Dec. 14, 2007: The Salt Lake Tribune

Prep Wrestling: Viewmont Proving Itself This Year
by Chhun Sun

Viewmont wrestling coach Brandon Ripplinger likes to preach the little things.

He tells his wrestlers this all the time.

On Wednesday, it was the little things that mattered - as a number of Vikings prevented takedowns as well as refused pinfalls to squeeze out enough points to beat perhaps the state's best all-around team in Wasatch, 29-28. The victory comes at a perfect time.

Because the Vikings will be hosting their 27th annual Viewmont Invitational starting today, the close win answered a simple yet daunting question that hovered above the wrestlers' heads at the start of the season.

How good can Viewmont be?

"I think when we came in this year, people didn't know how competitive of a team we can be," said Ripplinger, whose team finished as the Class 5A runner-up last season. "I think we really show them that we can compete with the best team in the state."

Ripplinger doesn't expect opponents to be gunning for the Vikings this weekend, since the setting will different than the dual meet against Wasatch. Ripplinger praised the efforts of Danner Kjar for his 14-6 win over Parker Cummings in the 145-pound championship match, and Moroni Redd for not giving up a pin against Jake Salazar in the 152-pound final.

Wasatch will not compete in this weekend's event, which will have 23 teams in attendance.

"They have a lot horses and all of them can score big points," Ripplinger said of Wasatch. "Our strength is we have good kids at every weight class and have depth and we have kids who can help."

Mike Winger (103), Nate Larsen (112), Sam Graham (189) and Eric Call (160) are Viewmont's top wrestlers - and all are expected to score big points this weekend.