Jan. 7, 2004: The Salt Lake Tribune, Prep Wrestling: Smalls Come Up Big
by Peter Richins

OREM — Except for the final result, Tuesday's Utah All-Star Wrestling Classic ended much like it always has.

This time, however, the small schools won the pivotal, final matches of the night and earned their first All-Star Classic victory, taking a 35-32 win over the large schools.

"They deserved it," event organizer Ross Brunson said. "It's all for pride, and these guys take home the bragging rights that they're the toughest."

The Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation event pits an all-star team of wrestlers from classes 4-A and 5-A schools against the best from the smaller classes. The large schools won the first three classics, winning by seven points the first two years and by three points last year.

The large schools were ahead 32-31 when the final match of the night began, but the small schools had the advantage in the 130-pound division, as Tooele's Andrew Hochstrasser faced Timpanogos' McKay Sanderson. Hochstrasser earned several takedowns and never let Sanderson earn even an escape on his way to an 11-0 victory.

Hochstrasser, who is now 147-8 in his high school career, said he thrives on the pressure of having the meet come down to his match.

"Pressure matches make you better," he said.

Hochstrasser is now 2-1 in All-Star bouts. He lost last year, but he said this year's victory makes up for last year's loss.

"Getting invited is cool, but winning is even better," Hochstrasser said.

Mountain Crest's Luke Lofthouse ended the night with the best All-Star record (3-0) after pinning Lehi's Anthony Turchetta. It was Lofthouse's first All-Star pin.

"I love the atmosphere here, the whole experience," Lofthouse said. "Every match is awesome, and I'm glad to have the experience of being here all three years."

In perhaps the most anticipated match of the night, Wasatch's Colton Salazar beat Viewmont's Landon Essig 7-5 with a takedown late in the third period. Salazar beat Essig twice last year, but Essig tied the series this season with a pair of victories in December.

"I've been looking forward to this [rematch] since the Layton Tournament," Salazar said. "[Essig] is a good, tough wrestler, but it feels good to be back on top."

The UAWF contributes the profits from the All-Star Classic to Utah Valley State College's program. Brunson was pleased with the size of the crowd on Tuesday.

"Every year it gets a little bigger," Brunson said, estimating that 3,500-4,000 people attended. "I'm very pleased with the turnout, and the support from the wrestling community."

Brunson also was pleased with the competitiveness of the small-schools team, which largely was composed of 3-A wrestlers and included four wrestlers from nationally ranked Wasatch.

"They are just great wrestling communities in those small schools," Brunson said. "They are ferocious." Utah All-Star

Wrestling Classic Team Scores

Small Schools 35, Large Schools 32

Individual Results

103 — Kaden King, North Sanpete, def. T.J. Bingham, Sky View, fall. 112 — Dave Beagley, Spanish Fork, def. Carson Goodwin, Dixie, fall. 119 — Flint Ray, Roy, def. Rodney Sager, Lehi, 5-1. 125 — Jake Swensen, North Sanpete, def. Chase Frost, Mountain View, fall. 130 — Andrew Hochstrasser, Tooele, def. McKay Sanderson, Timpanogos, 11-0. 135 — Cyler Sanderson, Wasatch, def. Adam Kjar, Viewmont, 7-4. 140 — Tyson Thompson, Lehi, def. Clay Taylor, Provo, 12-4. 145 — Jeb Clark, Spanish Fork, def. Peter Rose, Wasatch, 11-3. 152 — Colton Salazar, Wasatch, def. Landon Essig, Viewmont, 7-5. 160 — Casen Eldridge, Monticello, def. Randy Callicoat, Timpanogos, forfeit. 160 (wild card) — Chase Walker, Timpanogos, def. Phillip Keddy, Uintah, 9-5. 171 — Shawn Brunson, Hillcrest, def. Clint Monsen, Millard, 10-6. 189 — Luke Lofthouse, Mountain Crest, def. Anthony Turchetta, Lehi, fall. 189 (wild card) — Craig Mock, Weber, def. Joel Harris, Bear River, 12-2. 215 — Garrett Elliott, Spanish Fork, def. Trevor Collett, Uintah, 7-2. 275 — Dallin Norton, Wasatch, def. Mark Freeman, Orem, 7-3.