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Westlake wrestler Keilikki Nau Rarick pins Murray's Cheyenne Ruiz during the 2024 Ross Brunson All-Star Dual at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Westlake wrestler Israel Borge battles Uintah's Michael Alexander during the 2024 Ross Brunson All-Star Dual at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Payson wrestler Landen Shurtleff battles Olympus's Andre Leota during the 2024 Ross Brunson All-Star Dual at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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ALA wrestler Rachel Camacho pins Riverton's Bella Butterfield during the 2024 Ross Brunson All-Star Dual at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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The Ross Brunson All-Star Dual will have its 25th competition Wednesday at the UCCU Event Center on the campus of Utah Valley University. The wrestling will start at 5:45 p.m. and will feature some of the best Utah wrestlers for both boys and girls. Proceeds of the event will go to support the UVU wrestling program.

The evolution of the All-Star Dual has taken some interesting twists and turns over the years.

Some incarnation of it has existed off and on for five decades. Yours truly even wrestled in one as literally a last-minute replacement. Then my younger brother Scott wrestled in a tournament called “The Masters” which was actually a postseason tournament put together by former Payson head coach Chris Brown where state placers had an automatic invitation.

A few years later when I was coaching at Provo, Southern Utah University and Dr. Richard Lund put together an event where the individual state champions of the different classifications would compete against each other. I was actually asked to coach the 4A team.

While these events provided excellent competition, since they were postseason, they could never draw the crowds necessary to sustain them and many of the top wrestlers didn’t attend.

But in 2001, in the midst of trying to raise funds to start up the Utah Valley wrestling program, the Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation under the leadership of Russ Brunson, who now the event is named after, came up with the concept of doing an all-star competition during the season rather than after the traditional state tournaments.

The idea worked beyond expectations as it truly attracted the best of the best.

The inaugural event took place at Jordan High School in front of a standing-room only crowd. The match everyone wanted to see was Brighton’s Robb Maxwell versus Wasatch’s Judd Sweat. Both were returning state champions who had met twice with each one garnering a victory. What made the match even more intriguing was the two, at least then, didn’t care much for each other.

The match lived up to the hype and the event was such a rousing success that it was moved to Utah Valley’s UCCU Event Center.

The format of the first all-star dual was two teams, the 1A through 3A on one team vs. the 4A and 5A on the other. But then around 2010 the event was expanded to four teams with 1A/2A combining for a team while the other classifications had their own teams. Action went from one mat to three mats and the amount of participants doubled.

When the UHSAA created six classifications, the event changed up again, first having six teams and now four for both the boys and girls.

Since its inception, there were always the issues that sometimes the two best wrestlers came from the same classification or certain weight classes were just loaded with elite competitors. Thus wildcard matches, and later a wildcard team, were created.

Also over time, team scores were deemphasized in favor of making the best individual matchups. Sometimes wrestlers from different weight classes even squared off against each other.

But in recent years, there have also been some developments that are disappointing. Most notably, some of the state’s most elite wrestlers are skipping this competition.

A good share of our top wrestlers leave the state once or twice a season to compete in prestigious national events like the Walsh Ironman, the Beast of the East, the Reno Tournament of Champions, or most recently the Doc Buchanan. This weekend, Utah will have its largest in-season tournament with the Rockwell Rumble.

Citing reasons from being banged up to just exhaustion, some wrestlers have chosen to not to participate in the all-star duals.

It must be said that these are issues for the boys. The female wrestlers in Utah still approach this event with great enthusiasm and haven’t provided the drama that their male counterparts have to event organizers.

Girls wrestling in Utah has only been sanctioned since 2020 and these meat grinder in-season national events for female competitors don’t really exist at the level they do for the boys.

As for USA Wrestling Utah that now runs the event, there has been more concerted efforts to gloss up the presentation for this year and some investigation is being made to possibly change up the format again.

Fans of prep wrestling in Utah will still get to see some incredible wrestling Wednesday night even if some of our best boy wrestlers choose to sit this one out.

Local boy wrestlers in the Ross Brunson All-Star Dual: Ben Belliston (Timpanogos, 3A/4A) 113 pounds; Glade Harman (Mountain View, 3A/4A) 132 pounds; Connor Knudsen (Timpanogos, 3A/4A) 138 pounds; Isaac McGee (Mountain View, 3A/4A) 215 pounds; Karson Shelley (Spanish Fork, 5A/6A) 120 pounds; Ben Kohler (Wasatch, 5A/6A) 132 pounds; Hanks Jacobsen (American Fork, 5A/6A) 138 pounds; Tege Kelley (American Fork, 5A/6A) 150 pounds; Kaden Moore (Salem Hills, 5A/6A) 190 pounds; Kaden Oldroyd (Westlake, Wildcard) 106 pounds; Corbyn Robison (Westlake, Wildcard) 120 pounds; Jamyne Xoumphonphacky (Westlake/Wildcard) 126 pounds; Caleb Jackson (Pleasant Grove, Wildcard) 132 pounds; Micah Murdoch (American Fork/Wildcard) 144 pounds; Ian Fritz (Pleasant Grove, Wildcard) 157 pounds; Kaizen Detoles (Westlake, Wildcard) 165 pounds; Landon Shumway (Mountain View, Wildcard) 190 pounds; Colten Cook (Westlake, Wildcard) 215 pounds.

Local girl wrestlers in the Ross Brunson All-Star Dual: Madeliegh Grimstead (Tintic, 1A/2A), 100 pounds; Jaskin Hair (ALA, 1A/2A) 105 pounds; Martha Camacho (ALA, 1A/2A) 115 pounds; Makayla Carrick (Salem Hills, 5A/6A) 115 pounds; Ellie Jensen (Maple Mountain 5A/6A) 130 pounds; Giovanna Good (Cedar Valley, 5A/6A) 135 pounds; Rhya Balmforth (Cedar Valley, 5A/6A) 140 pounds; Avery Winterton (Salem Hills, 5A/6A) 155 pounds; Tevia Nau Rarick (Westlake, 5A/6A) 190 pounds; Keilikki Nau Rarick (Westlake, 5A/6A) 235 pounds; Marabelle Brown (Wasatch, Wildcard) 125 pounds; Makenzi McCoy (Wasatch, Wildcard) 130 pounds; Regan Heywood (Wasatch, Wildcard) 135 pounds; Alexandra Gates (Cedar Valley, Wildcard) 135 pounds, Isabella Sagastume (Cedar Valley/Wildcard) 140 pounds; Madison Sherman (Skyridge, Wildcard) 155 pounds; Ruby Lindstrom (Salem Hills, Wildcard) 155 pounds; Asinate Mafuahingano (Cedar Valley/Wildcard) 190 pounds.

Boys Feature Match: In a match at 157 pounds, Grand County 2-time state champ Austin Paris will take on Ian Fritz of Pleasant Grove. For many Utah prep wrestling fans, it will probably be the first time they will have seen Fritz, a 2-time state champ from North Carolina that is a Utah Valley commit. Paris and Fritz placed sixth and seventh at the prestigious Doc Buchanan last weekend but did not meet.

Girls Feature Match: A 235-pound match features two of the top female wrestlers not just in Utah but the country. Westlake’s Keilikki Nau Rarick is going for her fourth state title while Tilisi Matakaiongo of Canyon View has won two state titles and is unbeaten. The two met at the Christmas Clash where the Falcon wrestler was victorious. Now Rarick is seeking redemption.

A complete list of competitors and matches can be found at www.wrestleutah.com.

Boy’s Wrestling

Over the holiday break Mountain View scored an impressive dual meet victory over the 8-time defending 3A champs Juab, 49-28.

The upper weights delivered as the Bruins won the last five weight divisions, four by pin and one by technical fall. Pins were earned by Mason Grow (165), Landon Shumway (190), Isaac McGee (215), and Jonathan Herring (285), while Hyrum Stafford (175) won by technical fall.

Mountain View also got key victories from Christopher Torres (113), Joseph Blackwell (126), Brigham Cookson (132) and Glade Harman (138). Cookson won his bout 14-9 against Drake Johnson in a battle between returning state placers. Juab’s Ladd Holman kept his undefeated record intact with a pin at 157 pounds for the Wasps, as did freshman Trevor Cowan (106).

Spanish Fork won the prestigious Richardson Memorial tournament this past weekend with 234 points. Juab was second with 197.5 points while tourney host Box Elder was third with 177.

The Dons crowned two individual champions with Karson Shelley (120) and Ryker Olson (165) as Taegen Leavitt (113), Kyler Spencer (126), Porter Olson (150), and Hyrum King (190) placed second.

Payson’s Daxton Jolley (113) won an individual title for the Lions as did Jamyne Xoumphonphackdy (126) for Westlake as both teams finished ninth and tenth place in the standings. American Fork’s Micah Murdoch (138) earned an impressive title from the third seed as he defeated the top seed Tel Parry from Star Valley 8-6 in the championship final.

Skyrdige’s Jacob Millward (113), Kale Wright (138), Nate Terrazas (157), Dallin Davidson (165), and Elias Nickel (190) all won individual titles at the Best of the West tournament. Asher Millward (120) added a second place finish as the Falcons placed second in the team standings to Syracuse as a total of 18 teams battled it out at Tooele High School.

Timpanogos placed second at the Winter Classic held in Richfield at the Sevier Event Center as Delta took home the gold trophy.

The Timberwolves crowned three individual champions with Fisher Jolley (165), Xander Carlson (175) and Micah Wilcox (190), while Connor Knudsen placed second at 138 pounds.

Springville finished seventh in the 32-team field as Tuiono Valeti won gold at 215 pounds, while Lisiate Valeti placed second at 175 pounds. Pleasant Grove’s Bo Goodman climbed to the top of the podium at 157 pounds as the Vikings placed ninth as a team. Jesus Lopez (285) also won an individual title for the American Leadership Academy (ALA).

Three local wrestlers placed at the prestigious Doc Buchanan tournament held in Clovis, California. This tournament features the best teams in California but will attract top wrestlers and teams from regional states Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Washington. The tourney also had wrestlers come from Alaska, Illinois, Texas and even Georgia.

Pleasant’s Grove had two medalists with Bradlee Farrer, sixth place at 165 pounds, and Ian Fritz, seventh place at 157 pounds. Fritz is a move-in from North Carolina where he won two 4A titles in the Tar Heel State. Westlake’s Josh Fish, though unseeded, placed sixth at 153 pounds.

It should be noted that the Beehive State’s best finish came from South Summit’s Travyn Boger who placed second at 285 pounds.

Big Time Performance of the Week: ALA’s Jesus Lopez won the 285-pound title at the Winter Classic. The Eagle big man wasn’t seriously challenged in the tourney as he went 5-0 with three pins and two technical falls to run his record to a sparkling 20-1 on the season.

Match of the Week: In a battle of returning state placers, Spanish Fork’s Ryker Olsen met up with Fremont’s Kamren Wolff in the 165-pound championship match at the Richardson Memorial.

Wolff came out strong with a takedown and near fall to stake himself out to a quick 5-0 lead. Olson did escape toward the end of the first round to trim the Silverwolf grappler’s lead to 5-1. Olson added a reversal to make it 5-3 after two rounds which just set up the wild finish. Wolff earned an escape to start the third period but after a takedown by Olson knotted the score at 6-6, Wolff earned a reversal with just 17 seconds left to go ahead 8-6. But in a wild scramble Olson found himself on top and then he pinned Wolff with just five seconds left to claim the title.

Girls Wrestling

Cedar Valley came home with the gold trophy besting 31 other teams at the Winter Classic held in Richfield.

Giovanna Good (135) and Asinate Mafuahingano (190) won individual titles as Nevi Brady (105), Isabella Sagastume (140), Inaily Samaniego (145) and Hallie Denney (155) were runners-up.

Utah County had a strong showing as Salem Hills, Mountain View and Springville finished second through fourth respectively.

Addie Brindley (100), Makayla Carrick (115), and Avery Winterton (155) climbed to the top of the podium for Salem Hills as Hannah Coyne (110) placed second.

ALA’s Jaskin Hair (105) and Orem’s Sophia Johnson (130) won titles, while Provo’s Ella Reynolds won a silver medal at 130 pounds.

Big-Time Performance of the Week: Orem’s Sophia Johnson, who trains with the Mountain View program, won the 130-pound division at the Winter Classic. Johnson, who placed second in 4A last year, defeated Salem Hills’ Kelseigh Banks, a returning 5A state champion, 8-7 in the semifinals. Then the Tiger grappler defeated Provo’s Ella Reynolds, who was the 4A runner-up last year in the weight class above Johnson, with a second round pin in the championship final. Johnson also had four other wins in the tourney, three by pin and one by major decision.

Match of the Week: In the championship finals of the Winter Classic at 105 pounds, ALA’s Jaskin Hair won a wild bout with Cedar Valley’s Nevi Brady, 12-9. The match went back and forth as Brady got the opening takedown but Hair reversed the Aviator wrestler and put her on her back for four points near fall to lead after round one, 6-3. Then Brady fought all the way back to tie the score 9-9 in the final round but she was penalized twice, while Hair added an escape to win 12-9.

Preece’s Power Poll (Boys Teams): 1. Layton (6A) 2. Westlake (6A) 3. Uintah (4A) 4. Millard (2A) 5. Spanish Fork (5A) 6. Corner Canyon (6A) 7. Juab (3A) 8. Syracuse (6A) 9. Timpanogos (4A) 10. Mountain View (4A) 11. Canyon View (3A) 12. Box Elder (5A) 13. Pleasant Grove (6A) 14. Wasatch (5A) 15. South Summit (3A) 16. Morgan (3A) 17. Beaver (2A) 18. Davis (6A) 19. Ridgeline (4A) 20. Bear River (4A).

Preece’s Power Poll (Girls Teams): 1. Bear River (4A) 2. Wasatch (5A) 3. Uintah (4A) 4. Cedar Valley (5A) 5. Salem Hills (5A) 6. Grantsville (3A) 7. Juab (3A) 8. Syracuse (6A) 9. Mountain Ridge (6A) 10. Hillcrest (5A) 11. Ridgeline (4A) 12. Canyon View (3A) 13. Union (3A) 14. Westlake (6A) 15. Mountain Crest (4A) 16. Mountain View (4A) 17. Springville (5A) 18. Davis (6A) 19. Copper Hills (6A) 20. Bonneville (5A).

Preece’s Top 10 Boy Wrestlers: 1. Travyn Boger (285) South Summit 2. Austin Paris (157/165) Grand County 3. Geronimo Rivera (138/144) Layton 4. Bradlee Farrer (157/165) Pleasant Grove 5. Mason Carlson (126) Syracuse 6. Leimana Fager (190/215) Corner Canyon 7. Noah Bull (144/150) Layton 8. Jason Worthley (150) West Field 9. Israel Borge (138) Westlake 10. Zion Borge (132) Westlake.

Preece’s Top 10 Girl Wrestlers: 1. Tilisa Matakaiongo (190/235) Canyon View 2. Keilikki Nau Rarick (235) Westlake 3. Kristina Kent (105) Davis 4. Lindsey Hansen (110) Tooele 5. Keegan Grange (120) Ridgeline 6. Sadie Rhodes (115) Uintah 7. Eliza Zimmerman (125) Hillcrest 8. Leena Sharp (100) Uintah 9. Eva Zimmerman (110) Hillcrest 10. Giovanna Good (135) Cedar Valley.