Jon Barnes-Hurt works atop an opponent during a match last season. Barnes-Hurt is one of five returning all-region wrestlers to a loaded Carson High lineup this season.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Carson High wrestling has the same expectations despite some major changes in the wrestling scene this winter around Northern Nevada.
Girls wrestling will now have a state tournament, which will take place in Winnemucca in February, after the sport was officially recognized by the NIAA.
Girls will compete in 12 weight classes ranging from 100 pounds up to 235.
On the boys side, some of the weight classes have shifted as 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190 and 215 are all new thresholds for the mid- to upper-weight tier classes.
“It goes straight from 175 to 190, which is kind of a big jump,” said Carson High head coach Nick Redwine. “We have some kids that would’ve fit at 182.”
The 182-pound weight class is no more this season, leaving some wrestlers to choose whether to go up or down.
“I thought we were going to have more girls,” said Redwine of the Senator team.
However, he has seen the numbers increase around the region with the official recognition of the sport.
“Reed has more girls than boys, Douglas has a bunch. Spanish Springs has quite a few,” Redwine said.
For the boys teams, Redwine said he’s cautiously optimistic about the Senators chances early in the season.
Carson will be able to fill out all 14 weight classes for the first time in a few years.
Senator boys outlook
Returning from last winter’s all-region teams will be Lucas Wold, Toby Krehbiel, Jon Barnes-Hurt, Ayden Marhevka and Jeffrey Heaton.
The lineup from top to bottom will be full for Carson this winter, allowing the Senators to capitalize on points for dual meets.
Jesse Oliva will be back at 106 pounds for his sophomore season.
“He looks really good. He’s coming on really strong,” said Redwine.
At 113, freshman Beckham Harrison is the early season front runner to hold the second weight class for the Senators.
Amber Perkins will wrestle at 120 pounds (more below).
Wold will step in at 126 pounds, after taking second place in the state at 120 pounds last season.
Angel Vega and Jett Rupert will occupy the 132- and 138-pound weight classes while Krehbiel will be at 144 pounds.
Three wrestlers could see time at 150 pounds for the Senators between Ellah Olson, freshman Ethan Linehan or Ayden Marhevka.
Marhevka was a state qualifier last winter.
Another freshman will be stepping in at 157 pounds in Ean Thomas, who will fill the spot for Jon Barnes-Hurt as he shakes off an early season concussion.
Zach Remer will slot into the 165-pound weight class while JT Heaton returns to a new 175-pound weight class after earning a second team all-region selection at 170 in 2021.
Izaiah Oliva is expected to start the season at 190 pounds for the Senators after wrestling on the JV team last winter.
Darron Ray made the varsity squad at 215 pounds, coming out for the team for the first time as a sophomore.
Dominic Porter returns at heavyweight for Carson.
Girls wrestlers
With the Senators only having three girls wrestlers this winter, scheduling has been complicated a bit in order to make sure they can get to events in other places from the boys team.
Parents have stepped up and will bring girls to tournaments throughout the season.
Redwine thinks two of his returning girls wrestlers should be seeing their names on the biggest stage this season – the state tournament.
“I think they both have a real shot at winning it,” said Redwine of Olson and Perkins.
Perkins and Olson are also expected to wrestle on the boys varsity roster as well in the 120 and 150 weight classes.
Around the region
Spanish Springs remains the top foe until the Cougars are knocked off.
Redwine maintains the team’s goal is to win as many league duals as possible and qualify as many wrestlers as possible for the state tournament.
“My overall goal is to beat Spanish Springs at regionals. Somebody has to dethrone those guys and it might as well be us,” Redwine said. “I don’t know if it’ll be us this year, but we look pretty good and pretty tough.”
Reno, McQueen and rival Douglas will be three other programs that will stack up with the Senators in a race for Northern Nevada supremacy.
Roster
Jesse Oliva, So.; Backham Harrison, Fr.; Ezekiel Keechler, Fr.; Cash Martin, Fr.; Joel Ray, Fr.; Lucas Wold, Jr.; Jett Rupert, So.; Angel Vega, So.; Lexie Oliva, Fr.; Robert Vega, Fr.; Maddox Sweet, Jr.; Toby Krehbiel, Jr.; Carlos Ramirez, Fr.; Ethan Linehan, Fr.; Ellah Olson, Sr.; Ayden Marhevka, Jr.; Jonethen Barnes-Hurt, Sr.; Chance Petritz, So.; Ean Thomas, Fr.; Damian Porter, Fr.; Gavin Green, So.; Zachariah Remer, Sr.; Konnor Crisp, So.; Isaac Avila Guzman, Fr.; Jeffrey Heaton, So.; Nicholas Rico, So.; Anthony Smokey, Jr.; Daniel Rivera, Fr.; Darron Ray, So.; Christian Rey, So.; Joseph Alcala, Fr.; Izaiah Oliva, So.