Payday finally arrived.

After months of rigorous exercise combined with periods of near starvation to make weight, local wrestlers finally got to the point in the season when they were rewarded for their exhaustive efforts with region and state championships.

Not surprisingly, for the third straight year, Pleasant Grove’s squad brought home the fattest paycheck by winning the Region 4 championship on Feb. 1.

“We’ve been working really hard all season and this is really payday,” said Pleasant Grove assistant coach Chris Burton. “It didn’t go exactly as we planned, but I’m pleased with how we did.”

Once again, the Vikings were nothing short of dominant in the region tournament as they had the team championship in the bag before the final round had even begun. American Fork led the team standings after winning the day’s first bout, but Pleasant Grove took the lead after the second match and never looked back.

Although there was little drama in the team standings, there was still plenty left to be decided on the mat as there were several great championship matches.

One of the most exciting contests was the rubber match between Pleasant Grove’s Sean McLean and Lone Peak’s Taylor Van Leeuwen at 189 pounds. After a scoreless first period, McLean opened the scoring with a second period escape.

McLean retained the 1-0 lead until the third, when Van Leeuwen got an escape of his own, followed by a takedown to take a 3-1 lead. The third period ended with a McLean escape and takedown, then a Van Leeuwen escape which resulted in a 4-4 tie and overtime.

In the overtime period, McLean, who doubles as the Viking football team’s middle linebacker, used his patented double-leg takedown to get the win.

“I think it comes from football, so it’s just a branch off of it,” McLean said of his move. “I guess it’s second nature. I didn’t want to lose again, I guess. That’s what you practice for all year. Every win makes it worthwhile, but especially one that’s a championship.

“I wish I would’ve beat him earlier, but you get another chance I guess. Proves who’s tougher.”

“Sean is always a blast to watch,” Burton said. “He’s got a great double, he’s real quick, he’s real explosive. We as coaches just wish he would shoot a little bit earlier. He can always take kids down but he always waits a little bit. It was an exciting, intense match.”

The night’s most highly anticipated matchup was between 135-pound stars Rodney Cox of Spanish Fork and Pleasant Grove’s Bo Beckman. The two battled back and forth, but there was still no score after the first two periods.

Cox’s riding skills were put on full display as he controlled Beckman for the entire second period to keep the match scoreless. Cox took over in the third period by getting a quick escape, followed by a single-leg takedown. Cox finished off the match by turning Beckman and the ensuing near-fall points gave him a 7-0 lead on his way to winning 7-4.

In addition to McLean’s win, the Vikings also got region championships from 125-pounder Trevor Hawkins, 160-pounder Grant Gagon, Mitch Sanderson at 171 and Nick Fullmer at 215.

Burton was particularly excited about Fullmer. “I think he’s going to be the sleeper at state, he’s really going to turn some heads,” the coach said. “He’s been real consistent, real solid, and I think he’ll do great things. I honestly think he’s got a good chance.”

Burton thought the meet was a good one for the Vikingsas a team but also individually. “I think this tournament was good for a lot of them to see what they’re capable of,” he said. “It’s just good for us to come to a tournament like this where we can turn some heads and where we can impress people.”

In addition to the title winners, the Vikings qualified nine other grapplers for the state tournament. They include Justin Olsen (3rd, 103), Keola Goodman (2nd, 112), Craig Young (3rd, 112), Brock Nichols (2nd, 119), Beckman (2nd, 135), Alex Nicholes (3rd, 140), Brad Biesinger (3rd, 145), Zane Nielsen (2nd, 152) and Tucker Stoffer (2nd, 160).

Beky Beaton contributed to this report.

PLEASANT GROVE RESULTS AT REGION 4 TOURNAMENT. RECORDS ARE AS OF THE START OF THE MEET.

103 – Shane Richins (6-26) placed fifth and scored 2.50 team points. Quarterfinal – Jason Ballantyne (AF) 2-2 won by pin (Pin 4:56); Cons. Round 1 – won by tech fall over Ryan Pehrson (SF) 0-2 (TF 19-3); Cons. Semi – Justin Olsen (PG) 6-5 won by pin (Pin 5:28); 5th Place Match – won by decision over Travin Gardiner (SF) 5-25 (Dec 6-1).

103 – Justin Olsen (6-5) placed third and scored 16 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Travin Gardiner (SF) 5-25 (Pin 2:21); Semifinal – Jake Fredrickson (MoV) 33-5 won by pin (Pin 1:59); Cons. Semi – won by pin over Shane Richins (PG) 6-26 (Pin 5:28); 3rd Place Match – won by pin over Jason Ballantyne (AF) 2-2 (Pin 2:23).

112 – Craig Young (6-4) placed third and scored 14 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Craig Peterson (LP) 9-22 (Pin 1:47); Semifinal – Keola Goodman (PG) 38-9 won by pin (Pin 5:40); Cons. Semi – won by pin over Kyle Cassingham (SF) 0-2 (Pin 3:30); 3rd Place Match – won by decision over Kyle Kiriyama (AF) 17-19 (Dec 12-9).

112 – Keola Goodman (38-9) placed second and scored 18 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Taylor Pierce (Lone Peak) 0-2 (Pin 0:35); Semifinal – won by pin over Craig Young (PG) 6-4 (Pin 5:40); 1st Place Match – Kaleb Ashworth (SF) 31-7 won by decision (Dec 6-4).

119 – Chad Lott (0-2) was eliminated in two rounds.

119 – Brock Nichols (22-17) placed second and scored 18 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Chad Lott (PG) 0-2 (Pin 4:20); Semifinal – won by pin over Jace Kelly (SF) 2-2 (Pin 1:19); 1st Place Match – Paul Johnson (Lone Peak) 38-6 won by pin (Pin 2:33).

125 – Trevor Hawkins (14-14) placed first and scored 22 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Michael Arnold (Timpanogos) 3-31 (Pin 1:29); Semifinal – won by decision over Taylor Frampton (LP) 15-17 (Dec 10-6); 1st Place Match – won by pin over Carter Roberts (MV) 15-17 (Pin 3:41).

130 – Evan Quarnberg (13-7) placed fifth and scored 3 team points. Quarterfinal – Todd Daering (LP) 13-7 won by decision (Dec 5-2); Cons. Round 1 – won by injury default over Clint Randall (AF) 0-2 (I-D); Cons. Semi – Andy Kitchen (AF) 18-9 won by decision (Dec 7-4); 5th Place Match – won by decision over Todd Daering (Dec 10-5).

130 – Clint Jacob (0-2) was eliminated in two rounds.

135 – Chase Lott (6-13) placed sixth and scored 3 team points. Quarterfinal – Clay Cook (Lone Peak) 21-12 won by major decision (Maj 14-5); Cons. Round 1 – won by pin over Daniel Hoffman (Timpanogos) 3-33 (Pin 1:50); Cons. Semi – Clay Frost (Mountain View) 33-8 won by major decision (Maj 14-3); 5th Place Match – Clay Cook (LP) 21-12 won by decision (Dec 7-6).

135 – Bo Beckman (16-4) placed second and scored 17 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Steve Isaacson (AF) 8-19 (Pin 4:28); Semifinal – won by major decision over Clay Frost (MV) 33-8 (Maj 14-5); 1st Place Match – Rodney Cox (SF) 18-4 won by decision (Dec 7-4).

140 – Alex Nicholes (20-21) placed third and scored 11 team points. Quarterfinal – won by decision over Garrick Gaffney (MV) 2-2 (Dec 11-5); Semifinal – Gabe Raeder (MV) 25-14 won by decision (Dec 2-1); Cons. Semi – won by decision over Brett Grover (SF) 5-23 (Dec 7-0); 3rd Place Match – won by major decision over Michael Shurtliff (Timpanogos) 14-14 (Maj 12-3).

145 – Brad Biesinger (19-15) placed third and scored 12 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Tanner Prestwich (Timpanogos) 12-17 (Pin 3:40); Semifinal – Zane Mendenhall (LP) 30-12 won by decision (Dec 5-0); Cons. Semi – won by decision over Jens Koefoed (SF) 8-6 (Dec 14-9); 3rd Place Match – won by decision over Dustin Tolman (MV) 21-17 (Dec 14-9).

145 – Joel Robinette (7-6) was eliminated in two rounds.

152 – Zane Nielsen (17-12) placed second and scored 18 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Casey Shepherd (SF) 11-9 (Pin 1:25); Semifinal – won by pin over Josh Hunsaker (P) 17-11 (Pin 2:33); 1st Place Match – Dave Sorenson (SF) 34-12 won by decision (Dec 9-2).

152 – Eddie Schofield (12-5) placed fifth and scored 3 team points. Quarterfinal – Josh Hunsaker (Lone Peak) 17-11 won by decision (Dec 12-7); Cons. Round 1 – won by pin over Casey Shepherd (SF) 11-9 (Pin 2:54); Cons. Semi – Chris Ferguson (MV) 18-12 won by decision (Dec 9-5); 5th Place Match – won by decision over Shane Kitchen (AF) 5-27 (Dec 11-4).

160 – Grant Gagon (29-16) placed first and scored 22 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Logan Connors (Timpanogos) 5-19 (Pin 0:55); Semifinal – won by pin over Dan Gillie (SF) 7-5 (Pin 3:59); 1st Place Match – won by decision over Tucker Stoffer (PG) 2-1 (Dec 10-7).

160 – Tucker Stoffer (2-1) placed second and scored 14 team points. Quarterfinal – won by decision over Jake Horan (AF) 17-17 (Dec 5-2); Semifinal – won by decision over Christian Stilson (LP) 35-8 (Dec 5-4); 1st Place Match – Grant Gagon (PG) 29-16 won by decision (Dec 10-7).

171 – Mitch Sanderson (40-6) placed first and scored 22 team points. Quarterfinal – won by tech fall over Tanner Jones (LP) 2-2 (TF 21-5); Semifinal – won by tech fall over Kyle Sumsion (AF) 10-22 (TF 22-7); 1st Place Match – won by major decision over Kyle Weight (SF) 27-11 (Maj 14-6).

189 – Sean McLean (35-11) placed first and scored 19.50 team points. Quarterfinal – won by tech fall over Mike Ames (SF) 1-3 (TF 26-10); Semifinal – won by decision over Logan Gerratt (AF) 25-12 (Dec 11-6); 1st Place Match – won in overtime over Taylor Van Leeuwen (LP) 32-12 (OT 6-4).

215 – Parker Dawe (2-2) placed fifth and scored 3 team points. Quarterfinal – Tyler Curtis (LP) 13-3 won by decision (Dec 11-7); Cons. Round 1 – won by pin over CJ Spencer (Timpanogos) 4-24 (Pin 3:07); Cons. Semi – Kevin Whimpey (LP) 14-13 won by pin (Pin 1:49); 5th Place Match – won by pin over Tyler Aston (AF) 8-13 (Pin 3:40).

215 – Nick Fullmer (37-6) placed first and scored 24 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over CJ Spencer (Timpanogos) 4-24 (Pin 0:48); Semifinal – won by pin over Tyler Curtis (LP) 13-3 (Pin 3:10); 1st Place Match – won by pin over Brock Wilson (SF) 8-5 (Pin 2:58).

285 – Mike Le (14-18) placed fifth and scored 4 team points. Quarterfinal – won by pin over Tyler Christensen (LP) 1-3 (Pin 1:05); Semifinal – Jason Day (AF) 27-11 won by decision (Dec 11-7); Cons. Semi – Kyle Rodda (MV) 12-14 won by decision (Dec 14-10); 5th Place Match – won by injury default over Tyler Christensen (LP) 1-3 (I-D).