Dedication to the weight room stressed at Las Vegas

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

High school coaches in the area might not want to hear this.

Las Vegas High, one of Southern Nevada’s most dominant teams, has played at a disadvantage the last couple seasons. According to coach Chris Faircloth, the Wildcats were not nearly as strong as they should have been.

That’s changed heading into the 2009 season.

“I thought we were very complacent with our progress in the weight room in the past,” Faircloth said. “We’re far stronger than we’ve been in the last few years.”

Keep in mind Las Vegas has won the last six Sunrise Regional titles and has made the state semifinals the last two years.

Still, the Wildcats had few weaknesses. Now, Faircloth says Las Vegas has even fewer — he re-vamped their offseason workout program to make sure of it.

Everyone who wanted to play for Las Vegas had standards they had to meet in the weight room. Those standards included squatting at least 300 pounds and bench-pressing at least 225 pounds. If a player fails to reach one of the marks, he will not be allowed to play.

“It’s been established before, but coach Faircloth didn’t really enforce it. He just put it out there,” senior linebacker David Prieto said. “But this year, he’s enforcing that if you don’t make standards, you don’t play football at Las Vegas High School.”

The intensity of the offseason program reflects Las Vegas’ attitude to start the season. The Wildcats are hungry.

They have not forgotten their 42-21 loss to Palo Verde in the state semifinals that ended their season last November.

“This year, we’re on a mission and we are not going to let anyone get in the way of that,” junior receiver Marquan Major said. “The last two years have gone the same — Las Vegas loses in the semifinals. The seniors are irritated with it and I’m irritated with it.”

If the Wildcats plan to advance further this season, they will have to do it with a younger team. Las Vegas returns six starters on offense and only four on defense.

Faircloth said at least four sophomores would be promoted to starting roles. That includes quarterback Hassaan Henderson, a blossoming athlete who can both pass and run.

“It doesn’t sound real good, but it might be really good before it’s all over,” Faircloth said. “If they’re able to mature and not self-implode, this could be one of those teams that is very good by the end.”

Faircloth believes a strong group of leaders can help Las Vegas get there. The Wildcats can lean on senior linemen Austin Woo and Dallin Van Buskirk, both part of the Sun’s preseason team.

Defensively, senior Trey McElhaney is one of the Valley’s best defensive linemen. And Faircloth says Prieto is basically a coach on the field.

“He’s a great leader as far as the kind of kid you want,” Faircloth said. “He can run practice without the coaches there. He knows exactly what we want.”

Major is a star who had 59 receptions for 742 yards his sophomore season. He expects to be even more productive this season. Like his teammates, Major said Las Vegas’ strenuous offseason was the reason for his confidence.

“I feel stronger. It gives me no fear,” Major said. “Not to say I had fear before, but now there’s no doubt.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at [email protected].