Post by Alumni on Feb 2, 2007 9:59:36 GMT -5
SCOTT OXARART
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
4A Regional Wrestling
WHEN: Today and Saturday
TIME: Competition begins today at 4 p.m. and continues Saturday at 10 a.m. The championships matches begin at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Hug High
TICKETS: $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children under 8 and fans over 62 are free.
For a high school wrestler, the next couple weeks are the culmination of everything they have been working toward.
Practicing almost every day, these students battled in league play, tournaments and practice to get to this point.
Keeping their weight, staying focused both in school and in preparation make the days heading into the Northern 4A Region Wrestling Tournament today and Saturday the most anticipated part of the season.
"That's what they've been striving for all year," Douglas High wrestling coach Lamont McCann said. "I mean that's what we push them for in the beginning of the season to qualify for the state championship. My kids have worked really hard throughout the season and it's going to be a dogfight."
About 200 wrestlers will flood the Hug High School gym this weekend taking to the mat their dreams of eventually becoming a state champion.
But to get to the Class 4A State Championships, they must succeed through the tournament-style bracket.
"It's going to be a battle," said Douglas senior Ryan Pruitt, the No. 1 seed in the 152-pound division. "I get real nervous this part of the season."
McCann said that Carson, Damonte Ranch and Douglas all figure to be contenders this weekend in the Sierra League regional and Fallon, Galena and Spanish Springs in the High Desert League regional.
Carson, Damonte Ranch and Douglas all have three wrestlers competing in No. 1 seed slots at various weights.
"On any given Saturday, any three of us can win," McCann said. "We have all beaten each other and we tied for the league championship, all three of us. It could go either way this Saturday."
Damonte Ranch, Douglas and Carson rank second, third and fourth in the latest Sierra Nevada Sports Media Poll with Fallon ranking first and Galena and Spanish Springs in fifth and sixth, respectively.
"We have some solid kids, but I don't know if we have enough to get the title," Galena coach Jade Alvarado said. "It's pretty exciting. A lot of the kids know they can do well, individually speaking."
Fallon has historically dominated in the High Desert League with 37 consecutive wins after completing a 6-0 conference season.
But Fallon's success has been less extensive as the Green Wave lost to Douglas earlier in the season and split with Carson.
Carson finished the regular season winning its last four duels over in-state opponents, and finished second or better in its last four tournaments, winning three of them.
Douglas has won its last five duals against in-state foes and Damonte Ranch was 23-4 overall.
Damonte Ranch coach Kevin Carter likes what his young team has done this year but doesn't consider his team to be the favorite.
"You have to look at Carson, Fallon and Douglas to be the favorites," he said. "The team that comes ready to rumble, ready to go is going to have the best chance to win."
But with the regular season over, some coaches are throwing out all regular season success.
"It's all about who is going to show up," McCann said. "Our kids are training really hard. They stepped up the intensity. But you never know."
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
4A Regional Wrestling
WHEN: Today and Saturday
TIME: Competition begins today at 4 p.m. and continues Saturday at 10 a.m. The championships matches begin at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Hug High
TICKETS: $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children under 8 and fans over 62 are free.
For a high school wrestler, the next couple weeks are the culmination of everything they have been working toward.
Practicing almost every day, these students battled in league play, tournaments and practice to get to this point.
Keeping their weight, staying focused both in school and in preparation make the days heading into the Northern 4A Region Wrestling Tournament today and Saturday the most anticipated part of the season.
"That's what they've been striving for all year," Douglas High wrestling coach Lamont McCann said. "I mean that's what we push them for in the beginning of the season to qualify for the state championship. My kids have worked really hard throughout the season and it's going to be a dogfight."
About 200 wrestlers will flood the Hug High School gym this weekend taking to the mat their dreams of eventually becoming a state champion.
But to get to the Class 4A State Championships, they must succeed through the tournament-style bracket.
"It's going to be a battle," said Douglas senior Ryan Pruitt, the No. 1 seed in the 152-pound division. "I get real nervous this part of the season."
McCann said that Carson, Damonte Ranch and Douglas all figure to be contenders this weekend in the Sierra League regional and Fallon, Galena and Spanish Springs in the High Desert League regional.
Carson, Damonte Ranch and Douglas all have three wrestlers competing in No. 1 seed slots at various weights.
"On any given Saturday, any three of us can win," McCann said. "We have all beaten each other and we tied for the league championship, all three of us. It could go either way this Saturday."
Damonte Ranch, Douglas and Carson rank second, third and fourth in the latest Sierra Nevada Sports Media Poll with Fallon ranking first and Galena and Spanish Springs in fifth and sixth, respectively.
"We have some solid kids, but I don't know if we have enough to get the title," Galena coach Jade Alvarado said. "It's pretty exciting. A lot of the kids know they can do well, individually speaking."
Fallon has historically dominated in the High Desert League with 37 consecutive wins after completing a 6-0 conference season.
But Fallon's success has been less extensive as the Green Wave lost to Douglas earlier in the season and split with Carson.
Carson finished the regular season winning its last four duels over in-state opponents, and finished second or better in its last four tournaments, winning three of them.
Douglas has won its last five duals against in-state foes and Damonte Ranch was 23-4 overall.
Damonte Ranch coach Kevin Carter likes what his young team has done this year but doesn't consider his team to be the favorite.
"You have to look at Carson, Fallon and Douglas to be the favorites," he said. "The team that comes ready to rumble, ready to go is going to have the best chance to win."
But with the regular season over, some coaches are throwing out all regular season success.
"It's all about who is going to show up," McCann said. "Our kids are training really hard. They stepped up the intensity. But you never know."