Feb. 8, 2005: Deseret Morning News

It's Close to Crunch Time for Top Wrestling Teams: Viewmont is Still Looking Strong in 5A Competition
by Michael Black

What a unique experience for a wrestler. In what other sport can you lose your first match yet come all the way back to finish third and really help your team? Often times it is the consolation bracket that decides a team's fate.

An individual can still take a state title if an individual sport has a team competition or if he is on a team that is not going to compete for a title. With the region clashes completed, the state tournament starts Wednesday at the McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College. Here are some things to watch for:

5A

The defending state champions seem to be peaking at just the right time. Viewmont again took the Region 1 title as the Vikings have been battling against Davis all season for the top spot in the biggest classification. After dropping a dual to the Darts late in January, Viewmont has been on a roll.

The Vikings took the 5A Duals title — including avenging their earlier loss to Davis— at a meet that has determined the eventual 5A champion the previous three years. The Vikings will ride the broad shoulders of Shay Lawrence (135 pounds), a captain and two-time state champion, Dylan Nelson (145 pounds), region champion, David Wiser (152 pounds), region champion, Mason Milligan (215 pounds). The team has the overall depth necessary to pick up the necessary points in consolation matches and surprise winners.

"We rely heavily on our captains," said Viewmont coach Bart Thompson. "We have some guys that have really turned around their season."

Davis has had some late-season injuries that have hurt the Darts' chances, but having someone like Sean Porter (130 pounds), a returning state champion and all-star wrestler, to lead and motivate can help the team. His father, Alan, and brother, Neal, help coach the squad, which has been near the top all season.

"Davis has looked really good," said Thompson of his rivals at an earlier event. "I was kind of hoping they weren't as good as everyone thought they would be, but they are every bit as good as expectations."

If the title does not come from Region 1, expect a Region 2 team to stand atop the podium. Alta has come on strong of late — including beating Viewmont in the 5A duals in the round-robin portion of the tournament— and Bingham has enough strong wrestlers and depth to maybe surprise.

4A

Spanish Fork is a two-time defending champion for a reason. The Dons have great depth when it comes to their wrestling program, and even if they may not have as many individual champions this year, that depth may be the key if they want to repeat.

"It all comes down to numbers," said Payson coach Chris Loveless at the Region 6 meet. "Spanish Fork has a great junior varsity program."

Kolby Bradley, Jason Chamberlain and Gatlin Gardner all have title aspirations, but they will have to have a terrific full-team effort to win a third-straight team title.

Box Elder has been the talk of this classification. The Bees started the early season tournaments well and, according to coach Mike Riplinger, that's a big reason for the team's success.

"It gives us confidence that we can wrestle with anyone, and it can carry us through the whole year," he said.

The Bees have outstanding wrestlers in Brett Boyce, sixth in state last year, Caleb Isom, a second-place finisher a year ago, Riley Yeates, a third-place finisher in '04, Casey Fromm, fifth in state last year, John Johnson, third in '04, and Rhett Robinson, fifth-place a year ago. Each won in the Region 4 tournament and is expecting an improvement from last season.

Other teams to watch out for are Pleasant Grove, Payson and Olympus, which qualified an astonishing number of wrestlers. If the Titans can get the same type of performance for the state tournament as they got in region, look out.

3A

When Lehi's wrestling coach Dan Rice was asked about this classification he said, "There is nobody that is going to touch Wasatch. They are head and shoulders better than anyone else."

Rice has a couple of bright spots on his own team in Tyson Thompson and Rodney Sager, both returning state champions, but lacks the overall depth necessary for the team.

Wasatch has the top wrestler in the nation at his weight class in Cyler Sanderson, and with teammates such as Dallin Norton, Casey Smith, Jordan Smith, Shayne Bonner and Tyrel Sweat, just to name a few, it would not be a surprise if the Wasps advance again to the 300-point mark in the tournament.

"I am just lucky to have a team with so much talent," said first-year coach Ben Vombaur.

Uintah has some outstanding wrestlers. Jared McCurdy, Czyz Woody, Phillip Keddy and Levi Mele all wrestled as all-stars earlier this year, and the rest of the Utes are deep and talented. If not for the utter dominance of Wasatch, this could be the team to beat.

Some sleepers in this classification are Hurricane, Delta, Bear River and Pine View.

2A

Year after year Millard has been the school in wrestling. This season, Juab has something to say about that. The Wasps gave Millard a run for the title last season but came up short. This year, the team may have just enough skilled grapplers to overtake the reigning kings.

Wyet Ingram, Justin Reynoso, Tyson McPherson, Chad Greenhalgh, Jade Greenhalgh and Thad Pay all won at the region meet and come in with top seeds. If the rest of the team can compete in its weight classes, for the first time in over four years there may be a new 2A champion.

If it isn't Juab or Millard, look for a surprise from North Sevier or possibly South Summit.

1A

The Longhorn of Altamont won its first state title in 2004 by a mere six points. Don't look for it to be quite as close this year. The Longhorn have more experience and more depth than ever before.

With returning state placers Colton Miles, Nick Samuels, Randy Bird, Shad Thayne, Tyrell Carter and Bobby Mitchell, the leadership and experience for Altamont will be too much for Wayne and Rich to overcome and take away the title