2018-19 Wrestling Capsule Previews
(As submitted by coaches)
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ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Tyler Sutton, third season
Returning lettermen: Sixteen
Top wrestlers: J.J. Tuinei (Sr.), Matt Smith (Sr.), Peyton Prussin (Sr.)
Outlook: Tuinei, who again is expected to wrestle at 220 pounds, finished second in last year’s Class 4A state meet. Smith (285) is a two-time state qualifier, and Prussin (113) also has qualified for state.
They lead a group of 16 returning letter winners.
“Arbor View wrestling has once again set the goal of winning our regional tournament and state,” Sutton said. “We have several high-caliber returning wrestlers and have had an excellent turnout of talented new kids.
“The season is shaping up to be a good one for Arbor View.”
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CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Cameron Kovac
Top wrestlers: Oscar Pineda (Sr.); Khadin Stewart-Johnson (So.)
Outlook: Kovac is optimistic this season with nearly the entire roster returning.
“Canyon Springs is returning all but one varsity letter winner with a new freshman class to go with it,” Kovac said.
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Steven Wike, 10th season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top wrestlers: Ike Edwards (Sr.), Izaiah Ieremia (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs finished fifth in last year’s Class 4A state meet, but lost 11 seniors to graduation.
Edwards, who probably will wrestle at 195 pounds, finished fourth in the state at 160. Ieremia (285) narrowly missed a state berth, finishing fourth at 220 in the Sunset Region meet.
“We will bang heads with the Northwest Division’s best,” Wike said. “Cimarron and Shadow Ridge are stacked, and we plan on scrapping with them a few times. It is also interesting to see what will happen with Las Vegas being in our Region this year, they are always tough.
“We want to test our mettle against the best in the state and with our talent-rich region, there will be no shortage of those high-level matches.”
Wike said his team is young.
“Ike Edwards is a great senior leader and a four-year letterman, a three-year regional placer, and a two-year state qualifier,” Wike said. “Ike will be accompanied by seniors Elijah Chianese, Cody Coffman, Sammy Salazar and Jose Mendoza in leading a young and eager to grow group of guys like Jace Austin, Jaden Chianese, and Sam Norris.
“Picking up freshman Jenavi Alejandro to fill the 106-pound spot in our lineup is a blessing. This summer Jenavi Placed fifth at Fargo for cadet girls freestyle.”
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CHAPARRAL
co-Head coaches: Chad Orum and Bill Smales, fourth season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Jay-Ar Briones (Sr.), Marc Gonzalez (Sr.), Brian Hernandez (Sr.), Jalen Williams (Jr.), John Patriarca (Sr.), Jaylen Whitfield (Sr.)
Outlook: Williams, who probably will wrestle at 138 pounds, is a two-time state meet qualifier, and Briones (113 or 120), Gonzalez (132 or 138) and Hernandez (182) all wrestled in last year’s state meet.
They’re among eight returning lettermen for the Cowboys.
“Chaparral will return four state qualifiers and be led by our five returning seniors,” Smales said. “With the help of some talented underclassmen, we should put the best team Chaparral has had on the mat in the past decade.
“The Cowboys spent time in the offseason in camps and competing against teams from several states. We feel that we can compete with the top 3A teams and battle for a Sunrise and regional title.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Mike Garcia, 25th season
Returning lettermen: Ten
Top wrestlers: Daniel Rodriguez (Sr.), Nathaniel Rodrigues (Sr.), Amado Castellon (So.), Matthew Rodgers (Jr.), Adrian Alonso (Sr.)
Outlook: Coming off a Sunset Region championship and a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A state meet, the Spartans return 10 lettermen.
Daniel Rodriguez, who probably will wrestle at 152 pounds, finished third at 138 pounds in last year’s state meet and is hoping to be a four-time state qualifier. Nathaniel Rodriguez (138) was the state runner-up at 132 last year, and Castellon (145) finished second in the state at 145.
Cimarron also should get a boost from Rodgers (160 or 170), a transfer from Mojave where he placed third in the Class 3A state meet, and Alonso (220 or 285), a state qualifier at 220 last year.
“We expect to be a very good team by the end of the year,” Garcia said. “There is a good mix of newcomers and veterans that should provide a solid framework for development.
“We have definite leadership as well as work ethic. It should be a fun year.”
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Maurice Senters, second season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top wrestlers: Matthew Valenzuela (Sr.), Angel Greer (Sr.), Van Stanley (Sr.), Brian Juarez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Dragons bring back only two lettermen but hope to build the foundation for a strong program later this season and in the years to come.
“We are working on building a team that is committed to the sport of wrestling,” Senters said. “Still rebuilding the program at Del Sol, but I’m excited for the athletes we do have. They have been putting in the work and the plan is to have success later in season when it counts.”
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Lance Taylor, second season
Top wrestlers: Andrew Dean (Sr.)
Outlook: Dean was a Sunset Region quarterfinalist at 285 pounds last year. He returns to a Diamondbacks team that hopes to show improvement.
“We hope to keep wrestlers motivated and competitive,” Taylor said.
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DESERT PINES
Head coach: Sean McNulty, third season
Returning lettermen: Ten
Top wrestlers: Xavier Gonzalez (Sr.), Daniel Carbajal (Jr.), Elijah Wade (Jr.)
Outlook: Wade, who probably will compete at 220 pounds again this season, finished third at 220 in last year’s Class 3A state meet.
Gonzalez (120) and Carbajal (126) also advanced to the state meet and are among a group of 10 returning lettermen for the Jaguars.
“Desert Pines will have a younger group of kids this year with a good crew of upperclassmen to lead them along in the new (Class) 4A league and new competition,” McNulty said.
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ELDORADO
Head coach: Zac Carlson, first season
Returning lettermen: Four
Top wrestlers: Adam Hendry (Sr.), Paul Valarde (Sr.), Kevin Orellana (Sr.)
Outlook: Valarde, who probably will wrestle at 195 pounds, finished 12-8 last season, and Hendry (152) was 15-13. Orellana (220) is healthy after battling injuries last year.
They’ll be among the leaders on a team hoping to build throughout the year.
“We are using this season as a springboard to bringing Eldorado back to its former glory,” Carlson said. “We are going to rebuild the program and make our students, school, and city proud.”
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Rayes Gonzales, second season
Returning lettermen: Ten
Top wrestlers: Connor Bourne (Sr.), Carson Cook (Sr.), Gabriel Rodriguez (Sr.)
Outlook: Bourne is the defending Class 4A state champion at 182 pounds and went 38-6 last season. He’ll probably wrestle at 182 or 195.
Also back to help lead the team are Cook (152 or 160) and Rodriguez (126 or 132) who both were state quarterfinalists.
In all, the Crusaders welcome back 10 lettermen.
“We want to continue to improve each practice and compete,” Gonzales said.
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Ryan English, eighth season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Robert Silva (Sr.), Jeremy Evans (So.), Cole Kazel (Jr.), Micah Schneider (Jr.), Julian Bradley (Sr.), Conner Crinigan (Jr.)
Outlook: Silva, who probably will wrestle at 120 pounds this season, finished third at 106 pounds in last year’s Class 4A state meet.
“He is ready to get after it,” English said. “We are expecting big things from him this season.”
Evans (126), Kazel (138), Schneider (152) and Bradley (285) also were state meet qualifiers last year and are among eight returning lettermen for the Falcons.
Foothill also should get a boost from 113-pounder Conner Crinigan, a transfer from Florida.
“Foothill will always be a competitor,” English said. “The regions are split up very evenly this season. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out this year. I know one thing for sure — Foothill will be right in the mix as one of the tougher teams.”
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Jon Ferry, 15th season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top wrestlers: Steele Dias (Sr.), Will Zernich (Jr.), David Kalayanaprapruit (Jr.), Jeremy Hoffman (Jr.), Justus Scott (Jr.), Desmond Bowers (Sr.)
Outlook: After finishing second in the Class 4A state meet last year, the Gators return four state champions in Dias (probably will wrestle at 120), Zernich (probably 126), Scott (probably 160) and Bowers (probably 170). Each is stepping up a weight class from last season.
Kalayanaprapruit (132) and Hoffman (145 or 152) each placed fourth at state.
“Our team outlook is what it is every year in our program — have our returners improve and become elite, and our new athletes to our line up step up individually and contribute,” Ferry said. “Hopefully that equals success.”
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INDIAN SPRINGS
Head coach: David Oliver, fourth season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top wrestlers: Chad Witte (So.)
Outlook: The Thunderbirds return only two lettermen and will have plenty of new faces.
“There is a lot of young inexperience on the team this year,” Oliver said. “We only have two student-athletes returning with any wrestling experience, but we are estimating to have a good amount of wrestlers.
“We look forward to getting better and having a full practice room.”
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LAKE MEAD
Head coach: Bryan White, second season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top wrestlers: Bryan White (So.), Hunter Auschwitz (So.)
Outlook: Auschwitz, who probably will wrestle at 170 or 182, was a Southern Region champion and finished fourth in the Class 2A state meet last year. The younger White (195) also advanced to state last year.
“Our two returning varsity wrestlers are setting the tone for a very strong showing this year with the addition of six new wrestlers,” coach White said. “Our squad is tenacious and very goal-oriented with nothing less in our sights than qualifying for state and finishing strong as a team.
“Auschwitz and White are looking quicker and stronger early in the season season and are expected to qualify for state. New to the mat are Chase Wallin (106), Kyle Raybuck (113), Curtis Fuller (138), Dillon Calton (152), Christian Brunson (160), and Johnny Johnson (220). This new group of wrestlers could have a strong showing at regionals this year.”
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Zach Hocker, seventh season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Jakob Alvarado (Sr.), Daniel Law (Sr.), Caleb Roach (Sr.), Trace Everett (Sr.), Nathan Rhoads (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats bring back eight lettermen from a team that finished third in last year’s Class 4A state meet.
Alvarado, who probably will wrestle at 160 pounds, was the state runner-up at 152 pounds last year, and Law (145), Roach (182), Everett (126) and Rhoads (152) all have state meet experience.
Still, the Wildcats are going to have many new faces.
“Our Wildcats are all fairly new to the sport of wrestling, so what we are trying to instill in them is character, integrity, and a good work ethic,” Hocker said. “This season will be considered a success if our wrestlers leave our program with these three traits.
“We are attempting to win our fourth Northeast League title in a row and send our seniors out with no regrets.”
Law, who was 45-14 last season, has 126 career wins, and Hocker said a goal is for Law to win at least 37 matches to move into second on the school’s all-time win list behind Antonio Saldate, last year’s 126-pound state champion. Alvarado (118 career wins) also could get into the top three on the school’s all-time list.
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LIBERTY
Head coach: Brady Stickley, third season
Returning lettermen: Seven
Top wrestlers: Jayden Rookhuyzen (So.), Jake Whiddon (Sr.), Nate Kendricks (Sr.), Zephania Maea (So.), Derick Agatonu (Sr.)
Outlook: Rookhuyzen, who probably will wrestle at 145, Whiddon (170), Kendricks (195) and Agatonu (285) all finished second in last year’s Sunrise Region meet, and Maea (220) placed fourth in the region.
“We are returning seven varsity lettermen and believe that the outlook is promising,” Stickley said. “Our incoming freshman group should be able to contribute to our success.”
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MOJAVE
Head coach: Joseph Sisneros, first season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top wrestlers: Sebastian James (Jr.), Ivan Parra (Sr.)
Outlook: Parra, who probably will wrestle at 285 pounds again this year, finished third in last year’s Class 3A state meet.
James (160) was a state meet quarterfinalist.
They’re among five returning lettermen for the Rattlers.
“We hope to be competitive in league, regional and state,” Sisneros said.
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PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Head coach: Brad Loveday, 21st season
Returning lettermen: Four
Top wrestlers: Jon Stewart (Sr.), Jesse Jones (Jr.), Hagen Harris (So.), Tayt Leavitt (So.)
Outlook: Jones, who probably will wrestle at 145 pounds, was the Class 2A state runner-up at 132 last season. Leavitt (220) and Stewart (285) each finished fourth in last year’s state meet, and Harris (106) was a state quarterfinalist.
They’ll be the leaders of a group that lacks numbers, but doesn’t lack talent.
“We don’t fill out the entire roster, but the kids we have will be tough,” Loveday said.
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Ken Lytle, first season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Grey Garcia (Sr.), Tatum Pine (Sr.), Jacob Saribay (Jr.), Dakhoda Ererly (Jr.), Jonah Singer (Sr.)
Outlook: Lytle takes over a team that brings back eight lettermen and hopes to make strides after finishing 10th in last year’s Sunset Region meet.
“We are a young team looking to improve greatly as our wrestlers gain more mat time and experience during the season,” Lytle said.
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Gus Gledhill, 12th season
Returning lettermen: Ten
Top wrestlers: Gabe Talledo (So.), Tehani Soares (Jr.), Triston Curtis (Jr.), Weston Presser (Jr.), Matthew Van Riel (Jr.), Jake Anderson (Sr.), Kody Presser (Sr.), Noah Gallardo (Jr.), Marc Williams (Sr.)
Outlook: Gallardo, who probably will wrestle at 160 pounds again this year, was the Sunset Region champion and the Class 4A state runner-up at 160 last year.
Curtis (120) also won the region title and was third in the state meet. Williams (170) took third at state.
They’re among 10 returning lettermen, a group that also includes state qualifiers Talledo (106), Weston Presser (126), VanRiel (132), Anderson (138) and Kody Presser (152), and Fargo All-American Soares (113).
“We just hope we can keep up with the Green Valleys and Spring Valleys and try to compete with them,” Gledhill said. “We are in a tough division and hope to get a few wins on the way to the state tournament.”
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Vernon Schultz, fifth season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: Nick Reyes (Jr.); Angelo Cosio (Sr.); Cameron Gardner (Sr.); Mason Kaplan (Sr.); D’Andre Aitala (Sr.); Luis Magana (Sr.); Andrew Woods (Sr.); Jacob Candland (Sr.)
Outlook: Reyes, who qualified for state last season, and Cosio, who was a state qualifier in 2016-17, should lead a group of eight returning lettermen.
“We have a strong group of seniors and a lot of first- and second-year wrestlers,” Schultz said. “We will be competitive at most weights this year.”
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SLAM ACADEMY
Head coach: Jake Rollans, third season
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top wrestlers: Gabriel Ojeda (Jr.), Samson Enos (So.), Mateo Bautista (So.), Nixon Dodds (So.), Brandon Corsaro (Jr.), Jhanae George (Jr.), Morgan Mackey (Jr.), Michele Garcia (Jr.), Gisele Garcia (Jr.)
Outlook: Enos (44-4 last year), Ojeda (42-5) and George (27-3) all are expected to wrestle in the middle weight classes and are coming off strong seasons last year.
They lead a group of nine returning letter winners for the Bulls.
“My expectations for this team could not be higher,” Rollans said. “We have a strong core of returning wrestlers, and we are adding some very tough and experienced freshmen.”
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Fred Meyer, 15th season
Returning lettermen: Fourteen
Top wrestlers: Andres Garcia (Sr.), Bryan Lovett (Sr.), Ryan Mitchell (Jr.), Michael Canada (Sr.), Christian Nishi-Rivera (Jr.), Porter Abbott (Sr.), Daniel Hristov (Jr.), Robert Graham (Sr.), Elijah Brooks (Sr.)
Outlook: After finishing sixth in last year’s Class 4A state meet, the Grizzlies have all the ingredients to be a championship contender.
Garcia, who probably will wrestle at 138 pounds, won the state title at 132 last year. Lovett (120) was the state runner-up at 113, and Mitchell (113) finished fourth at 106.
Canada (145) and Nishi-Rivera (120) also competed at state, and Abbott (195) narrowly missed a state berth, finishing fourth in the Sunset Region.
Hristov (132) had 35 victories, and Graham (126) had 25 wins last season.
“Spring Valley returns its entire lineup from last year’s sixth-place finish, and we are looking to scrap with teams come February,” Meyer said. “We are hoping to be competing at our best during the last two weeks of the season.”
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Derek Lopez, sixth season
Returning lettermen: One
Top wrestlers: Jose Lara (Sr.)
Outlook: Lara, who probably will wrestle at 285 pounds, seemed to be a lock to go to state last year, but missed out on the postseason due to injury. He’s back to lead a young team.
“We have mostly first- and second-year wrestlers who are still learning,” Lopez said. “Some of our second-year wrestlers will see some varsity time this year depending on their development throughout the season.
“We expect to develop our kids to be able to compete at a higher level towards the end of the season and moving into next season.”
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VALLEY
Head coach: Tyler Perry, third season
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top wrestlers: John Baloyot (Jr.), Xzavier Maheia (Sr.), Joseph Valencia (Sr.)
Outlook: Baloyot was the Sunrise Region runner-up at 195 pounds last season and is among eight returning lettermen for the Vikings.
“I am very excited for the upcoming season,” Perry said. “We have a strong group coming back, as well as some great new additions. John Baloyot and Xzavier Maheia represented Team Nevada at the Freestyle/Greco National championships this summer and had a great offseason. We are expecting big things from them and Joseph Valencia this season.
“I also look for Keayon Morris and Martin Lujan to have breakout seasons. With the move to (Class) 3A, we plan to compete for a regional title and bring back some state hardware.”
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VIRGIN VALLEY
Head coach: Skyler Woods, 11th season
Returning lettermen: Seven
Top wrestlers: Rudy Cannon (Sr.), Vicente Pinto (Sr.), Gage Woods (Sr.)
Outlook: Last year’s Class 3A runners-up return seven lettermen.
Cannon, who probably will wrestle at 113 pounds, won his second straight state title at 106 last year. Gage Woods (132) finished fourth in the state at 113 last year, and Pinto (126) was the Southern Region runner-up at 126.
They’ll be among the leaders again this year.
“After graduating some big point scorers in 2018, we will be looking to other guys to step up in a big way,” Skyler Woods said. “If we can do that, then we feel we can compete with anyone.”
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WESTERN
Head coach: Don McGregor, second season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top wrestlers: Angelo Vigilia (Sr.), Kevin Jaimes (Sr.), Antonio Navarro (So.)
Outlook: Vigilia, who likely will wrestle at 113 pounds, and Jaimes (120) both qualified for the Class 3A state meet last year and are among five returning lettermen for the Warriors.
“We want to win our division,” McGregor said. “We have a great group of leaders and new wrestlers. This is a new team from a few years ago. We proved that last year, we will continue on that path.”
