Post by Alumni on Feb 2, 2007 9:56:55 GMT -5
Las Vegas puts streak on line
Wildcats have won six straight regional crowns
By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas High has dominated the Sunrise Regional, winning the last six wrestling titles.
The Wildcats look strong again after winning the Northeast Division, but even the team's coaches don't know what to expect when the regional begins Friday at Liberty High School.
"We've got a full lineup for pretty much the first time all year between injuries and football," said Las Vegas coach Zac Dray, who had several wrestlers get a late start after the football team's season stretched into December.
"No one has seen us at full strength yet, including the coaches. We're very anxious to find out just how far we can take this group of kids."
Wrestling will begin at 4 p.m. Friday. The tournament will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday, with championship matches scheduled for 6 p.m. The top three in each weight class will advance to the state tournament Feb. 9 and 10 in Sparks.
The Sunset Regional will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at Sierra Vista High School. It will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday, and championship matches are set for 6 p.m. The top three in each weight class will advance to state.
The Wildcats return seven wrestlers who placed in the top four at last year's regional tournament and two who were in the top four at state. Jarell Price (140), Zach Hocker (171) and Zack Williams (189) each will look to retain their regional titles.
The team will need similar production to hold off strong teams from Green Valley and Basic.
"Our most important thing is just getting the kids to the point where they're wrestling their best right now, and the rest will take care of itself," Dray said. "We know if we wrestle our best, we're going to be tough to beat."
Southeast Division champ Green Valley looks like the toughest competition for Las Vegas.
The Gators, led by 125-pounder Edgar Hernandez (55-0), fully expect to contend for the title.
"We have to have that mind-set going in, or else we won't place at all," Green Valley coach Jon Ferry said. "Our kids are prepared, and we know we have the opportunity to win the tournament. We have to do our job and maybe get some help from other teams in the region."
Hernandez and Mike Speroni each won regional crowns last year and placed in the top four at state. Ferry said Hernandez's success is a motivational tool for others on the team.
"His toughest competition up to this point has been in our own wrestling room," Ferry said. "There's kids that want what he has. For some of them, that's their regional tournament or state tournament -- getting after him and taking him down.
"I tell our team that there's nobody that's been able to beat him up to this point, but kids in our own room can."
The Sunset Regional looks like a matchup of the area's most dominant teams.
Defending Sunset champion Mojave hasn't lost a dual match to a Nevada school in the last two seasons, but the Rattlers know postseason meets can be a different story.
Four-time defending state champion Cimarron-Memorial lost to the Rattlers during the season last year and in the regional, only to defeat them at state.
"We beat them in a dual and beat them in other tournaments, but when it counted, they came through," Mojave coach Bill Murray said. "They've got experienced coaches over there that know how to get the most out of their kids. That's our driving force -- knowing that Cimarron's going to be pushing to get the most out of their kids."
The Rattlers return 11 wrestlers who placed in the top four at last year's regional tournament, including four champions.
Seven of them placed in the top four at state. Reggie Powers (53-0 at 189) will lead the way, along with returning regional champs Jake Evans, Colby Evans and Alex Proffitt.
Murray said the team isn't focused on winning the regional but rather to give the team the best possible chance at a state title.
"Right now, our main focus is qualifying as many kids as we can to go to the state tournament," Murray said. "If that happens, everything else will fall into place."
Cimarron returns five wrestlers who were in the top five at last year's regional, including defending 215-pound champ Anthony Morales.
Wildcats have won six straight regional crowns
By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas High has dominated the Sunrise Regional, winning the last six wrestling titles.
The Wildcats look strong again after winning the Northeast Division, but even the team's coaches don't know what to expect when the regional begins Friday at Liberty High School.
"We've got a full lineup for pretty much the first time all year between injuries and football," said Las Vegas coach Zac Dray, who had several wrestlers get a late start after the football team's season stretched into December.
"No one has seen us at full strength yet, including the coaches. We're very anxious to find out just how far we can take this group of kids."
Wrestling will begin at 4 p.m. Friday. The tournament will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday, with championship matches scheduled for 6 p.m. The top three in each weight class will advance to the state tournament Feb. 9 and 10 in Sparks.
The Sunset Regional will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at Sierra Vista High School. It will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday, and championship matches are set for 6 p.m. The top three in each weight class will advance to state.
The Wildcats return seven wrestlers who placed in the top four at last year's regional tournament and two who were in the top four at state. Jarell Price (140), Zach Hocker (171) and Zack Williams (189) each will look to retain their regional titles.
The team will need similar production to hold off strong teams from Green Valley and Basic.
"Our most important thing is just getting the kids to the point where they're wrestling their best right now, and the rest will take care of itself," Dray said. "We know if we wrestle our best, we're going to be tough to beat."
Southeast Division champ Green Valley looks like the toughest competition for Las Vegas.
The Gators, led by 125-pounder Edgar Hernandez (55-0), fully expect to contend for the title.
"We have to have that mind-set going in, or else we won't place at all," Green Valley coach Jon Ferry said. "Our kids are prepared, and we know we have the opportunity to win the tournament. We have to do our job and maybe get some help from other teams in the region."
Hernandez and Mike Speroni each won regional crowns last year and placed in the top four at state. Ferry said Hernandez's success is a motivational tool for others on the team.
"His toughest competition up to this point has been in our own wrestling room," Ferry said. "There's kids that want what he has. For some of them, that's their regional tournament or state tournament -- getting after him and taking him down.
"I tell our team that there's nobody that's been able to beat him up to this point, but kids in our own room can."
The Sunset Regional looks like a matchup of the area's most dominant teams.
Defending Sunset champion Mojave hasn't lost a dual match to a Nevada school in the last two seasons, but the Rattlers know postseason meets can be a different story.
Four-time defending state champion Cimarron-Memorial lost to the Rattlers during the season last year and in the regional, only to defeat them at state.
"We beat them in a dual and beat them in other tournaments, but when it counted, they came through," Mojave coach Bill Murray said. "They've got experienced coaches over there that know how to get the most out of their kids. That's our driving force -- knowing that Cimarron's going to be pushing to get the most out of their kids."
The Rattlers return 11 wrestlers who placed in the top four at last year's regional tournament, including four champions.
Seven of them placed in the top four at state. Reggie Powers (53-0 at 189) will lead the way, along with returning regional champs Jake Evans, Colby Evans and Alex Proffitt.
Murray said the team isn't focused on winning the regional but rather to give the team the best possible chance at a state title.
"Right now, our main focus is qualifying as many kids as we can to go to the state tournament," Murray said. "If that happens, everything else will fall into place."
Cimarron returns five wrestlers who were in the top five at last year's regional, including defending 215-pound champ Anthony Morales.