Kyle Rudy
Carson High’s wrestling team will have a new look when it opens its season today in Fallon at the Fallon Dual Meet Tournament.
Lost to graduation are perennial state meet participants Brandon Basa, Sheldon Miller and Nathan Mersino.
Also absent from this year’s team is Abel Carter, who opted to play basketball. Carter finished third in the state last year at 195 pounds.
Those are big shoes to fill as second-year head coach Nick Redwine knows.
The top returners are Kyle Rudy (138), Jesse Case (182), Darryll Heyward (152), Eli Thomas (120) and Zach Bumby (145).
Ty Evans (195), Bryce Newhall (171), Mark Trost (132) and Damian Branco (106) also logged some varsity matches a year ago.
New to the team are Reed transfer Alex Wells (160), freshman Ariel Vega (106), freshman Luis Mayoral (113), heavyweight Brandon Macias, Johnny Perkins (126) and Bryce Newhall (171). The latter wrestled JV last season.
“We’re going to be pretty young,” Redwine said Thursday afternoon. “We have a pretty good freshman class which bodes well for the future.
“Our goal, as always, is to win the (Sierra) league championship. Lately it’s been between us and Damonte Ranch. I talked to their coach, and it didn’t sound like he had a lot of guys. Maybe it was gamesmanship on his part.”
The one thing Redwine emphasized is that the Senators will be able to field a full squad every dual or tournament unless there is injury or illness.
Carson has always had a strong postseason presence, and Redwine said Rudy has a very good shot to reach state as does Case, who finished one spot out of the money a year ago.
“Rudy has been working really hard,” Redwine said. “That was one of the goals he wrote down was to make state. He wants to do well at regionals and compete for a state title. Jesse barely missed last year. He has a good shot. Our heavyweight is new, but I think he could make it, too.”
Vega and Mayoral will both be in the starting lineup in Fallon. Vega beat Branco in a wrestle-off to earn the spot. Mayoral is the only 113-pounder right now, and Redwine said he’s been very impressive. The Carson coach said he’s also been impressed with Trost.
NOTES: After the Fallon tournament, Carson opens its Sierra League season Wednesday at Galena (6 p.m.) ... The Senators will participate in both the TOC (Dec. 15-16) and the Sierra Nevada Classic (Dec. 28-29) ... Carson is hosting the regional wrestling tournament this season ... Carson’s first home match is Dec. 13 against Bishop Manogue.