Baumgardner has become a marked man

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 9:32 a.m.

Where: Centennial High School When: Today and Saturday; matches begin at 3:30 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m. Saturday; championship finals scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday

What's at stake: Zone titles in 14 weight classes, along with four berths to next week's state tournament in each weight class

Prices: Students $3, adults $5, children under 8 and seniors 62 and over free

When Green Valley's Bret Baumgardner moved from suburban Chicago to Southern Nevada before his sophomore year, he enjoyed anonymity on the wrestling mat for the first time in his life.

"When I was in kids wrestling at 6-14 years old, kids were gunning for me and were always psyched to wrestle me," recalled Baumgardner, an excellent wrestler from an early age. "When I moved here, it really wasn't an issue. They didn't know who I was."

Three years later, that has certainly changed. With both zone and state titles on his resume, Baumgardner has become a marked man again.

"Everyone is shooting for him; they're all looking to knock him down," said Gators coach Mark Schumm. "When he walks into a room, people know about him. That's a lot for a kid to carry on his shoulders."

As he prepares for his final run through Nevada's postseason tournaments, the senior welcomes that challenge. He understands that as a favorite in the 112-pound weight class, life won't be easy for him in this weekend's 4A Southern Zone Tournament at Centennial High.

"I feel like I'm taking all the preparation I should right now," Baumgardner said. "I'm at the height of my physical fitness for the season."

Though he certainly hopes to capture a zone title this weekend, Baumgardner's primary objective is securing one of four berths to next week's 4A State Tournament. And once there, he hopes to erase memories of a loss that still haunts him.

Two years ago, as a relatively unknown newcomer, Baumgardner shocked the field at the state tournament, capturing the 103-pound crown with a stunning upset of Douglas' Bud Nollet in the final.

Last season, a second state championship appeared to be in the cards for the Gator junior, who breezed through the regular season and zone tournament. But in the 103-pound state final, Baumgardner fell to Las Vegas' Ricardo Osorio -- a wrestler he had beaten just one week earlier at zones.

"It was one of those matches where I was ahead of him the whole time and he caught me on one move, one mistake," Baumgardner said. "That made it even worse."

With that defeat pushing him, Baumgardner vowed to get back to the state title round as a senior, this time in the more difficult 112-pound division.

"(Losing) was a huge letdown," Baumgardner said. "This preseason and this season, I had that in the back of my mind that I had something to prove."

Agreed Schumm: "He doesn't take any loss lightly, but that one was more devastating. He wants another state championship under his belt."

To accomplish that goal, Baumgardner will likely need to avenge another of his rare losses. Though the Gator comes into zones with an impressive 28-4 record, he relishes the opportunity to face Rancho's Chase Diller, one of the four wrestlers to beat him this season.

Because they are on opposite sides of the draw, Baumgardner and Diller (27-0) wouldn't see each other unless both reach Saturday's final. But win or lose, Baumgardner hopes he has the chance to face his chief competition this weekend.

"I'll probably meet him at least once, either at zone or state, so I want to feel him out and see what it's going to be like before I see him at state," Baumgardner said. "I've beaten him probably three times over the years, but he's a lot more aggressive now, a lot more physical and a lot more dominant."