Prep Roundup: Carson High wrestlers down Wooster on senior night

Nothing better than a victory on Senior Night.

The Senators, thanks to six forfeit victories, gained a share of the Sierra League championship with an easy 60-15 win over Wooster on Wednesday night at Morse Burley Gym.

Carson improved to 4-0 with just next Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Douglas remaining on the schedule. Carson has lost just one regular-season dual-meet since the 2003 season, and that was to Damonte Ranch.

“I thought we wrestled well,” Carson coach Nick Redwine said. “The emotions were high because it was Senior Night. Most of the guys fed off each other. I’m really happy with the way we’re wrestling right now.”

The most exciting match of the night came at 120 pounds, as Damien Branco rallied from an 8-0 deficit to record a third-period pin. It was an impressive comeback to say the least. Branco was wrestling up a weight class.

Branco trailed 5-0 after one period, and then gave up a three-point near fall to trail 8-0. Branco got a reversal and a three-point near fall at the tail end of the second period. It appeared he should have had a pin at that point thanks to a leg ride and cross face, but didn’t get the call. He rode that momentum into a pin 25 seconds into the final period.

“He has been frustrated,” Redwine said. “He only weighs 111, and he is giving up a lot of weight (and strength) to these guys. I told him the loser of the wrestle-off (with Luis Mayoral) was going up to 120 tonight.

“The one thing about Branco is that he never stops working out there. If he keeps wrestling like he did tonight, he’s going to win more matches.”

Branco was downright giddy at the end of the meet.

“I didn’t want to get pinned,” he said. “Everybody was yelling at me to get out of bounds (in the first period). I got the reversal (in the second period) I knew he wasn’t a very good wrestler on the bottom.”

Carson also got pins from Kyle Rudy (138), Mayoral (113) and Alex Wells (152).

Carson is scheduled to compete at the Albany Invitational, but impending bad weather may keep the Senators at home.

Redwine said he didn’t want the team to have to travel in snowy weather. He said the rest could be beneficial, though he also said that he would prefer the kids wrestle.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Falcons blow out Coleville

COLEVILLE — Sierra Lutheran’s defense stepped up from the outset, and three players reached double figures in the Falcons’ 61-22 victory in a Northern Division I game Wednesday night.

“The boys played great on the defensive end tonight,” coach Ben Walther said. “I was extremely pleased with our teamwork and unselfish play on the offensive end. Great effort by the boys tonight.”

The Falcons led 27-8 after one quarter and 43-12 at the half. Coleville never managed more than eight points in a quarter.

Luke Bonafede led the scoring with 19 followed by Logan Schinzing and Thomas Mellum with 10 each. Kyman Berger chipped in nine points to go along with five rebounds and four steals. Schinzing also had a team-best five steals.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coleville drubs Falcons

Coleville outscored the Falcons in every quarter en route to a 43-17 win Wednesday night in a Northern 1A game.

Aleyna Gilson led the Falcons with 11 points and four rebounds. Taylor Davison added three assists, three steals and four rebounds.

“Coleville is much improved team from last year,” SLHS coach Michael Nelson said. “We had a game plan and they adjusted to it. Kudos to Coleville.”