Though he admits to far less stress compared with the previous three years, Oakmont senior Jake Elliott does not expect this weekend's Tim Brown Memorial wrestling tournament to be a victory lap.

Elliott, the reigning tournament and state 145-pound champion, is now a known commodity who hopes to use the event as a springboard into postseason competition, much the way he did last year.

"It's a good test," Elliott said. "The right guys (will be) here at my weight – the guys I'll have to beat to qualify for state."

The tournament takes over downtown Sacramento's venerable Memorial Auditorium today and Saturday, showcasing more than 700 wrestlers in 64-man brackets. It features some of the best wrestlers not only in the Sac-Joaquin Section but from throughout Northern California, Nevada and Oregon. The 2012 edition features 44 wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in the state in their divisions by California Wrestler Newsletter.

Seven of them will be in Elliott's 152-pound weight class, where he is ranked No. 2 in the state. The field includes No. 3 Austin Branum of Del Oro, the defending tournament 140-pound champion; and football standout Sean Tow of Union Mine, No. 12 in the state.

"I don't get caught up in rankings the way I did as a sophomore and junior," Elliott said. "I know I'll have to wrestle some tough matches."

Dave Wells, Elliott's coach, also anticipates stout competition for Elliott's practice partner Peter Santos, the state's eighth-ranked 160-pounder. That field includes No. 4 Keaton Subjeck of Oak Ridge and No. 9 Adam Wagner of Granite Bay.

"This thing is huge," Wells said. "In my mind, it's one of, if not the most important tournaments of the season. It dictates where you'll be seeded for section and state if you keep winning."

Tournament founder William Lum, Foothill's athletic director and wrestling coach, said that its timing – three weeks before the postseason – is one reason for the tournament's popularity. Another reason is that Northern and North Coast section schools don't have to trek down to Southern California for high-level competition.

"With our section being so tough," Lum said, "other sections want to come and wrestle our guys."

One of Lum's Foothill competitors headlines a crowded heavyweight field, as Michael Lowman defends his 2011 title. Lowman, the third-ranked 285-pounder in the state, shares the field with No. 11 Jordan Alleva of Folsom, No. 16 Jaharee Taylor of Elk Grove and No. 19 Jeff Camilli of Ponderosa.

"When one of our (Foothill) guys wins, it's a big deal to them," Lum said. "Mike knows it's a tough tournament and that there are guys who can beat him."

This is the sixth year the tournament has taken the name of Brown, a former Foothill wrestler who was killed in action in Iraq in November 2006. Members of the Brown family, including older brother Keith, routinely volunteer at the event.

AREA WRESTLERS TO WATCH

The top area wrestlers by weight class competing in this weekend's Tim Brown Memorial tournament (with state ranking):

Wt. / Name / School / Year / Rank

106 / Tristan Scott / Elk Grove / So. / 40

113 / Sawyer Mosel / Nevada Union / Jr. / –

120 / Lorenzo De La Riva / Folsom / Fr. / 15

126 / Connor Pollock / Folsom / Sr. / 3

132 / Martin Ramirez / Elk Grove / Sr. / 3

138 / Kyle Ferguson / El Dorado / Jr. / 32

145 / Nick Fiegener / Folsom / So. / 15

152 / Jake Elliott / Oakmont / Sr. / 2

160 / Keaton Subjeck / Oak Ridge / Jr. / 4

170 / Mitchell Woods / Union Mine / Sr. / 14

182 / Jordan Sepeda / Natomas / Jr. / 4

195 / Tevenn Lewis / Folsom / Sr. / 28

220 / Josh Letuligasenoa / Elk Grove / Sr. / 6

285 / Michael Lowman / Foothill / Sr. / 3

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