MOODY: Carson wrestlers have a nice winter

The winter sports season for Carson High officially ended on Saturday with the 4A state wrestling tournament.

Carson's wrestling program experienced a tremendous amount of success over the past few months, winning a league and regional title, and qualifying eight wrestlers for this past weekend's state meet at UNLV.

Nico Garcia became the 16th state champion, according to Carson High wrestling media guide. Garcia won 4-3 on Saturday to grab the 182-pound title

It was a bittersweet year for Carson basketball. The girls finished 15-12 and reached the semifinals after a disastrous start. The future looks pretty good because the JV and freshman squads lost just a combined seven games overall. The girls return Maddi Saarem, Cameron Sievers, Savannah Smith, Elena Thurman and Megan Barrette. Among the younger players who played major roles on their teams were Gina Peacock, Natali Salas, Kayla Aikins and Skye Simpson from the JV team and Maddie Preston and Michelle Perry from the freshman squad.

It was a tough season for Carlos Mendeguia's squad. The Senators went 3-13 in league play thanks to wins over Manogue and Galena the last week of the season. Ineligibility claimed two key starters, and for much of the season the Senators had trouble scoring points.

Mendeguia returns nine players next season - Rafe King, Matt Nolan, Chris Lopez, Logan Krupp, Charlie Banfield, Sage Smith, Bruce McIntosh, Kyle Denning and Austin Shaffer.

In King and Nolan, the Senators will have one of the best backcourts in the league. King was one of the most prolific scorers in the northern part of the state this year, and if he can manage to get better at creating his own shot and defending, the sky will be the limit.

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Did you get a look at Iona's gym, not arena, gym on Saturday afternoon during the Sears Bracketbusters game against Nevada?

Lawlor Event Center is an arena. Haas Pavilion is an arena. Pauley Pavilion is an arena. The Pit at the University of New Mexico is an arena. Iona may have a good basketball program, but their gym is in sore need of an upgrade. It's not an impressive facility by any means, barely better than some of the good high school gyms in Nevada.

The place didn't have the rollout baskets you are used to seeing at college and pro arenas. These hung from the ceiling. Total bush league.

And speaking of bush league, how many college arenas have you seen where the entrance and exits are so close to the floor?

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Lisa Yamamoto and Moriah Lane spent the last two seasons playing together for Scott Vickrey's Carson Senators.

The two may face off on March 3rd when Lane's Lewis & Clark squad goes up against Linfield College where Yamamoto is a freshman first baseman. Lane i expected to play first for her new school.

Lane's season starts today with a doubleheader.