Jan. 6, 2005: Deseret Morning News

All-Star Results for Wrestlers
By Michael Black

OREM — The All-Star wrestling Classic was a success. Not just for the wrestlers who were fortunate enough to win their matches, but for everyone involved in the event.

The fans were treated to some excellent competition. The wrestlers were able to see how they match up against some of the best, and the Utah Amateur wrestling Foundation was able to meet part of its promise to "increase opportunities for the sport of wrestling."

The Utah Valley State wrestling program will get a big boost from the fund-raising — a necessary function for the state's only wrestling program. Another bonus for the school was the chance to watch Dallin Norton of Wasatch.

Norton has wrestled in the All-Star the previous two years. After beating Rio Statler of West Jordan in a 5-1 decision, he now owns a 2-1 record in the Classic.

He has run his record to 20-0 on the year, and is ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in some publications. Norton said he would like to stay home to wrestle.

"I've been thinking about UVSC," said Norton. "Being from Wasatch, I kind of want to stay close to home so my mom can come watch, and it is really the only option around here. Boise State is the next closest school." Norton will certainly have other places offer to have him wrestle at the next level, but the Wolverine program has a decided advantage on one of the more sought-after heavyweights in the country.There were several exciting matches contested Wednesday night.

One of the more dramatic endings took place in the 112-pound classification. Casey Smith of Wasatch— a second-place finisher last year at state— came from behind for the win. Trailing 8-7 in the closing seconds against Jason Warner of Spanish Fork — a defending state champion — Smith was able to get two points with a reversal with only five seconds left.Smith said that coming to the All-Star and getting a result like that is important for the rest of the season: "It just helps to get you uplifted and help keep my head up and give me confidence. It shows if I am down, to just keep wrestling and it can happen."

Jake Swensen of North Sanpete and Sean Porter of Davis displayed an array of wrestling skills. In a back-and-forth battle, Swensen prevailed with a 5-4 decision that had Porter attacking for the tie in the closing seconds.

Fans who came out to see the two-time state champion — including an undefeated mark in those two years — and No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country at 140 pounds, Cyler Sanderson, were not disappointed. Sanderson took a big lead early and following several near-falls finished off Spencer Dinkins of Spanish Fork, a returning state champion, with a technical fall.

In the team competition, it was again the small schools dominating. The defending champion 1A-2A-3A squad defeated the 4A-5A team 37-24.

"I'm surprised how well the 1A-2A-3A team is doing. They really almost dominated the bigger schools," said Ross Brunson of the UAWF. "We will most certainly continue with this format. The smaller communities really enjoy it, especially when they are winning."