Three defending state champions are poised to declare Cimarron-Memorial the next …

Mike Sims

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 | 9:41 a.m.

Cimarron-Memorial is building a Nevada wrestling dynasty.

The Spartans are going for their third consecutive state wrestling title in 2005, and their fifth over the past seven years.

"We had a chance to win three in a row a few years ago and that didn't happen," coach Mike Garcia said. "So I don't want to jump ahead. It's still early, but you never know what is going to happen."

His competitors may appreciate the humility, but that doesn't mean they're buying it.

"Cimarron is the team to beat," Green Valley coach John Ferry said. "They don't just have state champions, they have two- and three-time state champions."

Bonanza coach Russ Leet agreed.

"Cimarron has so much experience with all those state champs coming back," Leet said. "They just have a huge advantage."

The Spartans return three state champions from last year's squad -- Randel Aleman, Chase Pami and Bobby Musser. Aleman and Pami have been tagged by local coaches as the best wrestlers in southern Nevada.

"Aleman's technique is flawless; he has a motor that just doesn't stop," Ferry said.

Las Vegas High coach Joe LaRocco said Pami would contend well with one of his top wrestlers, Nick Ruggiero.

"Pami is the top kid," LaRocco said. "I would like to see him and Ruggiero match up."

Aleman is 16-1 so far this season after moving up from the 112-pound class to 130. Pami is 15-0 this season and looking better with every match. Along with its three defending state champions, Cimarron expects growth from Jacob Atwood and Bryce Garcia. Atwood finished second and Garcia third at last year's state tournament.

Garcia is one of the top heavyweights in the state, starting the season 14-0.

"Things are going well for us," Mike Garcia said. "We have a loaded division. Palo Verde, Mojave, Cheyenne are all very tough teams."

Garcia said those three schools match up the best in the Sunset region. Las Vegas figures to be a tough match out of the Sunrise region.

"Cimarron is the obvious favorite, but the dark horse is Las Vegas," Shadow Ridge coach Jeff Hobbs said.

Hobbs thinks the Wildcats are one of the teams that will give Cimarron some trouble capturing its third state crown. Vegas won back-to-back state titles in 2001 and 2002.

"We had a good team, but we lost a few guys last year," LaRocco said.

The Wildcats are led by Ruggiero (16-0 this season) and Ryan Duke (15-1). Ruggiero was a state runner-up last year.

Vegas is trying to capture its fifth consecutive regional title, but LaRocco isn't looking that far ahead.

"We have a tough region to get through first with Green Valley and Rancho, but we have a good shot at winning it," LaRocco said.

The Gators might be tough, but Ferry said Vegas remains tops in the east.

"Las Vegas is the team to beat in our region," Ferry said. "We would like to catch them this year -- that is our goal."

Green Valley won the Southeast Division last year and its coach is hoping for more this season.

"We are top- and bottom-heavy. We have a lot of sophomores and seniors on this team," Ferry said. "It's a good combination."

Green Valley returns Boe Trujillo, who took fourth at state a year ago.

"We have a really young team, but there are three to five guys that stand out on our roster," Leet said of his Bengals. "Our young team will help us in the future."

Four new teams will also compete this year. Bishop Gorman is reviving its program that was put on hiatus for the last seven years, and new schools Canyon Springs, Del Sol, and Spring Valley enter the fray.

Spring Valley has a chance to compete with the top teams in its division with wrestlers Joe Nolan, Sam Winstead, and Cameron McFadden.