Eight Carson wrestlers advance to regional semifinals

Eight Carson High School wrestlers advanced to the semifinals and the Senators stood third in the team standings on the opening day of the Northern 4A Regional Tournament Friday at Galena High.

Fallon surged into the lead with 65.5 points, followed by Douglas (60.5), Carson (55), Spanish Springs (43) and Galena (42).

Both of Carson's 103-pound entrants, freshman Todd Banko and sophomore Owen Craugh, won twice to reach the semifinals today. They will be joined by teammates Robbie Bozin (119 pounds), Kyle Banko (125), Ahron Osheroff (140), Loren Wooldridge (152), Travis Lamborn (160) and David Cadwallader (215).

Unfortunately for the defending tournament champion Senators, senior heavyweight Jason Klug was disqualified during his opening round match against Robert Heckman of North Valleys.

Klug was leading in the match when he was fouled, according to Carson co-coach Tim McCarthy. That foul was not seen by officials. But Klug's retaliation was seen and the Carson senior was disqualified from the match - and the tournament.

"That hurts us," McCarthy said. "That's 16 to 22 points we'll be missing (as a team), so the team race may be over for us, but we'll try to get as many for state as possible."

The top three in each weight class qualify for the state championships next weekend in Winnemucca.

Among the highlights were Craugh and Todd Banko in the 103-pound class. Craugh, a state qualifier last year, opened with a 9-0 win over McQueen's Justin Lee, the No. 1 seed from the High Desert League. Craugh will face Ryan Olsen of Douglas in one semifinal, Banko will face South Tahoe's Mike Crouse in the other.

"It's very possible Owen and Todd will meet in the final," McCarthy said.

Bozin and Wooldridge will face key tests in their semifinal matches against Fallon opponents today - Bozin against Mark Thomas and Wooldridge against Tommy Diaz. Osheroff also has a big challenge in his semifinal against two-time state champion Joel Rivadeneyra of Galena and Kyle Banko faces Elko's talented Mitchell Schroeder in his semifinal.

Lamborn, the Sierra League's No. 1 seed at 160 pounds, pinned both of his opponents to earn a semifinal berth opposite Galena's Nick Williams.

One positive note, even in a losing cause, was Jonas Schenzel in a 5-4 loss in the quarterfinals to Fallon's Riley Orozco, the No. 1 High Desert seed.

Micah Whitcome dropped a tough 8-4 decision in his 145-pound quarterfinal against Galena's Joey Milegich, and the Carson senior may be forced to miss today's action due to complications from his asthma, according to McCarthy.

Devin Barker (112), Bryan Kaplan (119), Ryan Pruitt (135) Brad Johnson (140), Jake Williams (145) and Olsen all reached the semifinals to lead Douglas.

The championship round is tentatively scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. tonight.