Post by Alumni on Feb 11, 2007 2:59:40 GMT -5
Powers-Williams final could be key
By ROBERT PEREA
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL
SPARKS -- Reggie Powers and Zach Williams have been on a collision course since last February.
That's why it's only fitting that the most anticipated match of the season will take place in the finals of the Class 4A state wrestling championships tonight at Spanish Springs High School.
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Powers, a junior at Mojave, and Williams, a senior at Las Vegas, will tangle in the 189-pound championship match, and the winner could help his team unseat four-time defending state champion Cimarron-Memorial.
Through the first two rounds Friday, Mojave leads with 85 points. Cimarron is second with 72 1/2, followed by Las Vegas with 68.
All three teams have four wrestlers in the finals. The team title hopes also will hinge heavily on which team can score more points in the consolation bracket, which will begin today at 9 a.m. The championship finals will begin at 6:30 p.m.
No finals match, however, has been as anticipated as the one between Powers and Williams.
With a 60-0 record and 55 pins, Powers has gone unbeaten since losing in the semifinals of last year's state meet -- to Williams.
"This kid I'm going to face in the finals beat me last year and made me place third, and I get to face him again," Powers said. "I've been looking forward to this all year. Not to get revenge, but to be successful at what I do."
Said Williams, who took second last year after winning a decision over Powers: "It's going to be a dogfight. I'm going to be putting everything on the line, and I'm sure he is, too."
On Friday, Powers reached the finals by pinning Scott Gettings of Reno in 1:30 and Garret Muro of Basic in 1:34.
Williams matched Powers with pins over Trey McEhaney of Mojave in 4:15 and Sean Molina of Douglas in 3:38.
"It's way better that we're meeting in the finals," said Williams, 31-3. "This match has been real built up."
Powers said he's surprised at how dominant he has been this season.
"I'm very hard to score on," he said. "It gets me angry, so I don't let anybody score on me."
Powers is not the only undefeated Southern Nevada wrestler seeking a state title.
Green Valley senior Edgar Hernandez (61-0) cruised to the 125-pound final against Mojave's Tolin Garcia by pinning Ryan Willaman of Wooster in 3:12 and Robbie Bozin of Carson in 1:30.
Hernandez was a state runner-up last season.
"Last year was my motivation, my dedication," Hernandez said. "I didn't say I was the best, but I wanted to beat the best."
The South dominated the first day, with 20 of the 28 finalists.
Along with Powers and Garcia, Mojave's Jake Evans (112) and Colby Evans (135) reached the finals.
Williams will be joined in the finals by the Wildcats' Fermin Carrillo (130), Jarell Price (140) and Zach Hocker (171).
The defending champion Spartans will send Britain Longmire (103), Nicholas Harris (135), Chazz Mitchell (171) and Neil Spencer (heavyweight) to the finals.
