Post by Alumni on Feb 11, 2007 23:36:10 GMT -5
By RYAN HOPE - Sports Writer
Saturday, February 10, 2007 10:56 AM PST
SPARKS — There are few sure things in sports, but the Spring Creek wrestling team is a pretty good bet to win its fourth consecutive 3A state title.
The Spartans finished an impressive first day of competition Friday at Spanish Springs High with a comfortable 33-point cushion over second-place Virgin Valley. Six Spring Creek wrestlers advanced to today’s finals (the most of any 3A team) and there are nine other grapplers ready to contribute in the consolation bracket.
“That was pretty good for us,” said Spring Creek coach Wade Pehrson with a confident grin on his face. “Our middle-of-the-road guys did a good job today. They’ll help us out tomorrow. Tomorrow we need to get a bunch of wins in the consolations.”
Being in a position to win a state title is not new territory for the Spartans. But having such a commanding lead so early is. Spring Creek finished competition Friday with 109 team points and Virgin Valley had 76. The next three teams are all within six points of the Bulldogs — Yerington (75), Lowry (72) and Pahrump Valley (70).
Six of the seven Spartans who wrestled in the semifinals advanced, two more than the number Spring Creek qualified for the finals last season. In fact, six is the most Spring Creek has ever had wrestle for a state title in a single season.
Nick Wooden (119), Bryar Saddoris (140), Trinity Perkins (145) and Kamas Wing (171) were all top seeds in their respective weight classes and advanced to the finals. Josh David (125) and Tyler Collins (215) had a tougher road, but still managed to get there as well.
So, is there any reason why Spring Creek shouldn’t be hoisting the championship trophy at the conclusion of the tournament today?
“Things should go all right,” Pehrson said. “If we show up and do our job, we should be all right. Having six in is double what everybody else has. I don’t think we’ve ever had that many. We’ve always had four. This time we got six in.”
In addition to the six Spartans, Wells’ Marc Morrison will wrestle for a 2A-1A state title at 215 pounds after going 2-0 Friday.
Wooden, David, Saddoris and Perkins stayed true to their pre-tournament goals of pinning their way through the meet. Wooden pinned Incline’s Shawn Finchman in the first round and Virgin Valley’s Parley Leavitt with four seconds remaining in the second. Saddoris took care of Sparks’ Chris Johnson in the first period and Pahrump Valley’s Anderson Floyd in the second, while Perkins pinned Truckee’s Nick Krasensky in the second and Moapa Valley’s Ken Riggins just 17 seconds into the match. David pinned Pahrump Valley’s Mike Evans in the first and Boulder City’s Allen Haines in the third.
Wing and Collins each had a pin and a second match that went the duration.
Ironically, Wooden, Perkins and Wing all will face the same grappler they defeated a week ago at the divisional meet. David and Collins get a chance to avenge their losses from the divisional finals against the same grappler.
Dustin Greener was the surprise of the day, as he pinned Virgin Valley’s Colton Crandall in the third period of the opening round at 103. Crandall was seeded higher than Greener, but didn’t advance.
Spring Creek’s Colby Porter (112), Sam Andersen (119), Chris Greener (130), Alex Baker (135), Richard Rasmussen (160), Austin Baker (189), Kenny Miller (215) and Andrew Nash (285) all lost their first match and will compete in the consolation bracket today.
In 2A-1A, Carlin’s Todd Jensen (160) and Independence’s Nicholas Brown (145) and Stacey Randolph (285) joined Morrison in the semifinals, but lost.
Owyhee’s Bobby Bottomley (112) and Tyrill Knight (189), Carlin’s Trevor Hughes (130), Wells’ Clayton Souza (152) and Independence’s Devontae Davis (103) and Ahkeen Price (140) all went 0-1 Friday.
Battle Mountain has a commanding lead in 2A-1A with 108 team points. Laughlin is second with 58, West Wendover is fourth with 53, Wells is 11th with 18, Independence is 14th with 8, Carlin has 3.5 and is 17th and Owyhee is 20th with no points.
Wrestling resumes at 9 a.m. today with consolation matches and the finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 10, 2007 10:56 AM PST
SPARKS — There are few sure things in sports, but the Spring Creek wrestling team is a pretty good bet to win its fourth consecutive 3A state title.
The Spartans finished an impressive first day of competition Friday at Spanish Springs High with a comfortable 33-point cushion over second-place Virgin Valley. Six Spring Creek wrestlers advanced to today’s finals (the most of any 3A team) and there are nine other grapplers ready to contribute in the consolation bracket.
“That was pretty good for us,” said Spring Creek coach Wade Pehrson with a confident grin on his face. “Our middle-of-the-road guys did a good job today. They’ll help us out tomorrow. Tomorrow we need to get a bunch of wins in the consolations.”
Being in a position to win a state title is not new territory for the Spartans. But having such a commanding lead so early is. Spring Creek finished competition Friday with 109 team points and Virgin Valley had 76. The next three teams are all within six points of the Bulldogs — Yerington (75), Lowry (72) and Pahrump Valley (70).
Six of the seven Spartans who wrestled in the semifinals advanced, two more than the number Spring Creek qualified for the finals last season. In fact, six is the most Spring Creek has ever had wrestle for a state title in a single season.
Nick Wooden (119), Bryar Saddoris (140), Trinity Perkins (145) and Kamas Wing (171) were all top seeds in their respective weight classes and advanced to the finals. Josh David (125) and Tyler Collins (215) had a tougher road, but still managed to get there as well.
So, is there any reason why Spring Creek shouldn’t be hoisting the championship trophy at the conclusion of the tournament today?
“Things should go all right,” Pehrson said. “If we show up and do our job, we should be all right. Having six in is double what everybody else has. I don’t think we’ve ever had that many. We’ve always had four. This time we got six in.”
In addition to the six Spartans, Wells’ Marc Morrison will wrestle for a 2A-1A state title at 215 pounds after going 2-0 Friday.
Wooden, David, Saddoris and Perkins stayed true to their pre-tournament goals of pinning their way through the meet. Wooden pinned Incline’s Shawn Finchman in the first round and Virgin Valley’s Parley Leavitt with four seconds remaining in the second. Saddoris took care of Sparks’ Chris Johnson in the first period and Pahrump Valley’s Anderson Floyd in the second, while Perkins pinned Truckee’s Nick Krasensky in the second and Moapa Valley’s Ken Riggins just 17 seconds into the match. David pinned Pahrump Valley’s Mike Evans in the first and Boulder City’s Allen Haines in the third.
Wing and Collins each had a pin and a second match that went the duration.
Ironically, Wooden, Perkins and Wing all will face the same grappler they defeated a week ago at the divisional meet. David and Collins get a chance to avenge their losses from the divisional finals against the same grappler.
Dustin Greener was the surprise of the day, as he pinned Virgin Valley’s Colton Crandall in the third period of the opening round at 103. Crandall was seeded higher than Greener, but didn’t advance.
Spring Creek’s Colby Porter (112), Sam Andersen (119), Chris Greener (130), Alex Baker (135), Richard Rasmussen (160), Austin Baker (189), Kenny Miller (215) and Andrew Nash (285) all lost their first match and will compete in the consolation bracket today.
In 2A-1A, Carlin’s Todd Jensen (160) and Independence’s Nicholas Brown (145) and Stacey Randolph (285) joined Morrison in the semifinals, but lost.
Owyhee’s Bobby Bottomley (112) and Tyrill Knight (189), Carlin’s Trevor Hughes (130), Wells’ Clayton Souza (152) and Independence’s Devontae Davis (103) and Ahkeen Price (140) all went 0-1 Friday.
Battle Mountain has a commanding lead in 2A-1A with 108 team points. Laughlin is second with 58, West Wendover is fourth with 53, Wells is 11th with 18, Independence is 14th with 8, Carlin has 3.5 and is 17th and Owyhee is 20th with no points.
Wrestling resumes at 9 a.m. today with consolation matches and the finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.