2013-14 Wrestling Preseason Capsules
DIVISION I
ARBOR VIEW
Head coaches: Rustin Marchello, second season, and Andrew Tomaso, sixth season
Top wrestlers: Tyler Ramos (Jr.), John Vigil (Sr.), Westyn Hamilton (Jr.), Sergei Ireland (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies welcome back a pair of Sunset Region champions in Ramos, who likely will wrestle at 113 pounds, and Vigil, who likely will slot in at 126.
Hamilton (132) and Ireland (120) placed fourth in last year’s region meet.
BASIC
Head coach: Joe LaRocco, second season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top wrestlers: Jesse Plapp (Sr.), Jo Funaki (Sr.), Terrance Steinline (Sr.)
Outlook: Plapp, who probably will wrestle at 170 pounds, and Funaki (285) both were state qualifiers last season, and Steinline (220) placed fourth in the Sunrise Region tournament.
“Our team is improved,” LaRocco said.
CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Steven Wike, fifth season
Returning lettermen: 10
Top wrestlers: Hunter Brown (Jr.), London Thomas (Sr.), John Lessner (Jr.), Steven Young (Sr.)
Outlook: Brown, who was a state qualifier at 182 pounds last year, probably will wrestle at 195 and leads a list of 10 returnees.
Centennial also will be helped by the additions of London Thomas (state runnerup at 138 pounds at Cimarron last season) and Steven Young (third at 285 pounds in the Division III state meet with Spring Mountain).
“This is the youngest team that Centennial has had in three years,” Wike said. “I expect our young wrestlers to keep up a winning tradition here.
“We expect to continue to find new levels to ascend to as a program and definitely plan on having multiple wrestlers on the awards stands for regionals and state.”
CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coaches: Mike Garcia, 20th season, and Eugene Harris, second season
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top wrestlers: Angel Laurente (Sr.), Omeed Chamanzad (Sr.), Michael Barnson (Sr.), Paul Hammontree (Sr.), Logan Taylor (Sr.), Jesse Ramos (Sr.)
Outlook: Laurente, who likely will wrestle at 132 pounds, is a returning state champion, and Chamanzad (113) was a state runnerup last year.
Barnson (152) and Hammontree (160) both finished in the top four in the Sunset Region meet last year.
“The Spartans should be a bit better than last year, primarily because of the return of six seniors who are entering their third year on varsity,” Garcia said. “Several veteran underclassmen also return.”
DESERT OASIS
Head coach: John Wiseman, second season
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top wrestlers: Joseph Fuentez (Sr.), Melvin Cravin (Sr.), Hunter Amos (Sr.), Mario Fitzpatrick (Sr.), Gabriel Irenze (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks return nine lettermen and appear to be on the rise.
“Our team is led by five returning senior lettermen, and we have a good chance to send multiple wrestlers to state,” Wiseman said. “Our team goal is to finish toward the top of the region.”
GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Jon Ferry, 10th season
Returning lettermen: 14
Top wrestlers: Sean Cannon (Jr.), Josh Temple (Sr.), Jared Brathor (Sr.), Jeremiah Brewer (Sr.), Donovan Peek (Sr.)
Outlook: The target gets larger on the Gators’ backs this season.
Green Valley has won the last two state titles and brings back plenty of talent to make a third a real possibility.
Cannon, who will wrestle at 120 pounds, is a two-time individual state champion and high school All-American.
Temple (126) won a state title last year. Brathor (132) is a three-time state placer, and Peek (160) twice has been a state runnerup. Brewer (152) placed fourth in the state last year.
“We hope to fill spots in the lineup with capable freshmen and sophomores,” Ferry said. “We want to perform our best the last two tournaments of the season.”
LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Zach Hocker, second season
Returning lettermen: 24
Top wrestlers: Antonio Jauregui (Sr.), Jacob Littlefield (Jr.), Jesus Reyes (Sr.), Sergio Sanchez (Sr.), Jacob Anderson (Sr.), Daniel Perez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats annually have one of the top programs in Southern Nevada, and this year should be no different with 24 returnees in the fold.
“Our main goal is to produce hard-working individuals who have integrity and character,” Hocker said. “If we do that, victory is sure to follow.”
LEGACY
Head coach: Maurice Hernandez, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top wrestlers: Michael Salinas (Jr.), Kyler Atkinson (Sr.), Josh Phillips (Sr.)
Outlook: The future looks brighter for the Longhorns, who have a pair of state qualifiers returning in Salinar (106 pounds) and Phillips (195).
“With nine returning lettermen and two state qualifiers, we hope to improve this year and produce a few state champs,” Hernandez said.
LIBERTY
Head coach: Billy Love, second season
Returning lettermen: Seven
Top wrestlers: Storm Roper (Jr.), Tevin Ricci (Sr.), Michael Martinez (Jr.), Connor Watanabe (Sr.), Zack Balden (Sr.), Jaylon Bates (Jr.)
Outlook: The Patriots are coming off a strong season that saw them finish second in the Sunrise Region after going 43-1 in duals.
Roper, who likely will wrestle at 145 pounds placed third in the state meet, and Watanabe (170) took fourth in the state meet.
“We expect our upperclassmen to use their experience from last year to lead our team,” Love said. “If we are going to be successful, we also will need sophomores Adam Knowpow, Jimmy Morimoto and Jeremy Cedillo to step up and fill holes from the seniors we lost.
“Our goal is to qualify as many wrestlers as we can for the state tournament and compete for a region and state championship.”
PALO VERDE
Head coach: Scott Nemchek, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top wrestlers: Josh Pine (So.), Billy Bigelow (Jr.), Kayden Pierson (Sr.)
Outlook: Pine, who likely will wrestle at 138 pounds, and Bigelow (152) each placed fourth in the state meet last season and lead a list of six returnees that also includes state qualifier Pierson (145).
“The team should be much improved and ready to contend for the region title,” Nemchek said.
SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Gus Gledhill, sixth season
Returning lettermen: 16
Top wrestlers: Juztis Yamane (Sr.), Jonah McKee (Sr.), Brayden Triliegi (Sr.), John Scarpati (Jr.), Elvin Cruz (Sr.), Xavier Flores (Sr.), Tra Forrest (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs return six state qualifiers.
Among those are Sunset Region champion Scarpati, who likely will wrestle at 170 pounds, and region runnerup Triliegi (160).
“We just hope to compete against the Green Valleys, Cimarron-Memorials and Arbor Views of the world,” Gledhill said. “Hopefully we can contend for a regional and state title.”
SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Fred Meyer, 10th season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Eduardo Penha (Sr.); Silvano Villanueva (Sr.); D’Angelo Cook (Sr.); Enzo Perez (Sr.); Dan Diaz (Jr.)
Outlook: Meyer said the Grizzlies are focusing on tournaments this season and hoping to have the top wrestlers ready at the end of the season.
Penha was third at state last season at 126 pounds, but is expected to wrestle at 138 this season.Villanueva (285) was fourth at state last season.
“We have some wrestlers who should compete at a high level in February,” Meyer said. “We want to get them placing among the top three at Primm during the state tournament.”
VALLEY
Head coach: Rick Castaneda, first season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top wrestlers: Joseph Aguilar (Sr.), Andres Calvillo (Sr.)
Outlook: Castaneda takes over a team that is hungry for success, though short on experience.
“We are a new and young team with a great deal of potential,” Castaneda said. “This will be a rebuilding year, and we will continue to show improvement.”
DIVISION I-A
BOULDER CITY
Head coaches: Kevin Ruth and Jim Cox
Top wrestlers: Thomas Prach (Sr.), Nelson Van Diest (Jr.), Colin Fox (Jr.), Jackson Dunagun (Sr.), Facio Gomez (Sr.), Jcob Jurgshat (Jr.), Tyler Rushworth (So.)
Outlook: The Eagles return two state placers and five state qualifiers as they look for success in Division I-A.
“This should be a great year,” Cox said.
CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Bruce Pierce, second season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Miguel Guerra (Jr.)
Outlook: Guerra, who likely will wrestle at 126 pounds, was a state qualifier last year and leads a list of eight returnees.
“The outlook is bright,” Pierce said. “After eight years of no state qualifiers, Chaparral had two athletes qualify last year.
“The team has several veterans who should step in and provide leadership.”
CLARK
Head coach: Hunter Weller, 11th season
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top wrestlers: Michael Hervis (Sr.), Edwin Centeno (Sr.), Paul Menard (Sr.), Alex Floyd (Sr.), Nate Tate (Sr.), Nick Yeh (Sr.)
Outlook: The Chargers have a solid group of returnees, including six wrestlers who all placed in the top six in the region meet.
Hervis, who likely will wrestle at 195 pounds, was fourth in the state meet last year.
“We look to keep building on last year’s successes,” Weller said.
DESERT PINES
Head coach: Joseph Stelletello, second season
Returning lettermen: Seven
Top wrestlers: Ramon Verduzco (Sr.), Eglin Praslin-Orozco (Sr.), Allan Isaguirre (Sr.)
Outlook: Isaguirre, who likely will wrestle at 182 pounds, and Praslin-Orozco (113) both won Southern Region titles and finished third in the state meet last year, and Verduzco (132) was a state qualifier.
“We want to continually improve the team and its wrestlers,” Stelletello said.
FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Tim Jeffries, second season
Returning lettermen: 11
Top wrestlers: Trent Dolby (Sr.), Owen Lawrie (Jr.)
Outlook: Dolby, who will probably wrestle at 138 pounds, won the Southern Region title and was fourth in the state meet last year.
He leads a list of 11 returnees for the Crusaders, who also picked up Lawrie, a state runnerup at Bishop Gorman two years ago.
“It’s the most experienced roster we’ve had in recent years,” Jeffries said. “Our expectation is to win the Southern Region.”
WESTERN
Head coach: Mark Seglin, fourth season
Returning lettermen: 10
Top wrestlers: Erik Gonzalez (Sr.), Daniel Zalaya (Sr), Alex Richardson (Jr.), Andrew Solis (Sr.), Luis Lopez (So.)
Outlook: Gonzalez, who likely will wrestle at 112 pounds, won a Southern Region title last year, and leads five returning regional placers for the Warriors.
“Fielding our largest number of returning wrestlers in my four years as Western’s head coach, we expect to not only have a full varsity lineup, but to compete for a regional title,” Seglin said.
DIVISION IV
PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Head coach: Brad Loveday, 17th season
Returning lettermen: Seven
Top wrestlers: Jeremy Minick (Jr.), Chandlar Palmer (Jr.), Austin Horrocks (Jr.), Oscar Heredia (So.), Mateo Linares (So.)
Outlook: The Panthers never seem to get any older, but continue to get better.
Minnick, who likely will wrestle at 138 pounds, was a state runnerup last year, and Palmer (220) was a Southern Region champion.
Horrocks (182), Heredia (126) and Linares (195) all placed in the top four in the region meet.
“We still have no seniors, but we will work hard and be very competitive,” Loveday said.
