Valuable Bryce Newhall for Carson High School wrestling, says Darrell Moody

One of the big surprises on the Carson High wrestling team this year has been a slimmed-down Bryce Newhall.

Newhall, a senior, spent his junior season wrestling behind Abel Carter, who was third in the state at 195 pounds last season. It meant a lot of down time, and a lot of junior varsity matches.

Newhall has dropped more than 30 pounds in the past year, and his ability to get down to 160 has enabled Carson to keep Alex Wells at 152, Darryll Heyward to drop to 145 and insert David Remer at 170. The move has made Carson a better dual-meet squad.

The Carson junior said most of his weight loss was the result of his job at Walmart just as much as dieting. He played football for coach Blair Roman at 170 pounds, so he had to drop the last 10 pounds once wrestling started.

“I was pushing pallets all the way from the back of the store to the front of the store,” Newhall said after recording a pin in Carson’s 51-25 wrestling win over Damonte Ranch on Wednesday. “They weighed a lot.”

Between dieting, summer football and working, Newhall shed the pounds. He became healthier and stronger. He admitted it was tough to shed the last few pounds.

“Newhall is even better at 160,” Carson coach Nick Redwine said. “He is stronger, quicker and has more strength at 160. He is a big, strong 160-pounder.

“I don’t know that he learned a lot going against Abel. I think he probably learned more going up against Case and Remer last year. Nice to see him have some success this year.”

His strength has made up for any lack of technique. Wrestling is an evolving sport, and Newhall is learning on the job.

“I think I’ve done a really good job this year,” Newhall said. “I feel more confident than I did last year.”

Certainly that comes from being on the mat all the time, and having a lot of success.

“He (Newhall) has as good a chance as any (to make state),” Redwine said. “He is big and strong. He just needs to continue to work.”

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Carson, 3-0 in league, hosts Wooster next Friday and finishes up at Douglas the following Wednesday. One win means a share of the regular-season title, and a sweep means an outright title.

Following the Douglas match, Carson goes to Auburn for the Placer Tournament, and then its back at CHS for the 4A Regionals on Feb. 2-3. The top three finishers in each weight class advance to the state tournament on Feb. 9 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

After watching three dual meets and two tournaments, I truly believe Carson could get up to a half-dozen wrestler to state. The best chances are Kyle Rudy (138) and Jesse Case (182). Wells has been sidelined recently, but showed well at the Tournament of Champions. Newhall is a strong candidate as are heavyweight Brandon Macias and Remer.

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And, since we’re on the subject of wrestling, the NIAA needs to find a suitable site in the north. Personally, I like the Livestock & Events Center. It’s roomy and there’s plenty of room for mats in all three divisions.

Spanish Springs isn’t a suitable site UNLESS you wrestle the 4A on Saturday only and wrestle the other two divisions on Friday. Last year was a cluster with all three divisions going both days. There was little or no room to move around, and Spanish Springs has the biggest gym in the north.