Flowing Wells, Nate Johnson invites set for Jan. 18-19

January 14, 2013 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


The 47th Flowing Wells Invitational and the annual Nate Johnson Memorial occupy many a wrestler's time this weekend, Friday January 18 and Saturday January 19. 

Flowing Wells welcomes 37 teams to its traditional double-elimination, individual  tournament. The Nate Johnson has 17 teams competing in a team-format. For most teams this will be the final tournament action prior to sectionals the final weekend of January.

Defending champion at Flowing Wells is Ironwood Ridge, the two-time defending Division II state champions. Ironwood Ridge again fields a strong team led by returning FW champ Matt Filbert. Filbert and Troy Taylor won individual state titles last year and Tate Sandifer was a state runner-up. Ironwood Ridge returns eight-state placers in all from the 2011-2012 season. Division I state champ Chandler and Division III champ Thunderbird are also in the field.

The complete list of teams entered at FW this weekend are: Amphitheater, Basah, Boulder Creek, Brophy, Canyon del Oro, Carl Hayden, Centennial, Chandler, Cibola, Cienega, Corona del Sol, Desert Mountain, Desert Vista, Eage Crest (CO), Flowing Wells, Hamilton, Highland, Horizon, Ironwood Ridge, Marana Marana Mountain View, Marcos de Niza, Maryvale, Mesa Mountain View, Mingus, Montwood, Texas, Paradise Valley, Pueblo, Queen Creek, Rio Rico, Safford, Sahuarita, Silver, (NM), Socorro, Tex., Sunnyside, Thunderbird, Tucson High and Willcox. 

The Flowing Wells schedule:  Friday Jan. 18 -- First round 10:30 a.m. to completion; Second round 7 p.m. to completion. Saturday Jan. 19 -- Third round 10 a.m. to completion. Fourth round 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (finals).

The Nate Johnson Memorial, hosted by Red Mountain High School, consists of a red and black pool. Dobson has won the last three tournament titles, defeating Hamilton last year. Red pool: Red Mountain, Sandra Day O'Connor, Basha, Hamilton, Seton, Valley Vista, Williams Field, Millennium and Mesquite. Black pool: Mesa High, Dobson, Desert Ridge, Pinnacle, Skyline, North, Mountain Ridge and Higley. Teams wrestle a dual against each team in their pool. Competition begins Friday (Jan. 18) at 9 a.m. and continues with final matches of the day at 7 p.m. On Saturday (Jan. 19) pool matches continue beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing to 2:30 p.m.. Cross pool play (R5 vs. B5; R4 vs. B4 and R3 vs. B3) are set for 4 p.m.. The championship (R1 vs. B1) and third-place (R2 vs. B2) matches are set for 5 p.m.