight guys going have a good chance to medal (top 5)," McCarthy said before Wednesday's practice. "Three of them could finish in the top three."
Making the trip to Vegas are Kyle Sharp (106), Sammy Mercado (113), Cole McCarthy (126), Jordan Luhrs (152), Brady Rivera (170), Nico Garcia (182), Patrick Cooke (220) and Brayan Burgos (heavyweight).
The Carson coach believes that Sharp, McCarthy and Garcia have the best chance to place the highest. The trio has combined to post a 96-17 record this year.
Sharp, who posted a 38-5 record with 28 pins, won titles at Granada and Fernley, and also was second in the regionals and at Oakdale.
Sharp, making his second straight appearance at state, has a little chip on his shoulder after being upset by Spanish Springs' Ryan Long in last week's regional final.
"It (finishing second) makes me want it more this week," Sharp said. "I've been working this week on being more aggressive; taking more shots."
Sharp faces Trevor Perez of Eldorado in the first round. Perez posted a 31-8 record. On Sharp's side of the bracket is Nick Cannon of Green Valley (39-2) and Basic's Nick Gomez (44-2).
At 126, Cole McCarthy comes in with a glittery 29-2 record and titles at Oakdale, Granada, Fernley and last week's regional event. McCarthy was fourth last year, and certainly would like to improve on that placement.
"I feel comfortable," said McCarthy, who faces Las Vegas High's Antonio Jaregui in his opening match. "I've just been trying to stay in good shape this week and keeping focused.
"I think at state guys are a lot more defensive. You don't want to get caught, so guys sometimes don't try to do things where that could happen."
Garcia, who was first at regionals, second at Granada, Fernley and Oakdale, had 23 pins in his 32 wins. He opens with James Byrne of Green Valley.
Garcia beat Byrne 14-2 at the Tournament of Champions this year, and he feels that at least gives him a mental advantage but he doesn't want to get to confident.
"Anything can happen (in wrestling)," Garcia said. "I'm just going to chill up and try to do what I did the last time.
"I've been looking at film online of some of the guys to see how they wrestle and see if they have any special moves. It would mean everything to win this year."
Kory Koryakos of Liberty was 48-18 this year and he's on Garcia's side of the draw. Tops on the other side is Rancho's Abel Gomez (45-4).
Mercado was second in the regionals. He posted a 21-13 mark and faces Alex Watson of Green Valley in his opening match. The best wrestler on Mercado's side of the bracket appears to be Bishop Gorman's Owen Lawrie, who was 32-7 this year.
Luhrs enters his opening match against Green Valley's Donovan Peek with a 20-11 mark. Peek is 25-8. On the same side of the bracket are North Valleys' Adam Kamikawa and Koran Robinson of Desert Oasis. On the other side is Northern champ Drew Smith and Connor Watanabe of Liberty who was 48-17 at 160 pounds this year.
The 170-pound Rivera, 13-12 this year, is in an out-bracket match against Gary Cruz of Basic. The winner of that match gets Cimarron Memorial's Austin Beaman, who was 48-6 this year. Wooster's Steven Elicegui is on the other side of the 170-pound bracket. Elicegui is a two-time state champ at 160 pounds.
Cooke, second last week at the regionals, posted a 25-10 mark this year. He faces Devin Dishari (39-11) in his first match. Basic's Ron Petrasky drew a first-round bye and is 28-3 this year.
Burgos, who came on strong late in the year, is 12-5. He faces Centennial's Jordan Karst who was 32-4 this season. Awaiting the winner of that match is Eldorado's Mike Williams, who is 32-0 this year. Cimarron's Austin Sinyard is the top guy on the other side of the bracket with a 43-5 record.
McCarthy also said that the Senators could finish in the top five as a team.
He said that Green Valley, which qualified 13 wrestlers, is the favorite to win the team title.
Douglas is sending three wrestlers to the event - 126-pound Logan Ames, 182-pound Zachary Singer and 195-pound Sullivan Cauley.
