Dec. 22, 2006: Deseret Morning News

Bengal Wrestlers Making Strides With New Coach
by Michael Black

There really were only two choices for new Brighton wrestling coach Wade Brown — sink or swim. After taking over the program, the first-year head coach is more than keeping his head above water. The Bengals are proving that last season's top-five finish was not a fluke. With Brown as their new leader, the team is making strides toward improving on that mark.

"There's been some good and some bad," said Brown of taking over the program after two years on the staff as an assistant. "We have really good kids, so it makes it a lot easier, and there are a lot of parents and a good support group that is doing a really good job of making the job easier for me."

Part of the bad for Brown is the fact that his team is moving through the season without three wrestlers it was counting on. Transfer Jon Gappmaier was ruled ineligible by the UHSAA, as was Wade Eldridge originally— Eldridge eventually was married and moved to wrestle with Millard. Bo Beckman was also a potential state-placer that moved away from the team.

"You go in with high expectations and you hate to lose kids, but a kid could just as easily blow out a knee and not be there for you as well," said Brown. "We are not dwelling on it. We still have some really good wrestlers, and they are stepping up for us."

There are four wrestlers in particular that are blazing the way for the Bengals. Cole Shafer, K.C. Nate, Ky Lucero and Jaes Jones are all ranked at or near the top of their respective weight classifications and are potential individual champions.

Shafer is undefeated and won the prestigious Layton Invitational earlier this month. His coach said, however, that it is hard to classify exactly why he is so successful.

"He just finds a way to win," said Brown. "He has a little bit of an awkward style and it is not the most fundamentally sound approach, but he has a lot of heart and he finds a way to get it done. He doesn't ever give up on anything. It's not always pretty, but he always seems to come out on top."

Mike Terry, for the Deseret Morning NewsAlta varsity wrestler Carson Walker, left, rests shoulders into his opponent, Ian McKnight of Skyline, during a match last December. Nate is a two-time state placer and has improved in the offseason. His coach said that he is one of the hardest workers he has ever been around and that the hard work pays off in the good results. He also groups Lucero in as having his hard work be one of the major reasons for his success.

Jones has lost only once on the year and is moving up the rankings. He could be one of the catalysts for the Bengals to not only earn team points but go for an individual title.

"Jaes has a lot of wrestling experience," said Brown. "He uses that experience to have good technique and takes advantage of opponents' mistakes."

Other than the Bengals' big four, there are some wrestlers that Brown said could surprise some people this year. Connor Meadows, Paul Cox, Brady Walker and Brandon Dourus have all been impressive in the early season.

Here's a look at how the rest of the region stacks up:

ALTA: The Hawks graduated much of the team that earned a third-place finish last season, but the cupboard is not bare. Luke Rasmussen is back after finishing third a year ago, and Carson Walker was a state-placer for the team. Blessed with a large group of wrestlers, the team will again compete for the Region 2 title and go for a top-five finish at state. Tanner Godfrey, Jon Martin and Spencer Richards have all made some early-season noise and are expected to accumulate points for the team in duals and in tournaments.

"We are young and untested," said coach Barry Harrington. "But we think we have the wrestlers to be able to defend our Region 2 title."

JORDAN: The Beetdiggers are building a team that will be able to compete both in the region and in the state — soon. Cody Wharton, Hayden Moss, Brandon Paulson and Nate Ballard have all been ranked in the top six at some point of the season and are the type of wrestlers that can help a squad get better as the year goes on. They can not only earn points in crucial matches, but they also help during practice to get everyone else prepared and improving.

SKYLINE: The Eagles lost their top wrestler from last year in Jon Gappmaier but are still trying to build the program from the ground up. All the team needs is to convince some of the tough football players that wrestling is a great way to learn balance and how to use one's hands and a fantastic way to stay in shape, and the team could improve its numbers and results.

HILLCREST: Coach Brad Peck is building this program the right way — from the ground up. The Huskies have lacked participants in their youth programs for many years, but Peck is changing that, and the effects on the varsity program are on their way. It may still be a couple seasons off before the team can contend for the region title, but it has some grapplers that can surprise. Taylor Park, Calvin Lloyd and Rob Pettie have all set qualifying for state as a goal and could help lead the young team.

"We are a young team and building for the future," said Peck. "The older kids are helping out the younger ones, and we are pushing to be competitive."

TAYLORSVILLE: The addition of Wayne Watts to MJ Johnson's coaching staff will only help the Warriors. Watts brings the experience of not only wrestling himself but having two sons that were state champions. Collin Backlund and C.J. Coggins are back after qualifying for state last year. The team is still looking for more wrestlers to fill some holes in the weight classifications, but as the participation at the school grows, the program will rise with it.