6A Wrestling Finals: Westlake girls finish as runner-up
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- Westlake’s Kennedy Jeppson, left, reacts after winning the 110-pound weight division in the 6A girls state wrestling finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Joe Whitford (left) battles with Mason Carlson of Syracuse in the finals of the 138-pound weight class in the 6A boys wrestling finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kaizen Detoles (left) celebrate winning the 175-pound weight class during the 6A boys state wrestling finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- CedarValley’s Alexandra Gates celebrate winning the 140-pound weight class at the 6A girls wrestling state finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kaizen Detoles (right) battles Ryker Roundy of Davis in the 6A boys wrestling state finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Cedar Valley’s Alexandra Gates (on top) battles Corner Canyon’s London McEntire in the 6A finals of the 140-poun weight class at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Joe Whitford reacts during his 138-pound match against Mason Carlson of Syracuse in the 6A boys wrestling finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kennedy Jeppson (bottom) tries to escape from Corner Canyon’s Rozlyn Robertson in the 110-pound 6A girls wrestling final at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kennedy Jeppson (bottom) tries to escape from Corner Canyon’s Rozlyn Robertson in the 110-pound 6A girls wrestling final at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kaizen Detoles (on top) battles Ryker Roundy of Davis in the 6A boys wrestling state finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Calvin Harding of Westlake and Elijah Hawes battle in out in the 190-pound weight class 6A final during the state wrestling tournament at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Corner Canyon’s Piper Eller (on top) and Nevi Brady of Westlake battle in the 100-pound weight class at the 6A girls wrestling state finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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- Westlake’s Kaden Oldroyd (left) shakes hands with Corner Canyon’s Blake Mauch after the 113-pound match in the 6A boys wrestling state finals at the UCCU Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
For the second straight season, Westlake finished second to Mountain Ridge in 6A girls wrestling.
The Sentinels pointed 225 while Westlake finished with 211 points. Corner Canyon (227) was third with Cedar Valley in the fourth position with 211 points. Westlake managed two individual champions on its quest to land the silver trophy. Junior Kennedy Jeppson (110 pounds) defeated Corner Canyon’s Rozlyn Robertson 7-4 in a very exciting contest. After her victory, the junior fell to her knees, slamming the mat in a cathartic release of emotion.
“I am so happy I won tonight,” Jeppson said. “After I got the first takedown I was already going and this is where it’s at. On bottom, I was a little bit in my head. I was like ‘oh boy, she’s strong on top’ but I still tried to do my best and I’m so happy I won.”
One of the teammates there to embrace Jeppson after her victory was Tevia Rarick (190). “She’s the one and only. She’s the best practice partner and I love her so much,” Jeppson said.
Rarick then said of Jeppson, “she’s one of my best friends, to see her win her first state title was pretty amazing.”
As for Rarick, the nationally ranked Thunder star, and just a sophomore, won her second straight state title. She has yet to taste defeat in her high school career and this year she won all 43 of her bouts by fall. Rarick made quick work of Skyridge’s Myrtie Faletau with a first period pin.
After some high-fives from her coaches and teammates Rarick started doing some sprint work because national tournaments lie ahead. According to some national rankings Rarick is ranked number two in her weight class but she seems more than determined to move up a peg.
“I’m definitely looking forward to nationals,” said Rarick.
Westlake’s Aubrian Wadley (105) did reach the championship finals but lost to Mountain Ridge’s Brooklyn Eagar by pin.
Two other local wrestlers climbed to the top of the podium. Cedar Valley’s Alexandra Gates made quick work of Corner Canyon’s London McEntire to win the 140-pound class and then Madison Sherman (155) won her second state title with a win by pin over Gates’ Aviator teammate Hallie Denney. Cedar Valley’s Nevi Brady (100) fell in her state title bout, losing by fall to Corner Canyon’s Piper Eller.
As for other Utah Valley schools, Skyridge finished tenth, Lehi 12th, while American Fork and Lone Peak tied for 15th with Farmington in the 17-team 6A field.
6A Girls Notes: Westlake had a chance to catch Mountain Ridge trailing by just two points going into the final round but the Sentinels crowned four individual champions.
The match that mathematically clinched the state title for the Sentinels was a bit strange. At the end of the second round Weber’s Charlotte Osborn had reversed Mountain Ridge’s Evalyn Lenahan and put her on her back with a cradle. But in the process Osborn put her own shoulders flat to the mat and was called for the rare defensive pin right before the buzzer sounded.
Copper Hills freshman Maquell Pace won the 115-pound title pinning Syracuse senior Payton Gines in the third period.
6A Boys Notes: Though Westlake didn’t come away with a team trophy, the Thunder had two individual champions who made statements in their own distinct way.
A star was born when fabulous freshman Joe Whitford beat two returning state champions Thursday on his way to the 138-pound crown.
In the semifinals he had to take care of sophomore sensation Jacob Millward of Skyridge who had his own dreams of becoming a four-time state champion. It was a tight match but Whitford’s third period escape stood up and he held off the Falcon grappler to win 1-0.
But Whitford wasn’t quite done with his heroics, stunning the Utah prep wrestling world as he defeated Syracuse three-time state champ and nationally ranked Mason Carlson. And the match wasn’t close.
Carlson did get the first takedown and Whitford scored a reversal as the first round ended 3-2. But then the onslaught started. Whitford chose down then reversed the Titan grappler putting him on his back for a 4-point nearfall. Leading 8-3 Whitford kept pouring it on in the third round with another takedown and 2-point nearfall. Carlson was awarded a penalty point but Whitford still secured a major decision victory, 13-4.
“That was a perfectly executed match,” said first-year Westlake head coach Erkin Tadzhimetov. And Tadzhimetov should know a lot about excellence as a former successful international wrestler and longtime assistant coach at Utah Valley University. As for Whitford, it was his previous meeting with Carlson that got him in the right mindset.
“It all just started after divisionals after I lost my match (to Carlson),” Whitford said. “I just kept working hard every day. I want to thank God, my parents, my coaches and all my training partners.”
Whitford also singled out his teammate Kaizen Detoles (175) as a key training partner and as fate would have it the Thunder senior won his second state title.
Detoles shut out Ryker Roundy of Davis 7-0 in a rematch of last year’s title bout. In the meeting last season, Detoles won the match 2-0 but thanks to two takedowns and an escape, it was a bit more of a comfortable victory this time around.
“Last year I couldn’t get any offense going so it felt good to get some takedowns going,” Detoles said. And he had enough energy after his bout to do a celebratory back flip. “I had to get the back flip in.”
Westlake had two other finalists but Kaden Oldroyd (113) had to injury default to Corner Canyon’s Blake Mauch. Then Calvin Harding (190) fell to Layton returning state champion Elijah Hawes by pin.
Westlake finished tied for fifth place with Riverton. Davis won the last two weight classes to surge ahead of both teams to finish fourth. One of those wins was at 285 pounds where the Darts’ Tomasi Hasson defeated Lone Peak’s Patrick O’Banion 2-1.
Layton easily won its fourth straight title with Corner Canyon finishing second and Syracuse third. In regards to other local programs, Cedar Valley and Skyridge tied for tenth place while American Fork finished 13th and Lehi 17th in the 17-team 6A field.
6A Boys Notes: Syracuse’s Perry Fowler (120) was one of three undefeated wrestlers taking to the mats this weekend. But sometimes winning that final match is the hardest and Fowler was stopped by Riverton returning state champion Easton Olson, 5-1.
Layton’s Austin Paris (157) won his fourth state title but his first one donning a Lancer singlet. The nationally ranked Paris, heading to Wyoming next season, won three 2A titles for Grand County.
Complete team and individual results of both tournaments can be found at www.trackwrestling.com or on the Flo Wrestling platform.
