First time, first titles

The two Carson High wrestlers to enter the first regional girls tournament in Nevada ended Saturday on top of the podium.

Ellah Olson (152 pounds) and Amber Perkins (114 pounds) had little difficulty running through their respective brackets en route to a regional crown.

“I love them. I think it’s great they’re doing the girls regionals,” said Carson High head coach Nick Redwine. “It’s a big tournament and it’s good to win it, not only for their psyche, but seeding at state.”

Olson switches it up on her opponents

Her first two rounds were relatively untested.

After an opening round bye, Olson pinned her quarterfinal opponent in 1:07 before picking up a win by tech fall (16-0) in just over four minutes in her semifinal contest.

In the finals, Olson fell behind early after a quick takedown from Spring Creek’s Hannah Montoya, but the deficit didn’t last long.

A switch to open the second period allowed Olson a quick reversal before working her way to a pin in 4:45.

“It feels good. It means all the work I’ve been putting into wrestling is paying off. It feels great to win,” said Olson. “I could feel the mood change. I knew as soon as I hit that switch, I got this.”

Olson’s technique on her switch has been effective all season.

“Ellah’s best move, hands down, is the switch,” said Redwine. “When she chose down (to start the second period), I gave her the universal ‘hit a switch’ sign and she did it to perfection. As soon as Ellah gets on top she is damn-near unbeatable.”

Olson, who is now listed with a 19-3 record, said a regional title is near the top of her accomplishments this winter.

(Senator senior Amber Perkins tries to tilt her opponent from Reed to her back Saturday in the 114-pound girls regional finals. Perkins needed 1:58 to win the regional title by pin, advancing to the state tournament in Winnemucca in two weeks. Carter Eckl / Nevada Appeal)

Perkins pins her way through regionals

It wasn’t much different for Carson’s fellow senior at 114 pounds.

Perkins’ longest match was actually her opening round, which went 2:39 before she pinned Spanish Springs’ Gracie Mitchell.

Her final two opponents couldn’t escape the opening two minutes as Perkins put together pins in 1:34 and 1:58 in the semis and finals.

“I think it’s exciting because we’ve never had this opportunity before,” said Perkins. “This was the goal toward the end of the season.”

Perkins said she noticed her opponents’ strength early on, but that didn’t panic the talented senior into pivoting off her game plan.

“As soon as she realized her opponent was kind of apprehensive, it was all bets are off and she goes right after her,” said Redwine of the finals.

With the girls state tournament taking place Feb. 10-11 in Winnemucca, Perkins said her focus will turn to slowing things down and making sure to be as prepared as possible.

With regional titles for both Senators, they’ll get the top seed out of the North in the state tournament bracket.

With four wrestlers from the North and South qualifying for the season’s final tournament, it’ll take three more wins to add a state title to their resumes.