The duals were created by former Bulldogs head coach Brian Preece as a tribute to his friend Ric Thompson, who passed away of the disease in November of 2010. The event will kick off the 2025-26 high school wrestling season.

Thompson led Payson to its first ever wrestling state title in 1998 and his son Tyson was a 3-time state champion at Lehi High School.

The boys will wrestle on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m. with the girls competing on Wednesday.

The feature dual for the boys will pit 3-time defending 6A champion Layton against 4A runner-up Timpanogos. Last year the Timberwolves beat both Layton and Westlake, which ended up as the 6A runner-up. However, the Thunder will not compete in the event this season.

Timpanogos will also take on 6A Skyridge. Falcons head man Lyle Mangum, who also coached at Lone Peak, has led a team in this event every year except the inaugural one.

Mountain View, which placed third in 5A, will wrestle Skyridge, then square off against Brighton. Host Provo will take on North Sanpete.

Between the two rounds of wrestling, Provo High will honor Sharlene (Shar) Ayoso, who is battling breast cancer. Shar’s husband Aaron coached youth athletics in Provo city for decades. Two of their sons, Bryce and Travis, wrestled for Provo High School. Travis was a 2-time state placer and 2-time region champion for the Bulldog program.

In the girls competition which starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday, returning 3A state champs Canyon View will battle Salem Hills. The Skyhawks placed third in last year’s 5A state tournament and were the runner-ups in 2023. Canyon View will also grapple against Layton while Salem Hills will also meet up against Skyridge.

Host Provo will take on Orem in another dual meet. The Tigers will have their own program with former Provo High wrestler Diego Pena as the Orem head coach.

Provo will actually wrestle Brighton first while Orem opens up against Manti. Mountain View will bring in a good team and will battle against Skyridge in one dual and Layton in another.

Joidee Gappmayer, who is the head girls coach at Brighton and fighting brain cancer, will be honored Wednesday between the first and second rounds of wrestling.

Daily passes are $8 for adults and $5 for students with passes for a family of four set at $30. Proceeds will contribute to a donation to the Ayoso and Gappmayer families.

WRESTLING AGAINST CANCER DUALS

3 p.m. Round

Mountain View vs. Skyridge

Brighton vs. North Sanpete

Layton vs. Timpanogos

4:30 p.m. Round

Mountain View vs. Brighton

Provo vs. North Sanpete

Timpanogos vs. Skyridge

Wednesday (Girls Matches)

11 a.m. Round

Mountain View vs. Layton

Manti vs. Orem

Canyon View vs. Salem Hills

12:30 p.m. Round

Skyridge vs. Salem Hills

Provo vs. Brighton

Canyon View vs. Layton

1:30 p.m. Round

Mountain View vs. Skyridge

Provo vs. Orem

Manti vs. Brighton