Cavemen ready to stand their ground

CARLSBAD – The Carlsbad wrestling team was quick to attack opponents on the mat last season. As for quick counterattacks? Not so much.

Since the summer, the Cavemen have worked on standing their ground defensively once other teams lunge at the waist area and taking control even quicker. Coach Ryan Salcido said he’d like Carlsbad to keep growing with more of that switch defense against the type of competition they’ll face this season, starting Friday and Saturday at the Rio Rancho Southwest Duals.

“When people come after us, we’re pretty much ready to counter and work against anything they do to us,” Salcido said. “We’re not wasting any time to score points this year.”

Salcido said once opponents go for the waist, Carlsbad will drop back a bit and grab the ankles. Once both parties are on the mat, Salcido said the Cavemen will then roll opponents over – still holding onto the ankle – and will prevent teams from scoring points on the ground.

Should opponents grab a leg, Salcido said Carlsbad will grab hold of the lower waist and lift them straight into the air and take them down right on their backs.

“A lot of Rio Rancho kids like shooting on those high crotches, and that’s where that switch defense comes in perfectly,” sophomore Mario Carrasco said. “Of course, we want to initiate the first takedown. But if they do get a shot on us, we’ll know what to do. They shoot, we score. We shoot, we score.”

In a nutshell, Salcido said Carlsbad can snatch up opponents right away defending on initial contact.

Salcido said if that approach pays off, Carlsbad can have a deeper run at the state meet.

Salcido said Carlsbad is matching the caliber of teams it will see Friday, such as Rio Rancho.

“That’s what we’re preparing for,” Salcido said. “We’re trying to move ahead and get ahead of the curve. We’re basically getting on the same level as them. Instead of it being a lopsided match when walk onto the mat with those guys, it’s going to be an even match.”

Key returners include senior Adrian Flaco (220-pound weight class), as well as sophomores Cody Wood (106) and Carrasco (126). Senior Kyle Mallett (195), juniors Kyron Dobson (132) and Noah Leija (152) and sophomore Mateo Messer (170) will also be back.

“As a team, we’re going to blow a few people away and just dominate overall,” Flaco said.

Junior Colton Montano will not be back wrestling this year, however. Salcido said Montano is looking to get into the United States Naval Academy and is focusing on getting his grades up.

Although junior Shawn Martin lost his varsity spot to eighth grader Mason Box, Salcido said Martin can reclaim his spot if he defeats Box twice during a series of practice bouts right before the Albuquerque Invite, which starts in two weeks at Volcano Vista.

Salcido said Box can retain his spot if he beats Martin once.

Salcido said he will hold these sessions once every two weeks in case varsity roster changes must be made.

“At any point, a spot can be taken over by someone else,” Salcido said.

At the same time, Salcido said that kind of roster move shows how deep and talented Carlsbad is.

The Cavemen are also optimistic what they can do, even on defense.

“Rio Rancho and teams of that caliber, they perform well on the attack. Being able to defend and score from that, it’s going to help us big time,” Flaco said. “We’re capable of winning state this year.”

Who: Carlsbad wrestling team

What: Rio Rancho Southwest Duals

When: 12 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday

Where: Rio Rancho High

Last year: Cavemen finished fifth out of 10 teams at Rio Rancho Southwest Duals in Dec. 2014

CAVEMEN ROSTER

Cody Wood, sophomore, 106 pounds

Mason Box, eighth grader, 113 pounds

Fabian Padilla, freshman, 120 pounds

Mario Carrasco, sophomore, 126 pounds

Kyron Dobson, junior, 132 pounds

R.J. Baca, freshman, 138 pounds

Justin Wood, eighth grader, 145 pounds

Noah Leija, junior, 152 pounds

Christian Flaco, junior, 160 pounds

Mateo Messer, sophomore, 170 pounds

Kyle Mallett, senior, 195 pounds

Adrian Flaco, senior, 220 pounds

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518.