Preps: Gators’ Lichtenstein exudes confidence as he prepares for state championships

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 11:13 a.m.

No sooner did Luke Lichtenstein step off the mat at last year's Nevada State Wrestling Championships than the Green Valley 162-pounder began dreaming about this year's tournament.

After falling, 10-6, to Las Vegas' Eddie Gifford in the 1998 finals, Lichtenstein made it his goal not only to get back to the championship, but also to win it this time around.

And to do that, Lichtenstein knew exactly what was required: more emphasis on conditioning.

"I knew I needed to be in better shape this year than ever," said Lichtenstein, a senior in his fourth year on the Gators' varsity.

As it turned out, Lichtenstein's plan fit in perfectly with first-year varsity coach Carl Brum's system, which relies heavily on physical conditioning.

"Conditioning is about 75 percent of a match," Brum said. "By the end of the second period, that's why a good wrestler really starts to dominate."

Certainly, Lichtenstein has been a top-notch wrestler since his freshman year, when he posted a 19-11 record with 14 pins.

Staying at 145 for his sophomore campaign, he racked up a 39-11 record, along with a fourth-place zone finish and a trip to state. And as a 160-pound junior, Lichtenstein went 41-9, placing second at both zone and state.

But it wasn't until this year, with the dream of capturing a state title driving him, that the 18-year-old began to dominate the way he knew he could.

"A lot of times, a kid will win a state championship before his senior year and get a big head," Lichtenstein said. "That didn't happen for me. I think about winning state every day when I'm working out. It plays a big part in my work ethic."

Besides practicing his techniques and lifting weights, Lichtenstein has been running like never before, so much so that he suffered a foot injury prior to last week's 4A Southern Zone tournament.

Nevertheless, he cruised through the bracket, running his season record to 40-2 with four decisive wins, one by pin and two others by major decision.

"When he steps on the mat, he's pretty intense," Brum said. "And he listens to you, and that's what makes him even better."

"I love the competition, I love the workouts," Lichtenstein said. "I'm confident in what I've learned, and if you're confident when you go out on the mat, that makes a huge difference."

Friday and Saturday in Elko, Lichtenstein will find out whether all of the past year's hard work will pay off the way he hopes. And while he has yet to lose to a 160-pounder from Nevada, he's not taking anything for granted.

And should one of his opponents prove better? Lichtenstein insists it won't ruin his high school wrestling experience.

"If I go up there and win a state championship, it will be like a closing chapter," said Lichtenstein, who hopes to wrestle in college. "But I'm not going to let one match devastate my whole wrestling career."