The South Tahoe wrestling team again delivered its best performance of the season. And again it wasn't enough in a 39-33 loss to Carson in a Sierra Division dual Wednesday night at South Tahoe High School.
"These guys are learning and getting better every day," said first-year coach Ken Robbins. "It's awfully nice to watch them get better every time out. By the end of the year, hopefully we'll get one of them."
The Vikings, who opened the league season with a win over Reno, have narrowly lost their last three division duals to Douglas and Wooster, two perennial powers in the Northern 4A. But coming so close to beating the Senators, who are widely considered one of the top teams in the region, is just another indicator that South Tahoe is steadily improving.
"If they aren't one of the top teams in the state, they are definitely the top team in the region," Robbins said. "Our guys are doing good. It's just a match here or there that's keeping us from winning."
Carson wasn't at full strength. Top wrestlers missing from Carson's lineup included Micah Whitcome (152), Travis Lamborn (160), Jonas Schenzel (189), David Cadwallader (215) and Jason Klug (heavyweight).
The Senators forfeited at 215 and heavyweight. Cadwallader is nursing a knee injury and Klug has a rotator cuff. Carson assistant coach Dave Lowe said Cadwallader and Klug will be brought back slowly and both likely won't wrestle this weekend.
Carson was scheduled to wrestle this weekend in the Sparks Tournament, but it has been canceled due to the weather. The Senators hope to wrestle in the Douglas Tournament. Whitcome, Lamborn and Schenzel should all wrestle this weekend.
While the Senators used Wednesday to give younger wrestlers experience, Lowe said he was still impressed with the Vikings. "They gave us all they could handle," he said.
The key match ended up being the first one at 103 pounds. The Vikings' Mike Crouse was leading Owen Craugh, a state placer last year, the entire match until Craugh scored a reversal with three seconds left in the final period to post a 7-6 victory. South Tahoe quickly fell behind 39-6 after that, a result of three forfeits it allowed before it won the final five matches.
Loren Wooldridge, who had been wrestling at 171, returned from a hip injury and won by decision at 152. Todd Banko won by pin at 112, Robbie Bozin won by forfeit at 119, Brian Halverson won by forfeit at 125, Kevin Riggin won by technical fall, 19-2, at 135, Ahron Osheroff won by forfeit at 140 and Cody Albee won 6-3 at 145 for Carson.
At 130 pounds, Viking junior Derek Simon pinned his opponent early in the first period, while Miles Wallace pinned his in 44 seconds in the 160-pound match. At 171 pounds, Nate Sweeney recorded an 8-1 victory, the lone point against him coming off a penalty. At 189 pounds, Martin Taylor, a first-year wrestler, recorded a pin in just 31 seconds.
"He didn't even allow the guy to tie up his shoes," Robbins said. "And Derek is a guy who has never wrestled before but is developing into someone who will probably go to the state tournament. We have several guys who are working toward becoming seeded at the regional tournament.
"We're looking to get to .500 in league. It's amazing to see how far these guys have come. Each match they keep getting better and better. They've worked so hard and a lot of them are starting to see it pay off. I would say half of our guys have legitimate chances at qualifying for state."