High school wrestling: Utah Valley should again be among the best in the state
Wrestlers duke it out on the mat during the 4A and 5A high school state wrestling championships on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Payson's Cameron Savage is thrown to the ground by a Maple Mountain's Korbon Tibbals during the 220-pound quarterfinals the first day of the 4A/5A high school state wrestling tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Trevor Cluff (Wasatch) 42-7 won by decision over Gabriel Terry (Mountain View) 44-9 during the 4A and 5A high school state wrestling championships on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, at Utah Valley University in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Matthew Zorn of Pleasant Grove and Mejia Isaiah of Westlake wrestle during the state quarterfinals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Enthusiasm is sky high for the Skyridge wrestling program and Falcon head coach Lyle Mangum is looking at the bright side of things when faced with a challenge of starting a program at a brand new school.
Skyridge isn’t without quality athletes. The football team had a winning season, the girls soccer team made the state quarterfinals and the volleyball teams placed second in region play and seventh in state.
“I think our main goal is to win a region championship and advance on to the State Dual Tournament and then take our whole varsity to the state individual tournament,” Mangum said. “The kids have great captains that push each other and I have an outstanding coaching staff that has high qualifications in teaching technique and how to wrestle the right way. We are very excited to represent Skyridge High School.”
Mangum has also put together a pretty coaching staff that includes former Mountain View head coach Tim Blatter and his son Blake, a four-time state placer including a state title his senior year.
Mangum will have some talent to work with as some wrestlers come in with previous experience from Lehi, along with some quality move-ins.
Colby Eastmond (120 pounds), who prepped at Lehi last year, was one match from placing in the 5A tournament. Brendon Betley (160) and brother Brad Betley (195) competed in the Texas state tournament. Mangum is very high on Hadley Cowan (113) and first-year wrestler Corbin Hampton (285), a senior who was a team leader on the football squad and shows lots of potential and athleticism.
Region 7 Notes: Region 7 will be the most-wide open and competitive region from top to bottom. Still, Mountain View remains the team to beat with returning state finalist Gabe Terry (126) and Brigham Miyazawa (132), a returning state placer. David Herring (285) and Austin Dutson (152) give the Bruins additional muscle. Corner Canyon, Alta and Orem could challenge the Bruins. Orem is led by Cooper Legas (182), who was one match from placing last year as a freshman. Provo could also get in the mix with 2015 state placer Schafer Heiner (138) and two-time state qualifier Peyton Griffin (126). Timpanogos has Alex Eidem (182) while Timpview’s Rusty Lamb (285) is another quality big man for the region, which also boasts Corner Canyon’s Shaun Stockwell, a state placer from two seasons ago.
REGION 4
Westlake jumped a level last year, placing ninth in the 5A state tournament ,and head Coach Cody Burdett wants to improve even further. The Thunder recently won two dual meets at the Wrestling Against Cancer Duals besting both Corner Canyon and Timpview. Indeed, the Thunder look to make even more noise in the 2016-17 campaign.
One of the reasons for Burdett’s optimism is the work ethic his wrestlers have shown in the off-season.
“This spring, we had 28 kids attend at least one off-season tournament,” Burdett said. “These young wrestlers are driven, something I haven’t seen in years past. They really want to do whatever it takes to get better. I’ve never had so many off season practices and lifting session like I have this year. And they are coming in numbers. What they lack in technique and strength, they make up for in willpower and desire.”
Izaya Valdez (113) and Kagan Oliver (120) are returning state placers, and though just sophomores, will carry the burden of high expectations and leadership.
Other top Thunder grapplers include freshman Caden Dunn (103), who placed fourth in the junior high super state tournament last year, and state qualifiers Jordan Taylor (113), Andrew Gonzalez (160) and Brian Beesley (220). Weston Bartlett (170) is a move-in from Iowa who Burdett is very high on.
Burdett knows his team competes in the toughest league in 5A wrestling but is excited about the process of building a true championship contender.
“Building a championship program is a process, but I believe that the Westlake community is laying the foundation for championship level wrestling for years to come,” Burdett stated.
Region 4 Notes: The Pleasant Grove Vikings remain the team to beat in Region 4 and 5A. Brandon Closson (220) will not only be a contender for the state title but for All-American honors as well. The Zorn brothers (Cole and Mathew), placed third and fourth respectively last year at 106 and 126 pounds but expect both to move up weight classes. Derek Fisher (120 last season) placed third in state last year and has turned heads at the fall league. Another 5A consolation champion was Maika Tauteoli (182) last year. American Fork will be led by returning state placers Taylor Durfee (138 last year), Shadrach Preece (145 last year) and Jacob Rhoton (182 last year). For Lehi, Dallin Corrington (152 last year) and Weston Anderton (195 last year) are returning state placers and Carson Terrell (220) is a quality athlete who should turn heads as well. As for Lone Peak Knights Zach Moore (285) is a returning state placer and Lucas Taylor (145) will be a contender as well.
REGION 8
Wasatch and Maple Mountain battled it out for supremacy last year, and for the second straight year find themselves ranked as the top two teams in 4A. Region 8 is wrestling war as it features not only these powerhouse programs, but the likes of Payson and Uintah, which have regularly won trophies in the 3A in classification, as well as Salem Hills, a team that is on everyone’s radar. Spanish Fork and Springville often rise up with an individual wrestler or two who can upset the apple cart.
Wasatch won the 4A state championship in both the traditional and dual meet format, but was actually knocked off in a dual last year by Maple Mountain, which won the Region 8 Dual Meet title. Wasatch avenged that loss knocking off the Golden Eagles in the finals of the Dual State Championships. Both won their respective divisional titles before Wasatch took home the gold trophy in the traditional tournament.
The question with Wasatch might not be, are they the best team in state regardless of classification but are the Wasps arguably the best team in Utah history?
Wasatch returns five state champions in Trevor Cluff (113), Zac Kohler (132), Corbin Smith (145), Jakob Discher (160) and Ritchie Heywood (182). Wasatch also has returning state finalists Seth Gardner (170) and DJ Cohen (195) along with returning state placer Steven Ballif (138). Add in a bevy of other state qualifiers and the top-ranked freshman in the state in Stockton O’brien (126) and the Wasps are loaded.
Maple Mountain has a strong squad, but head coach Justin Judkins thinks the Golden Eagles are rebuilding a bit.
“We had a lot of guys with experience graduate so this year is definitely a rebuilding year,” Judkins said. “Our numbers are the lowest I’ve had since I have been at Maple Mountain, but I am excited about our varsity line up though.”
Quentin Mortimer and Cole Patterson will anchor the lower weights for the Golden Eagles while Brandyn VanTassell, Spencer Curtis, Trystan Hellstrom, and Wade Bastian take care of the upper weights. Judkins expects good things from both of his 285-pounders Carson Kay and Joel Biesenger.
Region 8 Notes: If a team could challenge Maple Mountain or Box Elder for the silver trophy in 4A it might be Payson. The Lions return state champion Chayce Loveless (182 last year) and his first cousin Jed Loveless, who placed second in state at 138 pounds. Payden Osborn, who placed second in state two years when Payson was in 3A, is expected to be back from a knee injury to help the Lions in the upper weights. Tyler Manoonkin was a state placer last year at 160 pounds. Other returning placers including Jacob Etheridge (106 last year) and Wyatt Monroe (152 pounds last year). Salem Hills will have a strong team contending for a top five position with the likes of three-time state finalist Jaxon VanTassell (170 pounds last year) and two-time state placer Kyle Larsen (160 last year). Sophomore Chyler Zeeman placed sixth last year at 113 pounds while Noah Patterson was fourth at 126 pounds. Spanish Fork doesn’t have any returning state placers but Keala Anderson, Tyler Giles, Brock Mcleod, and Tino Leilua qualified for state. Sophomore Simote Iloa was a state qualifier for Springville. Though not in the Daily Herald coverage area, Uintah is also a team with trophy aspirations and Tucker Tomlinson, a state champion last year at 160 pounds, will lead the Ute attack.
Region 7 Predictions: 1. Mountain View 2. Corner Canyon 3. Alta 4. Orem 5.. Skyridge 6. Provo 7. Timpanogos 8. Timpview.
Region 4 Predictions: 1. Pleasant Grove 2. Herriman 3. American Fork 4. Westlake 5. Riverton 6. Lehi 7. Lone Peak.
Region 8 Predictions: 1. Wasatch 2. Maple Mountain 3. Payson 4. Uintah 5. Salem Hills 6. Spanish Fork 7. Springville.
4A Top 10: 1. Wasatch 2. Maple Mountain 3. Box Elder 4. Payson 5. Uintah 6. Salem Hills 7. Woods Cross 8. Spanish Fork 9. Highland 10. Mountain View.
5A Top 10: 1. Pleasant Grove 2. Layton 3. Herriman 4. Syracuse 5. American Fork 6. Viewmont 7. Fremont 8. Davis 9. Copper Hills 10. Westlake.
Preece’s Power Poll Top 20: 1. Wasatch 2 Pleasant Grove 3. Layton 4. Maple Mountain 5. Box Elder 6. Payson 7. Delta 8. Herriman 9. Millard 10. South Summit 11. Syracuse 12. Uintah 13. North Summit 14. Bear River 15. Salem Hills 16. North Sevier 17. American Fork 18. Viewmont 19. Juab 20. Fremont.