Carson High wrestling has high hopes for season

The goals — and their order during the season — never change for the Carson High wrestling team. First comes the effort to win the Sierra League title, which Carson has done eight of the last nine years.

After that goal is hopefully accomplished, then comes the effort to qualify as many wrestlers as possible for state at the Northern 4A Championships. Then after doing that, the Senators hope to be the last team standing as regional champions.

Those three goals and their order never change for CHS and head coach Nick Redwine, who’s entering his second season leading the Senators.

Carson returns two wrestlers from last year who qualified for state in David Remer, who won the regional title last year, and Alex Wells, who finished third at regionals.

Redwine said Remer is primed for another outstanding season. “David really is our best wrestler,” Redwine said. “He really has a great shot to win regionals again and capable of a state title. He’s spent a lot of time in the summer wrestling and lifting weights. I think he’s going to have a really great year.”

Redwine said Remer will begin the season at 195 but will eventually drop down to 182. He added Wells will begin at 160 but should drop down to 152.

“He’s got kind of a goofy style that messes with guys when he wrestles them,” said Redwine about Wells.

Carson has two other wrestlers returning who nearly qualified for state last year in freshmen Ariel Vega at 106 and Luis Mayoral at 120.

Redwine said it looks like his team won’t be able to fill the 113 and 138 weight classes during the season. He did say there could be a chance those weight classes could be filled for regionals.

So Redwine said his team should be a strong tournament squad by not as strong of a dual meet club. But Carson obviously still has the goal of winning the league dual meet title.

“Our first goal every year is to win our league,” Redwine said. “We’re definitely who everybody’s chasing.”

But Redwine said winning league could be tougher than ever. He said Damonte Ranch looks again to be Carson’s strong challenger. But he added Galena looks stronger this year, Manogue always has its share of strong wrestlers and the match against the Senators’ arch rival Douglas should be tough as well.

As far as the other weight classes, Redwine said 126 is up on the air. Max Harris, a sophomore transfer from Idaho, looks strong at 132, Redwine said.

Redwine described 145 as up in the air as well. There are several wrestlers who should be competing for a spot at 160 including Isaiah Pando and sophomores Thomas Legott and Gabriel Madera. Redwine said he’s looking at several freshmen who may be given a shot at wrestling at the varsity level as well.

Senior Cole Ashton will begin at 182 but should drop down to 171 once Remer drops down to 182. But once Remer drops down to 182, Carson will also have to find a wrestler to fill 195 as well.

At 220 is Ridge Williard, who Redwine said has looked good as well. There are four wrestlers battling for the heavyweight spot led by Brown De’Anjico, who wrestled for Durango, and Connor McLeary. Redwine said McLeary has judo skills and has done a good job transferring those skills to the wrestling mat.

Carson finished third as a team last year at regionals behind champion Spanish Springs and McQueen. “We’re always within shouting distance,” said Redwine about Spanish Springs. “I’m hoping this year we’re going to give them a little bit more of a run for their money.”

Carson opens the season Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Fallon Tournament. The Senators will also compete in the high level Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno.

Redwine said the plan is also for his top wrestlers to compete in one of the nation’s top tournaments, the Tournament of Champions in Reno, while other wrestlers will compete at the Douglas Tournament the same weekend.