Columnist Nick Christensen: Spartans surprise themselves at national wrestling tourney

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.

Nick Christensen covers high school athletics for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at nick.christensen@lasvegassun.com.

Cimarron-Memorial High School's wrestling team has consistently been the South's wrestling power, winning four of the six most recent state championships and well on its way to a fifth title this year.

Still, even coach Mike Garcia was surprised by the outcome of last month's edition of the Spartans' annual trip to Reno's Tournament of Champions.

The Spartans finished 10th as a team in the event that bills itself as the "Toughest Tournament in the USA," behind eight nationally ranked teams and ahead of two.

"It was the first time we've been in the top 10, so we're pretty happy," Garcia said.

Leading the Spartans were Bobby Musser, who took second place at 160 pounds; Chase Pami, who finished in third at 145 pounds; and Gabe Suarez, who finished in fourth at 119 pounds.

The Grizzlies are 5-1-1 to start the year, 3-1-1 in league play and are leading the Southwest Division standings. With only 14 girls on the varsity squad, and no seniors, Spring Valley has even surprised coach Bill Hamilton.

But it's been the play of goalkeeper Sarah Blank that's shined, as she's been in goal for four shutouts this year.

"She's really trying to improve every day in practice," Hamilton said of Blank, a freshman. "The team rallies around her strengths and her weaknesses, they work really well with her."

Spring Valley hosts Western on Wednesday.

The state basketball tournaments will be at the Orleans Arena in late February. The three 4A region winners are guaranteed slots, with the Sunset and Sunrise runners-up competing in a play-in game before the tournament starts.

If the Sunset runner-up wins, it will play the Sunrise winner in the state semifinal and the Sunset winner will play the Northern champ in the other state semifinal. If the Sunrise runner-up wins the play-in game, it will play the Sunset winner and the Northern champion will play the Sunrise winner.

As for the smaller schools, the top two teams from each of 1A, 2A and 3A regions will advance to their state semifinals.

Girls' soccer teams will play in mid-February for the southern half of the state title, after Galena won the northern state title in November. The top two teams from the Sunrise and Sunset regions will play for the other 4A title at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex.

As for wrestling, the top three placers from each of the three 4A regions qualify for the state tournament, which starts Feb. 11 at Winnemucca. For 3A, the top five from the North and three from the South advance, and in 2A, it's an even four-four split.