Feb. 2, 2007: The Standard Examiner

Repeating Warriors: Weber Sends Seven to State
by Roy Burton

PLEASANT VIEW — The Warriors showed why they were the favorites at the Region 1 tournament Thursday, remaining undefeated by convincingly claiming their second straight league title.

Weber outscored second place Viewmont 398.5-333 and took seven individual championships. Sprouting mustaches for team unity wasn’t enough to get Davis wrestlers higher than third with 221 points, followed by Northridge (165), Layton (137), Fremont (136.5) and Clearfi eld (120).

112-pound freshman Derek Malan sparked the Warriors early in the championship round, upsetting defending state champ Nate Larsen or Viewmont 4-3 in overtime. Malan was awarded the winning point after Larsen was warned for stalling, upsetting Vikings fans while giving the Warriors momentum.

“It feels good because I’ve never beaten him before,” Malan said. “He pretty much dominated me the last time and it feels good to even it out and win.”

Warriors 125-pounder Shay Warren was named outstanding wrestler in the lower divisions and will try for his fourth state championship next week. Heavyweight Jaden Briskey punctuated the team’s victory with a 5-3 overtime decision over topseeded JC Oram of Fremont to end the night.

Also winning individual titles for Weber were Bracken Nipko (103), Aaron Ross (130), Logan Hubbard (145), and Lew Woolsey (152).

Malan said the team tries not to overemphasize one match.

“There’s no real pressure. The whole team carries itself, it’s not individual effort. The whole team chips in, you just do your best,” Malan said.

Coach Jody Warren says it’s intentional that the Warriors don’t get too high or low.

“If you worry about the wins and the losses, your team starts to sense that and they don’t wrestle as well,” he said.

Layton’s Adam Fager won the 189-pound division and was named the outstanding wrestler for the upper weights. Lancers teammate Chris Moat also won at 160.

Despite having seven wrestlers in the finals (second to Weber’s 10), Viewmont was victimized by the Warriors and only had one individual champ in Sam Graham at 171.

Defending state champ Mike Baker won Northridge’s only title at 215; Fremont’s Trae Bennett did the same for his school at 119.

Three-time champ Sean Porter of Davis injured his right thigh early in his finals match and gave up some late points to Weber’s Wayndon Veater but won by major decision at 140 pounds. 135-pounder Josh Baker claimed the Darts’ other individual title.

Porter, sporting his team’s best mustache, said the thigh probably wasn’t serious and he remains optimistic about his chances for a fourth individual title.

“I’ve been working pretty hard,” he said. “There’s always stuff to work on but, hopefully ... I’m pretty confident.”

Region teams now turn their attention to next week’s state tournament at UVSC.

Vikings coach Bart Thompson isn’t conceding the team title to the Warriors just yet. His team won its third straight 5-A title last year after losing to Weber at region.

“It’s a new ballgame next week,” Thompson said. “That’s one thing we have to look forward to. I’m afraid Weber has got so much momentum going at this point, I don’t know what we’re going to do to be able to derail the train.”

Region 5

At Roy High, defending 4-A champ Mountain Crest overcame Box Elder’s firstday lead to earn the Region 5 crown.

The Mustangs had six first place finishes to the Bees’ five and won 343.5-314.

Host team Roy took third with 207.5 points, followed by Sky View (159), Bountiful (134.5), Woods Cross (56) and Bonneville (53.5).

Mountain Crest 152-pounder Ethan Lofthouse was the outstanding wrestler in the upper weights.

Teammates Raider Lofthouse (103), Jake Morrill (119), Jarrett Morrill (125), Greg Nielson (140) and Zeke Smethurst (145) won individual titles.

Box Elder’s Jed Shannon (112) was the outstanding lower weights wrestler.

Wrestling with two damaged shoulders, teammate Riley Yeates won at 171 pounds, as did Jesse Caldwell (135), Colby Kearl (160) and Riggin Holmgren (285).

Roy’s Lonnie Martinez won at 130 pounds. Sky View had two winners in Brett Larsen (189) and Jared Erickson (215).

Championship matches for Region 11 will be held tonight at Logan High. Morgan hosts the Region 10 tournament Saturday.