Jan. 17, 2005: The Salt Lake Tribune

Box Elder Enjoys Its Newest Bee
by Peter Richins

Box Elder's Caleb Isom can see a big difference between wrestling with the Bees and competing with Layton last year.

And it's not just in the success the Bees have had this year.

"We're more of a team," Isom, a 112-pounder, said. "Everybody is friends, pretty much."

Box Elder has established itself as the team to beat in Class 4-A this year, especially considering its success Saturday at the Richardson Memorial tournament in Brigham City. The Bees won their home tournament for the first time since 2001, edging out Davis 172-161.

Isom won an individual title at the Richardson, beating Spanish Fork's Jason Warner 8-4 in the final round. Casey Fromm also won an individual title for Box Elder, beating Viewmont's Dylan Nelson by technical fall.

Isom, a senior, began wrestling for the Bees when his family moved from Layton to the Brigham City area before the season started. While Box Elder's practice sessions are more intense, he said, one of the biggest reasons for the Bees' success has been the team's togetherness.

"We're always cheering for each other, and no one has any enemies on the team," Isom said.

Coach Mike Ripplinger certainly is pleased to have Isom on the team. Isom took second place in the 5-A state tournament last year, making him a valuable addition to standouts Fromm, John Johnson, Riley Yeates, Tyler Rackham, Jason Hancey and Brett Boyce.

"We're really happy about the move-in," Ripplinger said. "Caleb has been really good this year."

Richardson Rewind

Ripplinger knew his chances were good at the Richardson tournament in Brigham City, but not for the standard reasons.

"Usually when we do well at West Jordan, we do well at Richardson," Ripplinger said earlier in the week. "We'll see if we're consistent."

Box Elder edged out Delta at the West Jordan Jaguar Classic when Isom won the final match in the final seconds Jan. 8.

Defending 4-A champion Spanish Fork took seventh place at the Richardson, while Mountain Crest stepped up and took 5th. The Richardson also gave a clue as to how the 5-A state tournament will turn out: chances are, it will be a very tight race between Davis and Viewmont.

"The 5-A's going to be a very interesting race between Weber, Davis and Viewmont," Ripplinger said. Weber was missing several of its best wrestlers at the Richardson, and also lost to Viewmont 48-21 at a dual meet on Thursday. But Viewmont was just a half-step behind Davis, taking third place with a five-point margin.

Also, the defending Wyoming state champion Star Valley managed to take fourth place against the best in Utah.

Uintah Update

For the most part, wrestlers from the All-Star Classic performed well at the Uintah Tournament. Levi Mele built on his All-Star victory when he won by fall against North Sanpete's Kaden King, Payson's Kelly Kelsey earned a 6-4 victory against Troy Peterson of Rock Springs, Wyo., and Phillip Keddy beat Delta's K.C. Rawlinson 5-1.

North Sanpete's Jake Swensen, who beat Davis' Sean Porter at the Classic, was one of the few all-stars that fell at Uintah. In the closest match of the finals, Nick Mamalis of Green River, Wyo., went into overtime and earned a takedown to beat Swensen.