Feb. 23, 2007: Deseret Morning News

Great Season for Darts
by Michael Black

The great wrestling season for Davis will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the accomplishments of one team member, four-time champion Sean Porter. But a close look at all the Darts shows a team that lived up to expectations.

Davis finished in sixth place with 100.5 points. No team was expected to stay with Weber and its 241.5 points, but the Darts were the third team from a tough Region 1 as Viewmont finished second with 150 points. Bingham was third with 137, and Pleasant Grove (124) and Brighton (104.5) were also ahead of the Darts. Perhaps had Davis competed in a different region, it would have qualified more wrestlers and been an even bigger factor in the team competition.

A perfect example of the numbers game was sophomore Zak Baker. As a freshman, Baker finished third, but he had a tough draw at the region tournament and did not qualify for state.

"Zak will be back and even tougher because of it next year," Alan Porter said. "He will be one that we expect big things."

Davis will need some of the younger wrestlers to step up next year as five of its six state-placers were seniors. Jonny Hart (119 pounds) finished fourth, Taylor McKay (125) sixth, Josh Baker (135) second, Sean Porter (140) first and Tom Arnone (285) fifth to cap their respective careers.

One of the biggest surprises was Hart's fourth-place finish.

"Jonny was hurt until just after the new year," said Alan Porter. "He only got to wrestle the last few weeks of the season and was just rounding into form. He just made it down to 119 pounds the week before the region meet, so to have him step up and wrestle the way he did was outstanding."

"Braiden was a great surprise," Alan Porter said. "In a very tough 130-pound weight division, he did very well to place. He is a hard worker and does a lot in the offseason. I am sure he will improve quite a bit and come back even better. I wouldn't be surprised to see a state championship out of him before he is through."

Although disappointed to lose in the finals, Josh Baker's second-place finish was a boost to the team and a great way to finish his high school career. Unfortunately for him, he just happened to run into Blake Griffiths of Bingham once again.

"It is a little strange, but Josh lost all four years to Griffiths at the state tournament," Alan Porter said. "He split with him a couple of the years in the regular season, but he (Griffiths) just seemed to have Josh's number at the state meet."

The 2007 season will always be a special one to remember for the Porter household. Sean became No. 16 on the all-time list of four-time state champions, and he was able to do it in front of his two coaches: father, Alan, and brother, Neal.

"It is a relief to have it over," said Sean after his championship match against Alta's Luke Rasmussen. "It is an amazing experience to get to share it with my family. There is no way I would be where I am today without all the great support I received from them over the years."

With the loss of six seniors who won matches at state — 189-pounder Austin Taylor won two — the Darts will be young next year and hard-pressed to match this season's results. But with Braiden Hart, Zak Baker, Todd Smoot and 140-pound grappler Tanner Porath, who missed the region and state tournaments because of a concussion, there is a good nucleus around which to build.

"We might not be as good because we will be young," Alan Porter said. "I don't know how much everyone will improve in the offseason, but Davis County has a good junior high program that feeds us great wrestlers, and as long as the kids keep working hard, we will be competitive."

Davis wrestling

Darts' state placers
119— Jonny Hart, Sr. fourth place
125— Taylor McKay, Sr. sixth place
130— Braiden Hart, So. Sixth place
135— Josh Baker, Sr. second place
140— Sean Porter, Sr. first place
285— Tom Arnone, Sr. fifth place

Other wrestlers who earned points
160— Ben Lynch, Jr.
189— Austin Taylor, Sr.