State champ ‘Cats loaded with talent

Adam Candee

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

Five questions and answers about the upcoming wrestling season:

1. Is Las Vegas going to win a third consecutive 4A title?

The two-time defending 4A state champions will have some very stiff competition for their crown this season. The Wildcats, however, do return state champion Chris Gifford at 189 pounds, as well as football standout and two-year state placer David Hales at 215.

"I'm really happy with the group we have," Las Vegas coach Joe LaRocco said. "They're not as experienced, but the potential's there for a good team."

LaRocco is particularly happy to have Gifford, just a junior after two great seasons, back to lead the team.

"That doesn't happen all the time," LaRocco said of Gifford's quick success. "He's a pretty tough kid."

As a team, Las Vegas will have to contend with Rancho in the Sunrise, as well as a stacked Centennial squad in the Sunset. All of the top teams feature at least a handful of standout wrestlers, so it appears that the squads that can steal some wins from unexpected contributors will be in the best shape.

2. What will the new NIAA-backed weight management program mean this season?

The new system does not become mandatory until next season, but teams will have the option of testing it out in 2002-03. Basically, a test using a combination of weight and body fat percentage are used to determine a wrestler's minimum allowable weight for the entire season.

If it receives acceptance, the system will be a chore to execute for some teams, but it could help curb some of the weight-cutting problems seen at all levels of the sport.

That acceptance may have to be hard-fought from the top administrative levels, though. The grumblings from some coaches about the cumbersome testing process and perceived unnecessary burden are already growing louder each day.

3. Which are the city's best squads?

Besides Las Vegas and Centennial, Palo Verde and Cimarron-Memorial feature a number of top wrestlers. Competing in the stellar Northwest Division against Centennial and each other, those squads should be battle-tested by playoff time.

4. So who are the best wrestlers in the city?

On the Sunrise side, Gifford and Hales are definitely in there. Basic's Duane Gonzales is very strong at 103. Green Valley's Matt Conte and Eldorado's Luis Guzman will be contenders at 119. Rancho's Ronald Patron will be tough at heavyweight.

In the Sunset, Centennial's Angelo Antuna comes off a state title season at 112, and Palo Verde's Rusty Worthen is looking to keep up the family name, standing out at 171. At Cimarron, youngsters Chase Pami (140) and T.J. Geick (145) are contenders. Centennial's Matt McGuire will be strong at 152, and Palo Verde's Tyree Walton will be a standout at 125.

That's just a short list that could feature another dozen or so of the city's best.

5. What teams might sneak up on some people?

Rancho will be without a Medina for the first time in many years, but the Rams always feature a competitive team. Expect Green Valley to be in the hunt as well.