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 Feb.
16, 2007:
Deseret Morning News
Bingham Wrestlers Tally Up Wins
by Michael Black
SOUTH JORDAN — The Bingham wrestling team
can celebrate a successful season. Not only did the Miners
get three individual state champions — Kade Moss
(103-pounds), Mitch Moss (130) and Blake Griffiths (135) —
but they competed well as a team finishing in third place.
Bingham finished with 137 points, only 13
behind second-place Viewmont's 150, and no team was
expected to stay with Weber, as the Warriors ran away with
the team competition with 241.5 points. The Miners ended
ahead of Pleasant Grove (124 points), Brighton (104.5) and
Davis (100.5) for another top-five finish.
"I think it is great to wrestle for
Bingham," said junior Ryker Vandertoolen, who finished as
the runner-up in the 112-pound weight class. "We have
great coaches and everyone on the team is out to help each
other and try to get the best out of us. It helps when you
see your teammate do well. It pumps you up and gets you
excited."
Kade Moss completed a remarkable freshman
season with a 3-2 decision over Weber's Bracken Nipko in
the finals. He finished the year 35-4 with the state title
to go along with a Region 3 championship.
"Kade has all the tools you need to be
successful," said Paulsen. "He is tenacious. He never
quits and he is technically sound. Plus, he is willing to
put in the work you need to continue getting better. We
expect great things from him in the years to come."
Mitch Moss became a two-time state
champion with his 8-1 win over Blake Mangum of Lone Peak
in the title contest. After winning at 103-pounds his
sophomore year, Mitch had a fourth-place finish as a
junior at 119 pounds before bouncing back and winning
another title at 130 pounds as a senior.
Although the jump in weight played a part,
Mitch said that he also got a little too cocky after his
title and didn't put in as much work. Something he said he
doesn't think his younger brother will get caught up in.
"I don't think that will happen to Kade.
He has always been more serious about the sport, more
dedicated," said Mitch. "I guess if it does start to
happen, I'll come back and work him over, put an end to it
and get him back on track."
Blake Griffiths title run came as a bit of
a surprise to the coach and team, but it was a well
deserved championship as he beat three former
state-placers on his way, including a wrestler that had
been his nemesis in Ky Lucero of Brighton.
"After getting past Bo Beckman (Pleasant
Grove) in the second round, it was really a nice surprise
to see Blake beat Lucero. I think Lucero got Blake three
times last year and he had really struggled with him,"
Paulsen said. "Once he beat him (8-7 decision in the
semis), I really thought he would get the title. You could
just see his confidence grow. It is a great way for him to
end his career here because he has been a great leader and
one of the big reasons why we have done so well."
Besides the three champs, Ryker
Vandertoolen finished second, including beating a
defending state champion in Nate Larsen of Viewmont in the
semis before falling to Keola Goodman of Pleasant Grove in
the finals. Riley Adamson, a former state champion from
Texas finished third, and Spencer Paulson grabbed a
sixth-place finish.
Kade Moss, Vandertoolen, Adamson and
Paulson will anchor the team next year, and with the
growth of some younger wrestlers, Bingham should be right
back in the hunt.
"I like where we are," said Paulsen. "We
have a good group coming back. Kade is the type of
wrestler that has a chance to go for four titles, and our
other placers will compete next year for individual
championships as well."
Bingham's placers at state
103 — Kade Moss, first place, freshman
112 — Ryker Vandertoolen, second place, junior
125 — Riley Adamson, third place, sophomore
130 — Mitch Moss, first place, senior
135 — Blake Griffiths, first place, senior
285 — Spencer Paulson, sixth place, junior
Other wrestlers who got team points
140 — Joe Bradshaw, junior
160 — Spencer Harris, senior
171 — Andrew Park, junior
215 — Seth Anderson, junior
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