Preps: Postseason starts Friday

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998 | 12:08 p.m.

The winter prep postseason officially kicks off tomorrow, with the start of the two-day Southern 4A Zone Wrestling Tournament at Cimarron-Memorial High School.

Sixteen athletes will compete in each weight class in the multi-elimination event, with the top six finishers advancing to next weekend's state championships at Elko High School.

Seedings for the zone tournament were officially determined at a meeting Wednesday night, and to no one's surprise, Sunset Division champion Cimarron will lead the charge with nine top seeds.

Along with defending state champions Kendall Thacker (152 pounds) and Joe Parry (215), Spartans Jason McMahon (112), Sam Corso (119), Rayes Gonzales (125), Chris Harris (135), Curtis Atwood (145), Justin Ellenbecker (171) and Markus Streicher (189) will all enter the event as the favorites from the Sunset.

On the other side of the draw, Sunrise champion Silverado tops the heap with five number one seeds, with runner-up Green Valley close behind with three.

Clash of Cleats

The top area girls soccer teams will also begin their playoff drive this weekend, with four first-round Southern 4A Zone Tournament games slated for Saturday at Green Valley.

Top-seeded Gorman (17-1-0) and Green Valley (19-2-1)--champions of the Sunset and Sunrise Divisions, respectively--appear to be headed on a collision course for the championship game. But don't tell that to the Gators, who were upset in the first round of last year's zone tourney by Silverado.

"Everybody in the city is talking about Gorman versus Green Valley, but there are going to be some obstacles," Gaels' coach Victor Arbelaez said. "Hopefully, we'll meet in the final.

On paper, the most interesting first round matchup looks to be Basic against Bonanza. The Wildcats went 2-0-1 to close the season and earn the school's first-ever playoff berth, while the Bengals' only lost three league games, two to Gorman.

Gatorade bath

A pair of local soccer standouts--Basic's Tino Diaz and Bishop Gorman's Amber Woodward--have been named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Nevada Players of the Year.

The two were chosen for their performances on the field and in the classroom, and will join players from every other state for the prestigious honor.

Diaz, a senior and the Wolves' captain for the past two seasons, served as Basic's starting center-midfielder for three years. Among the team leaders in goals and assists throughout his stellar career, Diaz earned the squad's MVP award twice and All-Sunrise Division kudos three times.

"He has a lot going for him, athletically, academically and as a person," Basic coach Tamathy Larnerd said. "He's a born leader, he has a true vision of the field and he could play the last minute as hard as he played the first minute."

Diaz is currently deciding between several colleges, with Stanford and the Air Force Academy at the top of his list.

Woodward, a sophomore forward for a Gaels' club that just finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 league record, has scored a team-high 18 goals and racked up 10 assists this winter.

"She's very talented," Arbelaez said. "She has good speed, and she can play with both feet. She probably could have scored between 30-40 goals this season, but she's not selfish."

2A Wrestling

Several area athletes advanced to the upcoming 2A League State Wrestling Championship with strong outings in last weekend's 2A League, Division II Tournament.

Seven wrestlers from The Meadows finished among the event's top four, led by Ben Meoz, who placed second behind only Lincoln County's Roy Pratt at 145 pounds.

Other Mustangs earning berths to the state tourney were: Jeremy Vaughn (third at 103), Chris Kissner (fourth at 135), Justin Vaughn (third at 171), George Newbury (third at 189) and Josh Nasstun (fourth at 275).

Spring Mountain's Rich Brewer (third at 215) and Manuel Casas (fourth at 112) also made the grade, while Faith Lutheran's Steven Smith will represent his school this weekend after coming in fourth at 215 pounds.

The 2A tournament will be held Saturday in Laughlin beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Legionares prepare

Teams planning to participate in this year's 9th Nevada Youth Baseball Association/American Legion Baseball Season need to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Desert Inn. For more information, call 731-3446.

Give us a call

To make a prep notebook contribution, coaches are encouraged to contact SUN prep editor Spencer Patterson at 259-4085.