Columnist Spencer Patterson: Regional wrestling meets critical to state chances

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:14 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4085.

The 4A State Wrestling Tournament won't begin for another eight days, but area coaches know this weekend's Sunrise and Sunset regional meets will largely decide which teams contend for the 2002 state team title.

A top-five individual finish qualifies a wrestler for state, giving his team a potential point-scorer. Seeding will also play a critical role in securing a favorable draw when the best of Southern and Northern Nevada get together.

"This weekend puts you in position to win next weekend," said Joe LaRocco, coach of the defending state champion Las Vegas Wildcats. "Obviously, you want to qualify as many kids as you can. But if you win and get the No. 1 seed, you'll be against kids you should be able to beat in the first two rounds next week, so that's also important."

Green Valley and Bonanza high schools will play host to the Sunrise and Sunset events, respectively, with both starting Friday at 4 p.m., continuing Saturday at 10 a.m. and wrapping up with championsip finals Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

With eight No. 1 seeds in the 14 weight classes, LaRocco's Wildcat squad enters the Sunrise event as the overwhelming favorite. Even Rancho coach Chuck Diller, whose team is generally considered the region's No. 2 contender, concedes his Rams don't have the firepower to challenge the Wildcats.

"It's not going to be enough to stop Vegas," Diller said. "I think they win this hands down, or with two hands tied behind their back."

The Sunset meet promises to be more competitive, with Palo Verde, Centennial, Cimarron-Memorial, Bonanza, Durango and Western all in the mix for the team title. The Panthers emerged as the favorite last week, when they toppled then-undefeated Centennial 48-21.

"We've gotten better every year and we've built for this one," said Palo Verde coach Kris Davis, who brings six No. 1 seeds to the event. "Winning the division is just a stepping stone for us. We feel like we have a team that can do bigger and better things, and we think we have a possibility of getting all 13 (of our wrestlers) through."

Top individuals to watch in the Sunrise Region include: Las Vegas' Evan Ellsworth (160), Chris Gifford (171), Greg Gifford (189) and David Hales (215); Rancho's Brian Waite (119), Jered Medina (125) and Ronald Patron (275); Green Valley's Matt Conte (119) and Anthony Guadanga (145); Silverado's Robert Yurek (160), Eric Bird (152) and Jon Piron (189); and Basic's David Ochoa (112), Chris Gonzales (125) and Justin Rodriguez (135).

Among the top wrestlers in the Sunset Region: Palo Verde's Charles Torrens (135), Rusty Worthen (171) and Ryan Worthen (215); Centennial's Angelo Antuna (112) and Matt McGuire (145); Cimarron's Rodrick Atwood (189) and Chase Pami (140); Western's Jose Pineda (140) and Lionel Pope (152); Durango's Allen McIver (130) and Luke Doty (275); Bonanza's Ben Ness (135) and Cheyenne's Chris Davy (130).

Cimarron-Memorial's Joe Kemp, a 6-3, 235-pound tackle, signed with Southern Utah, joining Durango lineman Luke Doty and Chaparral safety Derek Niggemeier in the Thunderbirds' 2002 recruiting class.

Valley's Devin Conn, a 6-5, 250-pound tackle, will attend Northern State, a Division II school in South Dakota.

The defeat, which came in the same Nike Extravaganza event that also saw local participant Green Valley top California's Santa Margarita 53-50, was Oak Hill's first in nearly three full seasons.

In 2000, the Warriors bested Mater Dei 66-55 in the finale of that year's Holiday Prep Classic in a 1-vs.-3 national matchup.