Columnist Spencer Patterson: Wildcats favored to win another wrestling crown

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Sun. He can be reached at 259-4085 or at spencer@lasvegassun.com.

Don't let Las Vegas High's fifth-place finish in last weekend's 16-team Sierra Vista Duals fool you. The defending 4A state wrestling champs are still the favorite to claim the title again this season.

With several of the squad's top performers still making the transition from the football field to the wrestling mat, the Wildcats uncharacteristically dropped decisions to Utah schools Millard and Bingham in the Sierra Vista event, after losing only once all season a year ago.

But area coaches insist Southern Nevada's oldest school, which captured the 4A state football championship earlier this month, is likely to add another trophy to its case in February.

"They're still the team to beat, and the pressure should be on them," Centennial coach Mike McGuire said. "But there are four or five teams that will be trying to chase them at regionals and state."

Though it graduated a pair of state finalists from last year's team, Las Vegas returns a formidable nucleus, most notably senior 189-pounder Greg Gifford, an unbeaten state champion at 171 pounds last season, and younger brother Chris Gifford, a 171-pounder who placed second at 160 pounds a year ago.

Also back are junior 215-pounder David Hales, a third-place finisher at 189 pounds, and senior 160-pounder Evan Ellsworth, who placed second at 152 pounds, along with seniors Russell Duke and Lawrence Lopez, a pair of state qualifiers.

Wildcats coach Joe LaRocco warns, however, that his squad still has work to do before it can be considered the front-runner.

"I don't see us as an overwhelming favorite. I think there are two or three teams as good as us right now," LaRocco said. "In some ways, it was good we didn't win the dual meet. It shows them we have things to work for."

Las Vegas, which is 7-2 overall, has holes at 112 pounds and heavyweight, though LaRocco said he expects to fill the lattter sometime soon.

The Wildcats also have a significant advantage because they reside in the Sunrise Region. Most of their top challengers will battle it out in the deeper Sunset and Northern regions, meaning Las Vegas will likely bring more athletes to the state tournament, thereby increasing its chances of accumulating points.

Top contenders include Palo Verde, Centennial, Western and Bonanza and Elko.

Individual wrestlers to watch this year include: Basic's David Ochoa, Green Valley's Matt Conte, Rancho's Jered Medina and Brian Waite, Bonanza's Ben Ness, Durango's Luke Doty and Alan McIver, Western's Jose Pineda, Centennial's Angelo Antuna, Cheyenne's Matt Bilyeu, Cimarron-Memorial's Rodrick Atwood and Palo Verde's Ryan Worthen. All finished in the top five in their weight classes at last year's state tournament.

Centennial returns nearly all of last year's lineup, including all-conference players Ashli Kimenker and Nickie Olson, two of Southern Nevada's most lethal scorers. Rachel Gordon has made her presence felt with three goals.

Other area schools expected to compete for the 2001 championship include Chaparral, which will try to add a girls crown to last month's boys state title, along with Silverado, Green Valley, Eldorado, Palo Verde and Gorman.