July 2, 2007: Wrestling USA Magazine

Utah Athletes Seize 14 Titles, 54 Awards at USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in Oregon

July 2, 2007 — Fifty-five Utah wrestlers traveled to Klamath Falls, Ore., to compete in freestyle, Greco-Roman and beach wrestling at the USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships. Between the three styles, Utahns came away with 14 titles and 54 awards, including five athletes winning titles in two styles.

"Utah was very well represented in Oregon," said Craig LaMont, president of USA Wrestling-Utah. "With only 55 kids there, we weren't the biggest state there, but we came out second in freestyle in terms of championships, coming in behind California, who probably had more wrestlers there than the host state. It was a real pleasure to see some of those kids really excel."

The Western Regional Championships is held each year as an 11-state championship tournament, with athletes from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Winning double titles (taking a title in freestyle and Greco-Roman) were five athletes, hailing from three wrestling clubs. Brothers Taylor and Grant LaMont of Mapleton, members of the Springville-based Champions wrestling club, won two titles, Taylor at Midget (ages 9 and 10) 55 lbs., and Grant at Novice (ages 11 and 12) 80 lbs. Tayler Johnson of Draper and William Kilpack of Sandy, members of Sandy-based Mountain Top Wrestling Club, each won double titles, Tayler at Midget 70 lbs., and William at Novice 90 lbs. The fifth Utahn to win two titles was Ethen Lofthouse, of Kaysville-based Elite Wrestling Club, at Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 171 lbs.

Four other Utahns came away with championships in one of the three styles. Winning a championship in freestyle was Patrick Brock of Elite, Schoolboy (ages 13 and 14) 85 lbs. Winning a Greco-Roman title was Brandon George of Champions, Schoolboy 75 lbs.; Jacob Falk of West Jordan-based Vandit, Schoolboy 95 lbs.; and Jordan Ballam of Logan-based Logan Champs, Cadet 160 lbs.

Others winning awards were

• Preston Stephenson of Wayne, Midget 75 lbs., 2nd in freestyle and Greco-Roman
• Johnny O'Hearon of Price-based Carbon Raptors, Midget 87 lbs., 2nd in freestyle
• Kyler Machan of Mountain Top Wrestling Club, Novice 65 lbs., 6th in freestyle, 5th in Greco-Roman
• Justin Schwendiman of Mountain Top Wrestling Club, Novice Lightweight (60-70 lbs.), 3rd in beach wrestling
• Shand Hardy of Brigham City-based Stingers, Novice 75 lbs., 5th in Greco-Roman
• Chandler Strand of Vandit, Novice 75 lbs., 6th in Greco-Roman
• Rayden Lindley of Stingers, Novice 80 lbs., 6th in freestyle
• Kayden Lindley of Stingers, Novice 85 lbs., 5th in Greco-Roman
• William Kilpack of Mountain Top Wrestling Club, Novice Heavyweight (90-105 lbs.), 3rd in beach wrestling
• Nick Sorenson of Stingers, Novice 105 lbs., 2nd in freestyle
• Brandon George of Champions, Schoolboy 75 lbs., 5th in freestyle
• Patrick Brock of Elite, Schoolboy 85 lbs., 3rd in Greco-Roman
• Rasten Yeates of Stingers, Schoolboy 90 lbs., 6th in freestyle and Greco-Roman
• Jacob Falk of Vandit, Schoolboy 95 lbs., 3rd in freestyle
• Jesse Carlisle of Champions, Schoolboy 95 lbs., 6th in Greco-Roman
• Jake Ribald of Vandit, Schoolboy 105 lbs., 3rd in freestyle, 4th in Greco-Roman
• Tanner Sweat of Wasatch, Schoolboy 105 lbs., 6th in Greco-Roman
• Austin Frazier of Champions, Schoolboy 125 lbs., 4th in Greco-Roman
• Nicholas Runyan of Brighton, Schoolboy 125 lbs., 6th in freestyle
• Wyatt Martinez of Carbon Raptors, Schoolboy 130 lbs., 4th in Greco-Roman
• Braxton Bagley of Vandit, Cadet 91 lbs., 5th in freestyle, 4th in Greco-Roman
• Tucker Ray of Elite, Cadet 105 lbs., 2nd in freestyle and Greco-Roman
• Jake Fredrickson of Elite, Cadet 112 lbs., 4th in freestyle
• Raider Lofthouse of Elite, Cadet 112 lbs., 4th in Greco-Roman
• Trae Bennett of Elite, Cadet 119 lbs., 4th in freestyle, 5th in Greco-Roman
• Koleton Hardy of Stingers, Cadet 119 lbs., 5th in freestyle, 4th in Greco-Roman
• Matthew Finger of Elite, Cadet 119 lbs., 6th in freestyle, 2nd in Greco-Roman
• Clint Jacob of Elite, Cadet 130 lbs., 5th in Greco-Roman
• Dustin Jenkins of Elite, Cadet 140 lbs., 4th in Greco-Roman
• Jordan Ballam of Logan Champs, Cadet 160 lbs., 2nd in freestyle
• Taylor Peacock of Logan Champs, Cadet 160 lbs., 4th in freestyle

The Western Regional Championships is the qualifier for USA Wrestling Kids Nationals to be held this week in Green Bay, Wis. Of those Utahns listed above, Kilpack and Runyan will be representing Utah.