Nevada Appeal Staff Report
Carson High junior Nick Schlager continued his march toward a state title by winning his first match at the state wrestling finals in Winnemucca on Friday night.
Schlager won a 4-3 decision over Las Vegas' Hugo Carrillo to advance to today's semifinals where he will wrestle Mark Bleuze from Basic High.
Carson coach Tim McCarthy said Schlager fell behind early when he gave up a take down right before the end of the first period. Schlager bounced back and ended up taking the match.
"It was a really tight match but Nick did a good job of staying off his back," McCarthy said.
McCarthy said Schlager's mental toughness helped him prevail in Friday's match.
"It (mental toughness) is one of his strengths. He doesn't let the pressure of the state tournament get to him," McCarthy said.
Schlager, who finished third in states last year at 112 pounds, will look to improve on that today.
"I would put money on him to win, he's a gamer," McCarthy said.
The semi-finals begin today at 10:45 a.m.
Douglas' Wes Peterson, who also was wrestling at 125, lost his opening round match to Centennial's Brady Wordon. Peterson will wrestle Western's Jacob Hansen in the loser's bracket.
Douglas' Nico Barker, wrestling at 140 pounds, moved on to the semi-finals with a pin. He will wrestle Daniel Allen of Green Valley, who was the No. 1 seed.
Fellow Tiger Eddie Kollar was eliminated in the 145-pound bracket.
Fallon's Trent deBraga moved into the semi-finals with a 18-2 technical fall.
Advancing in the 3A tournament were: Yerington's Blaine Tibbals at 125; Wesley Taliaferro at 160 pounds; Fernley's Hazyn McGrath at 135; Cody Crader at 145; J Estrada at 171; and Josh Cutts at 189. Cutts will meet Dayton's Chris Ellis in the semi-finals.