Owen sticks in opponents 'Craugh'

Owen Craugh won the title at 112 pounds to lead a strong effort for the Carson High wrestling team at the Las Vegas Tournament on Saturday.

Robbie Bozin also nearly won a crown at 125 for Carson before settling for second. Two other Senator wrestlers placed as Travis Lamborn (160) and Kyle Banko (130) both took fourth.

In the team standings, Carson finished 13th with 176.5 points and fifth among Nevada schools. The Senators finished behind Palo Verde (218.5, third), Las Vegas (212.5, fifth), Fallon (186.5, 10th) and Green Valley (185.5, 11th). Sultana, Calif., won with 322 points.

Four-time defendings state champion Cimarron-Memorial and Mojave weren't at the event. Carson's finish was impressive considering it had only 11 wrestlers as it did not have any competitors at 171, 215 and heavyweight. "They wrestled really well," Carson coach Tyson Thivierge said.

Craugh went 6-0, beating Ryan Giovenco of North Torrance, Calif., in the finals. Bozin went 5-1, losing to Palo Verde's Glen Terrano 3-2 in the finals.

"Owen had a great tournament," Thivierge said. "He was just on fire. This was the Owen I was waiting to see. He took it to everybody he wrestled. Robbie wrestled great."

Banko won his quarterfinal match to advance to the semifinals before losing in the semifinals. He won his next match to make it to the third-place match where he lost, setting for fourth and finishing 5-2.

Lamborn lost in the quarterfinals, but came back to win three matches before losing in the third place match to settle for fourth and finish 6-2.

Thivierge said Lamborn was wrestling hurt with an abdominal strain and will have the injury evaluated on Monday.

"He did a great job," Thivierge said. "It was obviously a factor the way he wrestled this weekend."

Carson had three other wrestlers alive on Saturday. Todd Banko (119) advanced to the quarterfinals, but lost by injury default.

Thivierge said Banko injured his elbow and will have it evaluated on Monday. "Hopefully nothing to serious," Thivierge said. "Hopefully everything's all right."

Martin Azzam (145) lost his only match on Saturday and finished 3-2. Derek Giurlani also lost his only match on Saturday.

The Senators are next scheduled to host North Valleys on Wednesday. Carson was also scheduled to compete in the Reno Tournament of Champions on Thursday and Friday at the Reno Livestock Event Center, but tournament director Ross Aguiar said the Senators didn't meet the entry deadline.

Aguiar said Douglas failed to meet the entry deadline as well. He said it's disappointing that both schools won't be competing, but added the entry deadline has to be adhered to. The TOC features top wrestlers from across the country.

Carson will have a chance to wrestle in the Sierra Nevada Classic on Dec. 27 and 28 at the Reno Livestock Event Center. The Sierra Nevada Classic features top wrestlers from across the Western United States.