Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.
Las Vegas coach Joe LaRocco surveys the Nevada wrestling landscape this year an notices something conspicuously missing from it: A clear-cut favorite.
For the first time in recent memory, LaRocco feels that any of at least seven or eight teams are legitimate contenders for the 4A State Wrestling Championship, which got under way this morning in Reno and concludes Saturday night.
"It's going to be pretty wide open," LaRocco said. "A lot of teams are going to bump each other off."
Coaches point to Northwest Division entries Centennial and Cimarron-Memorial as favorites from the South, although Las Vegas and Rancho will also be in the mix. The wild card, of course, is the North because few have had the chance to see those wrestlers since early in the season.
"I think Fallon's got the best shot to win it," Rancho coach Chuck Diller said.
Acoording to coaches, a handful of local grapplers are considered safe bets to at least place, and possibly win individual state crowns in their weight classes. Among that group are Green Valley's Travis Meikle (103), Centennial's Angelo Antuna (125), Green Valley's undefeated Matt Conte (135), Palo Verde's Tyree Walton (140), Centennial's Soren Peterson (160), Foothill's John Ripley (171), Las Vegas' Chris Gifford (189) and Rancho's Ronald Patrum (275).
All of those wrestlers took either the Sunrise or the Sunset region crown in their weight class last weekend, but many will face strong challenges from the North.
"They have a lot of good wrestlers, although I don't know how they're going to do team-wise," LaRocco said.
The top five placers in each weight class in both regions qualified for state. Las Vegas and Cimarron-Memorial claimed the Sunrise and Sunset Region team titles, respectively.
Coaches from the South have more to worry about than just the action on the mats this weekend. Inherent in the long bus ride to Reno and the overnight stay before competition is the fact that these are kids 17-under.
"Traveling is always a factor," Diller said. "The problem that comes with kids is the maturity level. Once they get up there, are they going to be serious enough to go to sleep, or are they going to be hob-nobbing with their friends?"
LaRocco hopes for the best in the situation.
"Hopefully, they're not going to be taken in by their surroundings," LaRocco said.
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