Although Nevada does not produce the same number of All-Americans that states like California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania do, but Nevada produces some very good wrestlers every year. Nevada had six wrestlers that earned All-American honors in Fargo, and also a FILA Cadet National champion. Last year multi-time Fargo All-American Napoleon Aniciete (Las Vegas) signed with Utah Valley University. Some of the past Nevada standout wrestlers include NCAA Division I runner-up Chase Pami from Cal Poly (Cimmeron-Memorial, two-time 4A state champion), two-time Division I All-American Bryce Saddoris of the Naval Academy (Spring Creek, four-time 3A state champion). Also included in this list are current UFC stars Ryan Bader (McQueen), Gray Maynard (Bonanza), and Frank Mir (Bonanza). Nevada has 105 high schools that are divided into three divisions for wrestling. The main population centers are Las Vegas and Reno, with the rest being mostly rural areas.
1. Ray Waters (Spring Valley)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170
Projected College Weight Class: 174
Analysis: Waters is a senior from Las Vegas. He lost in the 4A state finals to Fargo All-American Napoleon Aniciete. This was a battle of All-Americans because Waters was also an All-American in Fargo in 2010. You have to give Waters a lot of credit. He was wrestling and winning everything at 160, and he dropped down to 152 just so he could wrestle Aniciete. Waters finished the season with a record of 56-2. He won many large tournaments last year, including the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.
2. Jace Billingsley (Lowry)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 165
Analysis: Billingsley is a three-time 3A state champion out of Winnemucca. Winnemucca is a medium -sized town in the northern rural area of the state. Billingsley placed second in the Sierra Nevada Classic and won it the previous season. He is also a standout running back during football season and a pitcher for the baseball team.
3. Bronson Ashjian (Cimmeron-Memorial)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Analysis: Ashjian, who wrestles for perennial Nevada power Cimmeron-Memorial in Las Vegas, finished this past season with a record of 59-3. He is a two-time 4A state champion.
4. Steven Elicegui (Wooster)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 174
Analysis: Elicegui is the defending two-time 4A state champion out of Wooster High School in Reno. He placed first at the 2011 West Junior Regional in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
5. Broc Westlake (Reed)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 195
Projected College Weight Class: 197
Analysis: Westlake, who wrestles for Reed High School in Reno, is the defending 4A state champion. He finished the season with a record of 37-6. He also placed fourth in the Sierra Nevada Classic.
6. Gus Duncan (Lowry)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 149/157
Analysis: Duncan was the 3A state champion at 140 in 2011 and the 3A state champion at 130 his sophomore year. He is going for the lucky No. 3 this year.
7. Marcus Judd (Palo Verde)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 184
Analysis: Judd finished the 2011 season with a record of 47-5. He won the Las Vegas Holiday Classic and finished third in the 4A state tournament. Palo Verde High School is located in Las Vegas.
8. Curtis Lampert (Spanish Springs)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: Lampert wrestles out of Reno. He finished third in 2010 and second in 2011. Hopefully with some hard work he will make his way to the top of the podium in 2012. His season record for 2011 was 40-8.
9. Dakota Sargent (Indian Springs)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 157
Analysis: Sargent, who wrestles for Indian Springs, is the defending 2A state champion. Starting Sargent's sophomore season, he started working on only wrestling and has improved tremendously.
10. Ryan Nelson (Lowry)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 184
Analysis: Nelson wrestles for 3A power Lowry. He is the defending 3A state champion and finished second in 2010.
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