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Pleasant Grove wrestlers Hunter Gillman (left) and Trevyn Gates battle in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Westlake wrestler Makaylee Huntsman competes in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lone Peak wrestler Cayaen Smith (right) swings around his opponent in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Skyridge wrestler Billy Ferguson (top) competes in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lone Peak wrestler Corbin Baumgartner (left) battles Westlake's Kanyon Lee in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Pleasant Grove wrestlers Hunter Gillman (right) and Trevyn Gates talk after their match in the quarterfinals during the first day of 6A state wrestling on the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The 6A boys state wrestling tournament being held at the Utah Valley UCCU Event Center in Orem is shaping up to be an epic dogfight between two storied programs.

After day one, Layton (113) leads the four-time defending state champions Pleasant Grove (111) by just two points.

Westlake (89.5) sits in third while Corner Canyon (80.5) is fourth just ahead of Fremont (79). Lone Peak is in eighth place with 45.5 points as Skyridge (34) sits in 11th, just a single point ahead of American Fork (33).

The Vikings actually have seven in the semifinals versus six for Layton. The Viking semifinalists include Jacob Carson (120), Israel Gonzalez (126), Koda DeAtley (138), Max Benson (144), Trevyn Gates (175), Luke Evans (190) and Kort Wilkinson (285). Ironically, there aren’t any head-to-head meetings between the two programs in the semifinals, though the two teams will have three match-ups in the blood round (where wrestlers go from eight to the six place winners).

Westlake has five in the semifinals as Korbin Chucran (106), Brayden Robison (132), Tucker Butler (144), Jace Brower (150) and Jacob Green (157) won both of their matches Thursday.

Though Lone Peak doesn’t have a lot of depth, the Knights definitely have star power as the Knights pushed four into the semifinals with Corbin Baumgartner (165), brothers Cayaen (175) and Mahkyi (190) Smith and big man Cooper Mumford (285).

Skyridge has Josh Millward (150) still seeking his second straight state title while American Fork’s Dallan Hunsaker survived a 3-2 nailbiter in the quarterfinals against Layton’s Ryker Brann. The Caveman grappler also seeks a second state title.

It should be noted that the recent passing of longtime coach Darold Henry is being commemorated as Pleasant Grove wrestlers don special singlets in his honor. Also, many coaches throughout the tournament are wearing navy blue wrist bands with his name to recognize Henry’s significant contributions to the sport.

6A Girls Notes: It was a foregone conclusion that Westlake would win the 6A girls state wrestling title. The Thunder have both quantity (21 wrestlers in the field) and quality with four returning state champions and other big-time talent such as freshman sensation Keilikki Rarick at 235 pounds.

“It’s about our girls reaching their personal goals,” Westlake head coach Cody Burdett said.

While the Westlake returning champs and higher ranked wrestlers did their jobs, the Thunder got a nice surprise win at 130 pounds by Ameris Jensen when she came from behind to win her match against West Jordan’s Kai Hunter, 6-5.

“Ameris (Jensen) got a big win against a girl that beat her at the divisional,” Burdett said. “She got a takedown and rode her out the last five seconds to get the win. She did an awesome job.”

Westlake has 11 semifinalists with Jamie Barton (105 pounds), Ashley Cannon (120), Celeste De’Toles (125), Jensen (130), Quincy Peterson (135), Lizzie Shunn (140), Hailey Piig (140), Emmy Finlinson (155), Jessica Harrison (170), Rarick (235), and Makaylee Huntsman (235).

Pleasant Grove is having a nice tournament and the Vikings put four in the semifinals with Isabelle Fisher (105), Gracie Borchardt (125), Taylor Martin (140), and Brooklyn Hays (155).

Copper Hills is in second place with 102 points trailing Westlake (132) by 30 points. Pleasant Grove (79) is in a strong third position 17 points ahead of fourth place Mountain Ridge (61).

Skyridge (12) finds itself in 20th place while American Fork (3) sits in 24th place out of the 25 6A teams that are represented.

The semifinals, along with the consolation blood round to determine the final six state placers will begin at 11:00 a.m. today for both tournaments.

6A Boys Day 1 Team Scores: 1. Layton 113 2. Pleasant Grove 111 3. Westlake 89.5 4. Corner Canyon 80 5. Fremont 79 6. Syracuse 59 7. Mountain Ridge 50.5 8. Lone Peak 45.5 9 (T). Bingham 39.5, Davis 39.5 11. Skyridge 34 12. American Fork 33.

6A Boys Semifinal Match-ups Involving Local Wrestlers: Cole Fenwick (Layton) vs. Korbin Chuchran (Westlake), Layne Kleinmann (Mountain Ridge) vs. Zack Anderson (Syracuse). 120 pounds: Jacob Carson (Pleasant Grove) vs. Isaac Price (Copper Hills), Jace Lemons (Layton) vs. Jacob Waddoups (Davis). 126 pounds: Israel Gonzalez (Pleasant Grove) vs. Sutton Brown (Syracuse); Kysion Garcia (Mountain Ridge) vs. Quinn Bedell (Corner Canyon). 132 pounds: Tucker Keller (Fremont) vs. Dallan Hunsaker (American Fork); Brayden Robison (Westlake) vs. Payden Woolsey (Corner Canyon). 138 pounds: Koda DeAtley (Pleasant Grove) vs. Logan Hancey (Fremont); Preston Stevens (Mountain Ridge) vs. Brigham Bagley (Corner Canyon) 144 pounds: Drew Lang (West) vs. Tucker Butler (Westlake); Kaden Olson (Riverton) vs. Max Benson (Pleasant Grove). 150 pounds: Josh Millward (Skyridge) vs. Corbin Platt (Fremont); Jace Brower (Westlake) vs. Ty Carman (Herriman). 157 pounds: Sam May (Farmington) vs. Jacob Green (Westlake); Jordan Faifai (Syracuse) vs. Carson Neff (Bingham). 165 pounds: Tanner Giatras (Weber) vs. Zachary Phipps (Syracuse); Kael Bennie (Layton) vs. Corbin Baumgartner (Lone Peak). 175 pounds: Cayaen Smith (Lone Peak) vs. Jacob Keblis (Fremont); Geovanni Thomas (Davis) vs. Trevyn Gates (Pleasant Grove). 190 pounds: Mahkyi Smith (Lone Peak) vs. Ethan Hearne (Layton); Ridge Lindley (Fremont) vs. Luke Evans (Pleasant Grove). 285 pounds: Kort Wilkinson (Pleasant Grove) vs. Davis Pickett (Clearfield); Noah Linford (Layton) vs. Cooper Mumford (Lone Peak).

6A Girls Day 1 Team Scores: 1. Westlake 132 2. Copper Hills 102 3. Pleasant Grove 78 4. Mountain Ridge 61 5 (T). Riverton, 55 Syracuse 55 7 Cyprus 53 8 Granger 50 9 (T). Corner Canyon 48, Weber 48 20. Skyridge 12 24. American Fork 3.

6A Girls Semifinal Match-ups Involving Local Wrestlers: 105 pounds: Jamie Barton (Westlake) vs. Athena Oro (Granger); Isabelle Fisher (Pleasant Grove) vs. Kaauluni Hew-Len (Hunter). 120 Pounds: Ashley Cannon (Westlake) vs. Cheyenne Cummings (Cyprus); Kimberly Fowers (Copper Hills) vs. Olivia Barton (Syracuse); Celeste De’Toles (Westlake) vs. Valentin Martinez (Davis); Gracie Borchardt (Pleasant Grove) vs. Brylee Roennebeck (Syracuse). 130 pounds: Neida Valle (Hunter) vs. Ava Krebs (Pleasant Grove); Brinley Gines (Fremont) vs. Ameris Jensen (Westlake). 135 pounds: Quincy Peterson (Westlake) vs. Kara Noyce (Copper Hills); Meleana Fager (Corner Canyon) vs. Kate McNeil (Mountain Ridge). 140 pounds: Lizzie Shunn (Westlake) vs. Taylor Martin (Pleasant Grove); Kacy Mecham (Cyprus) vs. Hailey Piig (Westlake). 145 pounds: Emmy Finlinson (Westlake) vs. Leticia Garcia (Kearns); Bella Morgan (Corner Canyon) vs. Angela Van Valkenburg (Bingham). 155 pounds: Haley Diaz (Layton) vs. Bailee Nelson (Cyprus); Brooklyn Hays (Pleasant Grove) vs. Ellyana Shaner (Weber). 170 pounds: Adel Roennebeck (Syracuse) vs. Tayleigh Robertson (Copper Hills); Anya Hatch (Copper Hills) vs. Jessica Harrison (Westlake). 235 pounds: Keilikki Rarick (Westlake) vs. Zoie Nerch (Copper Hills); Bethany Gardner (Granger) vs. Makaylee Huntsman (Westlake).