Carson's Darryll Heyward braces himself against Manogue's Anthony Rosas during Wednesday match at Carson High School.
Alex Wells and Brandon Macias are new to the Carson High wrestling program, but both have experienced success in the early going.
Wells, a sophomore transfer from Reed, and Macias, who is in his first year of wrestling, recorded pins to help the Senators improve to 2-0 with a 60-24 win over Bishop Manogue on Wednesday at Morse Burley Gym.
Wells pinned Max Kiker with 11 seconds left in the first period. Macias’ pin came 12 seconds into the second period.
Wells started for Reed as a freshman last year, and his transition to a new school, new teammates and a new coach has been relatively smooth. He is wrestling at 160 pounds.
“It’s been going good,” Wells said. “It’s been a real smooth transition. It’s like a family environment. Things started a little slow. I was pretty shy at first (the first week).”
“He’s taken to it well; how we practice,” coach Nick Redwine said. “I don’t think we’ve stepped on any of his technique that he learned at Reed. He is really a hard worker. He’s only a sophomore, and he’ll keep getting better.”
Wells is hopeful of moving down to 152. He weighed in at 157 for the Manogue match, and Redwine said that is a good number for a 160-pounder.
Much could depend on Zach Bumby’s health at 145. Bumby suffered a hamstring injury recently, and he will miss the Tournament of Champions. If Darryll Heyward could get down to 145, Wells could be moved to 152.
“I definitely would like to be at the lower weight,” Wells said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to have a wrestle off soon.”
Redwine said moving down has been discussed, but nothing is concrete.
Macias, a valuable member for the Carson High football team the past two years, admitted he almost quit the team because of the volume of running.
“It’s a lot different than football,” Macias said. “There is a ton more running than football. The guys kept chipping away on me to stay, plus Carson needed a heavyweight. If I’d come out as a freshman, I would have been wrestling against Sheldon (Miller) all of the time, and I would be much better by now. It’s been going good, though.”
“He doesn’t like to run,” Redwine said, laughing. “I think he is going to do pretty well. He is still real green. He’s picking things up, and it seems like he’s getting better and better.”
As expected, Carson won easily thanks to five walkovers. Neither team fielded a 145-pounder, and Carson didn’t have a 132-pounder. Carson won five of the seven matches, all by pin.
The most entertaining match was at 182 pounds where Jesse Case locked up with Manogue football star Lincoln Hauck.
The match was scoreless through two periods, but Case got an escape to start the third period, and he eventually won by pin with 20 seconds left.
“He beat me last year,” Case. “That is not going to happen again.”
Kyle Rudy, coming off a championship in Winnemucca, led James Schoen 2-0 before recording a pin with 18 seconds left in the opening period. At 152, Heyward lost via injury default to Anthony Rosas.
Wells, Bryce Newhall and Case won by pin to give Carson a 24-12 lead.
Injuries have left the Senators a little short-handed entering the annual Reno Tournament of Champions Friday and Saturday at the Reno Event Center.
Eli Thomas (120), Mark Trost (132) and Bumby (145) will all miss the event, and Redwine isn’t sure whether he will replace any of the trio.
Redwine said Rudy and Case have the best chance of making it out of the first day, adding none of the Carson wrestlers will be seeded. Seedings are based on the previous year state finish as well as club wrestling tournaments.
“It’s a tough tournament,” Redwine said. “It is huge to make the second day. That is the goal of most of the guys.”
Damonte Ranch 42, Douglas 38
MINDEN — Damonte Ranch 126-pounder Ramon Alvarez-Martinez won the final match Wednesday night by a first-period fall to close out a 42-38 Sierra League dual meet victory against Douglas.
Damonte Ranch (2-0 league) won six of the last seven matches, including forfeits at 220 and 285 pounds, to rally from a 32-6 deficit against Douglas (1-1 league, 6-4 overall).
The Mustangs trailed when Alvarez-Martinez went out and pinned Max Smith in 41 seconds in the 126-pound match. Alvarez-Martinez was a fourth-place medalist at the region tournament in February.
Richie Garcia and Brice Bell won their respective 195- and 113-pound matches to set the stage for the final match.
Douglas opened with six wins in seven matches, four on pins and two by major decision. Andrew Williams and Shane Trivitt won their respective 132- and 138-pound bouts by fall and Byron Fair registered a 16-5 win at 145 pounds to give the Tigers an early 16-0 advantage.
Chris Merritt won his 160-pound match 16-6, then Chad Singer (170) and Blake Murray (182) followed with second-period pins.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Falcons edge Incline JV
INCLINE — Playing without Zane Warkentin and Bret Walker, Sierra Lutheran edged Incline’s JV squad, 62-58, on Wednesday.
Logan Schinzing scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Nathan Waite added 13 points, five steals and three assists, Lucas Bonafede had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Thomas Mellum had 10 points and four rebounds.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Carson JVs win
The Senators played Sierra Lutheran’s varsity, and came away with a 27-24 victory.
Aleyna Gilson led Sierra Lutheran with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Information on Carson High was not available.
