Dec. 31, 2005: The Salt Lake Tribune

Prep Wrestling: Mele's Return Makes Class 3-A Race a Melee
by Jay Drew

Wrestling programs at Wasatch, Delta and Viewmont are deservedly getting the most attention this year, but the highest-ranked wrestler in the state, according to Wrestling USA magazine, is Uintah's Levi Mele.

The senior is ranked No. 9 in the country at 119 pounds, replacing Provo's Nathaniel Holt as the top-ranked Utahn. Inexplicably, Holt dropped from No. 5 to No. 12, despite winning the Reno Tournament of Champions last week.

Uintah coaches thought they had lost Mele this summer when he moved to Green River, Wyo., with his parents. But he decided to move back to Vernal to finish high school with his class.

With Mele's return, a showdown is again shaping up in 3-A for the state crown between No. 1 Wasatch, No. 2 Delta and No. 3 Uintah.

Mele, who carries a 3.9 GPA, has signed a "Letter of Understanding" with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., currently ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division I wrestling. Mele signed the letter, sort of like a national letter of intent, because he plans on redshirting his first year, then departing on an LDS Church mission.
Mele is 19-1 this season, with 12 pins.

The top-ranked junior is Monticello's Wade Eldredge, No. 16 at 145. The top-ranked sophomore is Wasatch's Jake Salazar, No. 1 at 135 in the sophomore/freshman rankings and No. 16 in the overall (all classes) rankings at 135.

Twin Terrors

For the first time, Wednesday's All-Star Wrestling Classic at Utah Valley State College (7 p.m.) will feature twins.

Fraternal twins Michael and Nathaniel Holt will represent Provo High and wrestle for the large schools (4-A and 5-A), Michael at 130 pounds against three-time state champion Mark Pentz of Millard and Nathaniel at 145 pounds against Morgan's Josh Wilson, a state champ last year in 3-A.

Nathaniel Holt won the 145-pound title at Reno on Dec. 20, going 6-0 in a division that included 86 competitors. He beat wrestlers from Alaska, California, Colorado and Idaho. Brighton's Talan Knox also won a title at Reno, in the 160-pound division, while Wasatch's Carson Brown was second. Knox and Brown will also wrestle in the Classic on Wednesday, along with Uintah's Mele.

The Tribune will publish its annual page previewing all 14 matchups in the Classic, with photos of all 28 wrestlers, in Sunday's editions.

MC Mojo

A report in The Tribune about Mountain Crest's win at the Viewmont Invitational mentioned that the Mustangs "struggled" at the Layton Invitational two weeks prior. It should have been noted that MC was without 160-pounder Phillip Rutledge and 189-pounder John Carly at Layton. Back from a hamstring injury he sustained in football, Rutledge took first at Viewmont and Carly placed second.

Mountain Crest went 7-1 at the Wasatch Duals in between the major invitationals, losing only to Class 3-A's top-ranked Wasps.

Mountain Crest coach Davie Swensen agrees with Box Elder coach Mike Ripplinger that the 4-A race will probably boil down to the Mustangs and Bees (again). But he says to watch out for Springville, which has two or three superstars, but not as much depth.

"It will probably take 270 or 280 points to take state, which will take about 20 to 22 kids scoring points," Swensen said. "This might be locker room fodder, but I'm not sure if Springville has enough depth. We'll see."