Wrestlers set sights on Douglas

Twenty Northern Nevada wrestling teams will assemble on Saturday to compete in the Carson Valley Lions Club Invitational at Douglas High School.

The tournament, a tradition at Douglas dating back to 1976, is scheduled to get under way at 9 p.m. Saturday.

It’s the second and final one-day tournament for Fallon, who is coming off a 19th-place finish at the Rollie Lane Invitational in Boise, Idaho.

“There will be a lot of the smaller schools at this tournament,” Greenwave coach Louie Mori said. “It will be a long day, but it will be good for our kids coming off the three tournaments we’ve had.”

Those tournaments included the Reno Tournament of Champions, Sierra Nevada Classic and the Rollie Lane Invitational.

Mori, though, said those events provided experience for his younger grapplers. At Douglas, he expects several of his less experienced athletes to perform well.

Terry White (106 pounds), Mason Smith (113) Anthony Ramirez (120), Dylan McAfee (126) are just a few who Mori wants to see make a run in their respective 16-man brackets.

“I would like to see some of those younger kids to step up,” Mori said. “They wrestled real well at our tournament and in Winnemucca, but have kind of gone flat since.”

He said the mental game was an obstacle during the previous three tournaments. Saturday, however, provides an opportunity for those wrestlers to turn a corner as the season progresses.

“I really expect to see them do a little better,” Mori added.

As for the mainstays, Sam Goings (160) is on pace for another stellar season. He won his division at the Rollie Lane Invitational, beating Taylor Owens of Borah (Idaho), 4-3, in the final.

It was revenge for Goings, who lost to Owens in the fifth-place bout at the TOC.

Returning to the mat, meanwhile, is David Hughes (172), who missed last week’s tournament with a leg injury. Mori said Hughes is healthy enough the take to the mat at Douglas.

Also missing last week’s action was Jack Swisher (132), who suffered a shoulder injury at the SNC. Mori said it is possible Swisher will return this week, although he could be held out to ensure his health going forward.

Like Goings, Jordan Schultz (145), Louie Mori Jr. (145), White and Ramirez all finished in the top 16 in Idaho.

Heavyweight Wyatt Hampton is also improving with each tournament as nearly made the second day at the SNC and top 16 in Idaho.

“He’s starting to come on a little bit,” coach Mori said.