Jan. 9, 2005: The Spectrum

Tigers Go to Mat to Capture Irontown Duals Title
by Brad Plothow

CEDAR CITY — For his team's first time at a new event, Hurricane High wrestling coach Kerry Prince was more than pleased. Four unbeaten wrestlers helped contribute to the good feelings.

The Tigers swept through eight team matches and captured the title at the two-day, 10-team Irontown Duals that concluded Saturday at Canyon View High. Hurricane broke the host Falcons' hold on the event, ending a two-year reign.

Prince cited 130-pounder Wesley Pettus as a prime example of the Tigers' success, but Jason McMahon (103), Jared Leavitt (125) and Kenny Scott (189) also swept through eight matches and won individual titles.

"This is our first year here," Prince said. "Wesley was at peak performance."

North Sevier finished with five individual champions, most among the 10 schools, but finished second after losing to the Tigers Friday in the head-to-head team dual. Kasey Brunson (135), Kiley Sanders (145), Colton Camp (152), Alan Sorenson (160) and Jeremy Abrams (171) took home first-place medals.

For only the second time in the five-year history of the event, Canyon View failed to win the team title, losing to North Sevier on Friday and dropping a 39-33 decision to Hurricane Saturday. The Tigers clinched the match when heavyweight Tyler Bishop pinned Joe Kumpe.

Seniors Kyle Robinson (140) and Tallon Torres (215) both went unbeaten and earned individual titles for the Falcons. Robinson was nearly pinned in the waning moments of his seventh match against Parowan's Burke Williamson, but held on over the final 30 seconds for a 10-5 victory.

"(Williamson) pulled his whole arm down and threw his body into my shoulder," said Robinson, who returned from a collarbone injury suffered two weeks ago in a match against Dixie. "I heard my coach yelling the time and I just prayed I would stay up."

Robinson finished tied with Cedar's Ed Payne, but earned the title by virtue of six pins to Payne's four.

"It's crazy how when you wrestle, you can be 14 points up and still get pinned," Canyon View coach Cody Christensen said of Robinson's match. "Wrestling is the ultimate sudden death, but that's part of the conditioning for a solid six minutes. Kyle kept his shoulder up and got the win."

Robinson had no problems in his final match against Benny Yazzie of Richfield, winning by pin in 55 seconds.

Torres, a senior who returned to wrestling after spending his two prior years in football, also completed his unbeaten tournament with a pin of Richfield's Chris Lyon in 2:13.

Although youth showed in the Falcons' overall experience -- with just three seniors on the roster -- Christensen was still satisfied with the team's effort.

"They're a very young team, but they all battled," he said.

Top two finishers by weight class from the Irontown Duels at Canyon View High:

103 - 1. Jason McMahon (Hurricane) 2. Cole Stanton (Parowan) 112 - 1. Robert Porter (Piute) 2. Sean Alfreno (Cheyenne - Las Vegas) 119 - 1. Zach Hone (Cedar) 2. Troy Robinson (Canyon View). 125 - 1. Jared Leavitt (Hurricane) 2. Tyler Allen (Piute)

130 - 1. Wesley Pettus (Hurricane) 2. Nathan Abrams (N. Sevier) 135 - Kasey Brunson (N. Sevier) 2. Stevie Doucette (Cedar) 140 - 1. Kyle Robinson (Canyon View) 2. Ed Payne (Cedar) 145 - 1. Kiley Sanders (N. Sevier) 2. Mark Leavitt (Hurricane) 152 - 1. Colton Camp (N. Sevier) 2. Travis Sams (Cedar)

160 - 1. Alan Sorenson (N. Sevier) 2. Seth Julian (Canyon View) 171 - 1. Jeremy Abrams (N. Sevier) 2. Brendan Dalton (Canyon View) 189 - 1. Kenny Scott (Hurricane) 2. Brock Morrison (N. Sevier) 215 - 1. Tallon Torres (Canyon View) 2. Victor Jurado (Piute) 275 - 1. Tyler Peterson (Richfield) 2. Nate Orr (East)

Team Standings - 1. Hurricane 8-0 2. N. Sevier 7-1 3. Canyon View 6-2. 
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