Viewmont has won four of the last five 5-A state titles, and are hungry for more

BOUNTIFUL – The Viewmont Viking wrestling team will give anyone a good show this year.

They have a track record of producing winners, competitors and great athletes. The young men involved in the wrestling program under 21-year head coach Bart Thompson are learning lessons that will allow them not only to live productively, but to succeed in their goals and aspirations. After taking the 5-A state championship title home four of the last five years, the Vikings know they’ve got a good thing going. “I think it’s pretty awesome,” said Viewmont senior and co-team captain Rich Winger. “I’ve been wrestling for him (Thompson) for three years now…if you fall you learn to pick yourself back up.”

Alongside Winger are the other two captains of this dominant wrestling force.

Spencer Smoot and Dave Wiser are both expected to be team leaders to help the Vikings continue its winning tradition.

Thompson said about Winger and Smoot that “They’ve been setting the example in the room to get this group back to the state championship.”

Both Winger and Smoot return this season after placing second in state in their weight divisions. Wiser, also a senior, placed third in his division.

Only one wrestler from the Vikings state championship team actually placed first in his weight division, and now Shay Lawrence is competing for the University of Wyoming.

He took state in his division three times while wrestling for Viewmont and is a presence that coach Thompson and the other teammates will miss throughout this season.

“Lawrence is a leader by example. He’s not real vocal, but he led by his energy and hard work,” Thompson said.

He also said that Lawrence came in as a pretty good wrestler, worked hard every day and believed in himself. Even though he was good during his sophomore year, he was much better as a senior.

“Continuingly improving” is the motto of the championship program that Viewmont has created. Thompson credits the junior high coaches that begin teaching these kids at an early age and get the winning mentality drilled in their heads.

“We’ve got a really good core of sophomores and it is a matter of setting goals and achieving them,” Thompson said. “We’ve also got to avoid injury with a bit of luck.”

Last year the Vikings lost Sam Graham to torn cartilage in his knee. Thompson said that Graham will be one wrestler a lot of people won’t know about because of his injury last year. However, Graham is expected to be a key player this season.

One up-and-coming wrestler that Thompson and Winger say to keep an eye on is Nate Larsen. His older brother, Ryan, has already made a name for himself and is a senior this year.

“Nate is looking really good,” Thompson said. “I think Larsen will do very well,” added Winger as Nate follows in his brother’s footsteps.

This year will be another exciting run for the Vikings after defying the odds last year.

At the beginning of the 2004–2005 season, Thompson said that he knew he had a good team but didn’t know if they could pull off another state championship.

“At the midway point of the season we hadn’t performed how we should have,” Thompson said. “We had lost more duals last year than the last four or five years combined.”

Thompson said that he talked with the guys and let them know that they had to find a way to win. If they had the desire, than they could turn things around. The fire was lit and the Vikings went on to win their second state championship in a row.

“Entering the state championship I thought we had a chance, but I didn’t think we would win it as big as we did,” Thompson said.

He said that he has always believed every kid wants to be successful and he tries to show them what they need to do.

“There is a price to be paid, but the champions will come out and do it,” Thompson said.