Feb. 10, 2007: Deseret Morning News

Weber Finally Wins Championship
by Michael Black

OREM — It has been 51 years since Weber last won a state title.

The Warriors won the 5A state wrestling championship Friday with 241.5 points. Viewmont was second with 150 points, followed by Bingham with 137 and Pleasant Grove with 124.

The finals turned into a family affair. A pair of brothers won state titles, and two father-son combinations joined the rare company of four-time state champions. 

The Moss brothers of Bingham each took an individual crown. Kade, a freshman in the 103-pound classification, got things started as he beat Bracken Nipko of Weber.

"It is just amazing," Kade said. "Everything I have worked so hard for all year just paid off. Now I just have to go back to work and start looking toward next year."

Mitch is a senior and became a two-time champion after beating Blake Mangum of Lone Peak. He had an unusual method at getting the two titles. After winning two years ago, he finished a disappointing fourth-place last year before getting redemption. It is something he doesn't want to see happen to his younger sibling. "I got a little too cocky after winning as a sophomore, goofed around too much," Mitch said. "I don't think that will happen to Kade. He has always been more serious about the sport, more dedicated. I guess if it does start to happen, I'll come back and work him over."

Shay Warren became only the 15th wrestler in Utah to become a four-time champion. He beat Taira Abe of Viewmont and ran to celebrate with his father and Weber coach, Jody Warren.

"It was everything I expected it to be," Shay Warren said. "All my goals and dreams to this point were just realized. I've been working with him (Jody) ever since I was young, so to get this with him was something special."

Just minutes after Warren joined the ranks of the four-time champions, Davis' Sean Porter punched his ticket as the 16th wrestler in the exclusive club with a win over Alta's Luke Rasmussen — another family connection, as Rasmussen is the cousin of the Moss brothers. Like Warren, Porter also got to celebrate with his father and coach, Alan.

"It means everything. I am the luckiest kid in the world to have so much support around me," Sean Porter said. "I told my dad when I was just teeny that I was going to be a four-time state champion, and it never would have happened if I didn't have the support of my family around me."

Paul Johnson of Lone Peak won his second consecutive state title and has a chance to become a three-time champion next year.

"When you have that title, people look at you a little differently," Johnson said. "I dreamed about it, but I never really thought I could get here. I guess I can start training right now for next year."

The night's biggest upsets were Cole Shafer of Brighton denying Mitch Sanderson from becoming a three-time state champion by getting a pin for the 171-pound championship, and David Williams of Copper Hills beating defending champ Mike Baker of Northridge. The other individuals to win a title were Keola Goodman (Pleasant Grove), Blake Griffiths (Bingham), K.C. Nate (Brighton), Lew Woolsey (Weber), Chris Moat (Layton), Adam Fager (Layton) and Jaden Briskey (Weber).