SUNRISE REGION: Gators lead first day, but Wildcats send 11 to semis

At the end of the day, however, it was Green Valley holding down first place with a 78-74½ edge over the Wildcats. Basic and Liberty are tied for third with 46 and Foothill is fifth with 44.

“I’m excited. I thought we wrestled really well,” Green Valley coach Jon Ferry said. “We have had our ups and downs this season, but this was a great way to start a regional tournament.”

Leading eight Gators into the semifinals were Mason Saldana at 125 pounds and Daniel Allen at 152, who both went 2-0. Saldana won twice by pin. Semifinal winners today are guaranteed a berth in the Class 4A state meet next Friday.

The top three regional finishers in each weight advance to state. Regional bouts resume at 10 a.m. today with a round of consolation matches. The championship round begins at 5:30 p.m.

Among Las Vegas’ semifinalists are Alex Anciete (130), Napoleon Anciete (140),  Tyler Pack (160) and heavyweight Austin Woo.

“It’s been a good day,” Wildcats coach Greg Gifford said. “The kids are fighting for every round. The kids that are supposed to win are winning, and the kids who are supposed to have close matches are finding a way to win. You can’t ask for much more.”

Gifford said he wants his wrestlers to get off to a fast start today.

“We’ve really focused on getting them ready for the first match of the day, because that has been our downfall in tournaments earlier this year,” Gifford said. “So we just have to be sure everyone is mentally prepared and warmed up.”

The Gators’ Ferry said the intensity will rise in the semifinals.

“It’s a different animal. It’s a different tournament,” he said. “There aren’t any easy matches. The atmosphere changes.

“But we have put our kids in this situation before this season. So I think we are experienced, and ready for it.”

Sunrise Region Meet
At Las Vegas High
Team scores
Green Valley 78, Las Vegas 74, Liberty 46, Basic 46, Foothill 44, Eldorado 36, Silverado 36, Canyon Springs 30, Rancho 27, Del Sol 24, Coronado 23, Desert Pines 22, Valley 18, Chaparral 8, Sunrise Mountain 0
Championship Quarterfinals.
103—Miller, Foot, p. Valdez, Lib, 0:33; Bishop, Sil, d. Caday, LV, 12-6; Rathor, GV, p. Tacket, Val, 1:31; Huibregtse, Eld, d. Lassiter, Cor, 13-10. 112—Perry, GV, p. Gomez, Foot, 2:50; Kaulili, Lib, d. Keller, LV, 5-4; Frassato, Sil, d. Mercado, DP, 9-4; Hall, LV, d. Kuveke, Bas, 11-1. 119—Magdael, Bas, p. Kems, Sil, 3:11; Leon, GV, p. Williams, Val, 4:52; Burr, Sil, won by forfeit; Garcia, LV, d. Steiber, Foot, 2:50. 125—Razo, GV, d. Madrid, CS, 9-5; Yates, Eld, d. Amaya, Ran, 9-6; Harris, Foot, p. Gonzalez, LV, 1:35; Saldana, GV, p. Reyes, CS, 2:55. 130—Simpson, GV, p. Bowler, DP, 0:54; Thoms, CS, d. Brown, Foot, 9-7; Mosse, Cor, d. Chin, Lib, 7-1; A. Anciete, LV, d. Montoya, CS, 18-3. 135—Orum, Foot, p. Harris, Eld, 1:23; Garcia, Bas, d. Castillo, CS, 11-10; Wilson, Lib, p. Hafen, Ran, 5:56; Price, Eld, d. DeWolfe, GV, 9-3. 140—Arviles, Lib, p. Garboski, Ran, 1:13; Duran-Price, Eld, d. Church, GV, 8-5; Acquaviva, Bas, p. Robinson, Val, 2:36; N. Anciete, LV, p. Aguilar, 0:27. 145—Vicuna, Lib won by forfeit; Yago, DP, d. Damer, LV, 11-8; Stratman, LV, d. Backus, GV, 9-5; Washington, DS, d. Phoenix, Chap, 4-3. 152—Allen, GV, d. Fields, DP, 8-0; Harrington, Val, d. Dow, Foot, 6-2; Kantowski, Cor, d. Delgado, Eld, 6-5; Smith, LV d. Maiman, Bas, 10-4. 160—Reveles, Lib, p. Rojo, DP, 5:54; Pack, LV, d. Harmon, GV, 6-5; Miella, Bas, p. Reyes, Chap, 1:28; Hodge, Val, p. Reyes, DS, 2:54. 171—Untalan, DS, d. Moreno, LV, 22-11; Hopkins, Lib, d. Allen, Eld, 5-3; Villagomez, Bas, p. Rosario, CS, 3:00; Garcia, DP, d. Williams, Sil, 14-5. 189—Berg, Eld, d. Odell, Cor, 6-4; Prieto, LV, d. Hinton, DP, 18-1; Thurman, Ran, p. Borja, Chap, 1:19; Hills, LV, p. Breager, Foot, 1:49. 215—Thomas, GV, p. Tolliver, DP, 0:51; Flores, Val, d. Efthemeou, Lib, 9-2; Hubert, Sil, d. Bickel, Ran, 14-0; McElhaney, LV, p. Wadley, Bas, 0:56. 285—Bohman, Sil, d. Martinez, CS, 8-5; Woo, LV, p. Boschetti, Foot, 0:37; Gomez, Ran, d. Larue, GV, 3-2; Williams, Eld, d. Soto, Bas, 13-5.