Carson wrestling wins tournament

The Carson High wrestling team had a flair for the dramatic in winning the Granada Mat Classic in Livermore, Calif., a tournament that featured many of Northern California’s top programs.

“It’s pretty good,” Carson coach Paul Carter said about the tournament. “You’ve got some pretty good wrestlers.”

Brady O’Keefe and Nolan Shine both won titles in the event and Brandon Basa and Brady Rivera were also impressive in taking second in the tournament.

Shine was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament after pulling out a thrilling win in the finals at 152 pounds. Shine trailed 4-3 when he scored a takedown with two seconds left in the match for a 5-4 win.

O’Keefe went 4-0 to win the title at 145.

Even more exciting than Shine’s final was Basa’s final at 113. The match was tied at 0-0 at the end of regulation, leading to two 30-second overimes. Basa scored a reversal to take a 2-0 lead after the first overtime, but his opponent scored a reversal in the second overtime to tie the score 2-2 and force a sudden death overtime in which each wrestler takes a turn on top with the chance to ride out his opponent or to score an escape. But Basa locked his hands when he began on top, so his opponent won the title.

“Probably the most exciting match of the entire tournament,” Carter said. “Very well wrestled match.”

Rivera gave the No. 2 ranked wrestler in California who won the Sierra Nevada Classic all he could handle before falling 6-4 in the 220 finals. Sheldon Miller also went 4-1 to take third at heavyweight and Conner Sievers placed sixth at 182. In addition, freshman Abel Carter had his best tournament of the year, going 3-2 at 160.

Other results for Carson included: 106 — Terin Keller, 2-2; 120 — Casey Stevens, 2-2; 126 — Spencer Rogers, 2-2; 132 — Nathan Mersino 2-2; and 170 — Kevin Rusler, 2-2.

“I’m very pleased with the way we wrestled,” said Carter, who added the dramatic matches were good preparation for the Northern Division I Championships. “Those are the kinds of matches were going to have at regionals.”