Grappler waiting to return to mat after NIAA rules keep him on sidelines

By Sean Ammerman (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008 | 6 a.m.

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

After transferring to East Career and Technical Academy, former Bishop Gorman state champion Napoleon Aniciete continues his training with the Las Vegas High wrestling team while waiting for his year of ineligibility to pass. Previously wrestling at 112 pounds, Aniciete currently trains at 125 pounds due to his rigorous weight-lifting regiment.

As Las Vegas High's wrestling team has cruised through most of its dual meets, one of its best wrestlers has humbly faced his role as a spectator.

Sophomore Napoleon Aniciete, a state champion for Bishop Gorman last season at 103 pounds, cannot take the mat in a high school competition until next year because of his transfer from the private school.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, the governing body in Nevada that sets eligibility rules for high school sports, requires varsity athletes to sit out 180 school days following their transfer.

Aniciete said it has taken awhile to get used to a year without wrestling competitively.

"I went to our first dual meet and then it really hit me," said Aniciete, who is allowed to practice with Las Vegas High. "It took awhile for me to realize I would have to sit out until next year."

While the association's rule is meant to deter schools from recruiting students, it affects all athletes equally, whether they switch to a private or public school.

Aniciete transferred from Bishop Gorman because of his family's financial situation.

His father, Joe Aniciete, who said he missed months at his United Parcel Service job of work after two surgeries, brought a hardship appeal to the association, but it was to no avail.

The association's rules defines a hardship as an extenuating circumstance beyond the control of the student and his or her family.

Association Executive Director Eddie Bonine, who reviewed Aniciete's case, said appeals were once granted to more families with financial difficulties, but some were abusing the rulings.

"The bottom line is if you send your child to a private school and tuition goes up, that's the risk you have to take," Bonine said.

While Napoleon Aniciete is disappointed about the season, he has remained positive about his future in the sport.

After winning state, he spent his summer wrestling in national tournaments such as USA Wrestling's Western Regionals, where he took first in the collegiate style division.

Bishop Gorman coach John Field doubts the season away from the sport will affect his college potential.

"I don't think it will hurt his chances of being looked at by colleges," Field said. "He will keep wrestling in the summer. It's not as bad as had it been his junior or senior year."

Napoleon Aniciete trains every day at Las Vegas, where he grew up wrestling in the high school's youth program.

While zoned for Las Vegas, he attends nearby East Career and Technical Academy, where he had a 4.2 weighted grade point average on his last report card. The academy does not have sports teams, so like all students who attend the school, Aniciete competes at the public school he is zoned for.

"It's like coming back home wrestling here," he said. "I have been wrestling with some of these guys since I was 8. I'm really close to these kids."

Without a title to work toward, he has been working with other wrestlers near his 125-pound weight to help them get them ready for their tournament.

Las Vegas coach Aric Thomas said Napoleon Aniciete has been a valuable asset in the wrestling room and has took to training hard with De'Armon Hall, the 119-pounder he beat last season for the state title.

"He's the ideal practice partner," Thomas said. "Sometimes guys in practice don't really go their hardest, but Napoleon does because those are his matches."

Las Vegas, the eight-time Sunrise Region champions, will also be home to his eighth-grade brother, Alex.

But losing the opportunity to win four consecutive state titles was a blow.

"I was trying to get four in a row, but that's alright," Napoleon Aniciete said. "This will just make me that much more hungry for next year."

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or sean.ammerman@hbcpub.com.