Column: Tradition could for Carson wrestlers at state championship

Carson High has been one of Nevada's traditional powers in wrestling over the years.

But while Carson's team success is well documented, the Senators have not had an individual state champion in wrestling since 1988. That could change this year.

Justin Sarnowski at 135 pounds and Doug Brooks at 140 pounds both have a legitimate shot at winning state titles this season. They'll begin their quest Saturday Carson Hosts the Capital Duals.

Sarnowski and Brooks were Northern Nevada champions last year and Sarnowski placed second at state a year ago.

"Both Doug and Justin have very, very good shots at winning state this year," Carson Coach Tim McCarthy said. "Those two kids will be our best shots since I've been here."

Carson placed fifth in Northern Nevada and seventh at state last year. But despite returning five seniors, McCarthy admitted that his team will be hard pressed to match last year's finish this season.

"At this point we're certainly not as good as we have been in the past," McCarthy said. "We're looking to fill numerous weight classes with kids with little experience.

"I don't think we're going to be the door mat this year. But we're going to have to work awfully hard."

Other top wrestlers for Carson should include Pat Moore (112), Justin Laporte (145) and Jaxon Luhrs (152).

Carson will find out a great deal about itself in Saturday's 12-team tournament. The tournament, which will be divided into two pools, will begin at 9 a.m.

The top two teams from each pool should wrestle for the tournament title at about 5:30 p.m.

Even though Wooster's and McQueen's teams should be somewhat weakened because those two schools are playing for the state football title Saturday, there's still a strong field in Saturday's event.

There will be eight Northern Nevada schools, Davis, Livingston and Lassen from California and Eagle Point, Ore., which should be the team to beat, McCarthy said. Eagle Point will bring two wrestlers ranked No. 1 in Oregon. "They're definitely loaded," McCarthy said.

Eagle Point won last year's Sierra Nevada Classic. The Sierra Nevada Classic, one of the premiere high school wrestling events in the country will again be hosted by Reno High Dec. 28 and 29.

The event, which will feature 96 high schools from across the United States, will be held at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

The defending Northern Nevada champion, Galena, which placed second at state last year, will also compete Saturday. Among the top wrestlers for Galena are:

Michael Crooks (48-6, Northern Nevada champion, state finalist last year); Justin Ellmaker (fourth in Northern Nevada, state qualifier last year); Damian Rivadeneyra (33-10, third in Northern Nevada, state qualifier last year); and Chris Fritz (43-13, fifth in Northern Nevada last year).

Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail at appeal@swiftnews.com.