Sophomores hold key for Green Valley

Green Valley’s wrestling team used a late-season rebound to finish third at last season’s Class 4A state tournament.

And while the Gators have relied on a bevy of seniors in the past, this season’s team is stacked with younger wrestlers at all but three weight classes.

“We’re not going backward, by any means,” Green Valley coach Jon Ferry said. “Our approach doesn’t change. We went from having seven seniors last year to three this year. Our strength is that core of sophomores.”

Among that core is 125-pounder Zack Perry, who finished 36-9 and fourth in the state at 112 pounds. After a summer in the weight room, Perry moves up to 125 — hoping to fill the void left by Mason Saldana, an All-Southern Nevada second-team honoree.

The Gators also return Sunrise Region 103-pound runner-up Corey Brathor (35-10), heavyweight Nathan Thomas (44-10) and senior 140-pounder Stephen Berta, who missed the state tournament after suffering an injury.

“We’re going to be just as good as last year, with all of our underclassmen,” Perry said. “They saw how some of us underclassmen did last year, and even though we’re not as old as the seniors, we can do just as good as them.”

Despite his youth, Perry has taken a larger role as a leader. Much of his leadership style stems from strong ties to the graduated Daniel Allen, who was second at 152 last season.

“Daniel really set the rules for me my freshman year,” Perry said. “He pushed me, showed me how to work, what I need to do, and that comes off me now. Now that they’re gone, I’m starting to push the other kids. Everything he taught me, I’m trying to teach everyone else.”

Green Valley lost key wrestlers to injury last season, but Berta said that will make this year’s team more focused.

“Everybody has more of a mindset that you can lose your season at any time,” Berta said. “It brought us closer as a team; we’ll be a lot stronger this year. I have a feeling we’re going to surprise a lot of people that have counted us out.”

If the Gators can continue the momentum from last season’s state tournament run, coaches and wrestlers are optimistic they can retake the Southeast team title from rival Liberty.

“To go through what we went through,” Ferry said, “and to be in the top three teams in the state was really an accomplishment, we thought.

“Our expectations since I’ve been here are to win the Southeast League and win the regional tournament. We took third last year as a team (at state), and we’re looking to crack that top two in the state.”