Rams wrestling preview

November 19, 2008 - 7:31 PM

Returning 2A state placer/qualifier: Todd Honaker - qualifier at 135; Colt Pelfrey - qualifier at 119; Hugo Saboria - qualifier at 112; Johnny Salcido - qualifier at 285; Dustin Sousa - qualifier at 145; Matt Sousa - qualifier at 125.

Key newcomers: Freshmen Dallas Preston at 135 and Kurtis Skousen at 130.

Wrestler to watch: Saboria - a tough kid, who has matured a lot since last season. ... Seniors Cody Pelfrey at 160 or 171 and Charles Fowler at 140 - both bring a lot of varsity experience to an otherwise young squad.

Antelope coach Rick St. Clair comments: "They look like they are good in the room. But until you go and meet somebody else you don't really know where we are at ... I think we are a year or two away from being a dominant team ... I would say we should do as well as we did last year - which was in the top 15. We lost a kid that was second in the state and one who sixth and another that was fifth. A good goal for us would be to be in the top 10."

The lowdown: St. Clair takes over an established program with a rich wrestling history. He's been an assistant at Antelope for the past four years and also has been working with the junior high program. Prior to Antelope, he was the coach at 3A Maricopa. While there, the Rams were an elite 3A team ... A top-10 finish at state is not out of the question.