182-pounder Jesse Case has the upper hand on Rio Rancho's (New Mexico) Jared Hererra this season at the Tournament of Champions.
The wrestling postseason kicks off Friday with the NIAA 4A regional tournament at Carson High School.
The two-day event starts at 3:15 p.m., and on Saturday at 10 a.m. The finals are set to start at 3:30 p.m. The top three finishers in each weight class advance to the state tournament at the Orleans in Las Vegas on Feb. 9.
Carson High coach Nick Redwine said he’s fielding nearly an entire team. The only vacant weight class is at 126 where Johnny Perkins is being scratched because he had a couple of unexcused absences this week.
Other than Perkins, Carson’s lineup is pretty much the same as it’s been all season — Ariel Vega (106), Luis Mayoral (113), Damien Branco (120), Mark Trost (132), Kyle Rudy (138), Izayah Pando (145), Alex Wells (152), Bryce Newhall (160), David Remer (170), Jesse Case (182), Ty Evans (195), Gurjant Mand (220) and Brandon Macias (heavyweight).
Redwine is bringing four non-scoring wrestlers — Jeremy Heaton, Shane Parsley, Cole Ashton and Darryll Heyward. The latter started several matches at either 145 or 152, but has been sidelined recently because of illness.
“I’m hoping to finish in the top three as a team,” said Redwine, whose team finished third at last week’s Placer Duals. “If you put a gun to my head, I’d say that Rudy and Case have the best chance at making state.
“I think we could have as many as seven and as few as two. A lot depends on how the seeding goes down. I expect Case, Rudy and Remer to be in the finals.”
The seeding is based on win-loss records within your own league. The High Desert and Sierra leagues each have their own seeds. Case will be seeded No. 2 in the Sierra behind Blake Murray, and Rudy should be first or second at his weight.
Redwine believes Wells, Macias, Remer, Mayoral and Vega have a good opportunity to move on. According to Redwine, Trost is in the biggest bracket at 132s. There are 15 wrestlers scheduled.
“Mayoral and Vega are in tough brackets,” Redwine said. “Mark will have to wrestle a full tournament, and I know he can do that.”
Remer and Rudy are both a little banged up entering the event. Remer did some work on the mat on Wednesday, while Rudy worked off to the side. Remer got hurt before the Douglas dual, but he has made progress since then.
“We’re keeping Kyle out as a precaution,” Redwine said. “He doesn’t need the mat work. He can get away with just some cardio.”
