Red Rovers set to roll in Reno

Sunday, December 19, 2004

By MIKE WEILAMANN

The Express-Times

Easton Area High School's wrestling team certainly earns its share of frequent flyer miles.

After opening the season in Florida, the Red Rovers touched down in Reno, Nev., on Thursday in preparation for another grueling tournament.

Easton is among 85 teams competing in the ninth annual Reno Tournament of Champions. Action gets underway noon EST Monday at the Livestock Events Center.

The tournament resumes at noon on Tuesday with the quarterfinals. Semifinals follow at 2:45 p.m., with the championship and consolation finals slated for 8.

Coach Steve Powell is hoping for the best as his Rovers battle some of the nation's top teams. Easton finished third in last year's team race after winning back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. The Rovers also won the event's inaugural tournament in 1996.

"When you get something like 90 teams you just never know," Powell said when reached on his cell phone Friday evening. "We're healthy and the attitudes are good and their weights are good. Two days before (the tournament) that's all I can ask."

Easton, ranked first in The Express-Times region, also has plenty of support on the road once again as the Rovers make their ninth straight Reno appearance.

"We have about 32 fans and parents with us," Powell said. "They certainly know their way around here."

The Red Rovers, ranked seventh in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, are among a strong field that includes five other nationally-ranked teams in No. 9 Wasatch, Utah, No. 16 Rio Rancho, N.M., No. 22 Crater, Ore., No. 23 Bakersfield, Calif., and No. 32 Poway, Calif.

Also representing the Lehigh Valley is Emmaus, which is making its first Reno appearance.

Tournament president and founder Ross Aguiar believes this year's event could be the best ever.

"I think it's going to be a tough, tough tournament," he said. "It's going to surprise a lot of people. By the semifinals Tuesday you probably still won't know who's going to win."

Wasatch, located in Heber City, is the defending team champion and alma mater of four-time NCAA champion Cael Sanderson. His younger brother, Cyler, is a senior at Wasatch and is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 140 pounds. He won the 135-pound title in 2003.

Senior Dallin Norton is Wasatch's other nationally-ranked wrestler and is the Reno favorite at 275.

Lehigh Valley fans will get an up-close look at Rio Rancho when it comes to the NHSCA Final Four at Easton in late January.

"Rio Rancho is one tough team," Aguiar said.

Other notable teams in this year's field include Oklahoma powers Broken Arrow and Choctaw and California's Calvary Chapel, which finished sixth in the 2003 tournament.

Official seeds and pairings will be released today.

Individually, Easton seniors Seth Ciasulli (125) and Josh Oliver (130) are trying to repeat as Reno champs.

Ciasulli, seeking a third consecutive title, is ranked ninth in the country. He could once again meet up with Rio Rancho senior Nick Ramirez, who is ranked 12th.

In last year's semifinals, Ciasulli beat Ramirez 6-4 en route to the 119-pound championship. The Red Rover also had three falls and one major during his title run.

Oliver, a winner at 112 last year, is ranked seventh. He could be on a collision course with Broken Arrow sophomore Seth Vernon, ranked 12th, in the 130-pound draw.

Seth's brother, Shane Vernon, is the man to beat at 160. Shane is ranked fourth in the nation.

Easton senior Alex Krom aims for his first title after back-to-back runner-up finishes. He is a three-time placewinner, finishing third as a freshman in 2001.

The 189-pound class features two of the nation's best in Bakersfield's Jake Varner and Crater's Ron Lee, ranked third and 10th, respectively, in the country.