January 2008: Cottonwood/Holladay Journal

Bengal Wrestlers Deep in Participation as Season Continues
by Michelle Taft

The Brighton wrestling team is large in numbers this season and stacked with competitive talent. The problem is – they’re competing against themselves.

The Bengals have 45 wrestlers on the team, but because many are the same weight, in competition they have too many athletes in some weight divisions, while they also have to forfeit two of the 14 divisions because there is no one that qualifies.

“We have probably the most kids out that we’ve had in a long time,” said coach Wade Brown. “Our numbers are good but they’re all in the wrong weights. One weight division has nine kids, but we don’t have any small kids, so we have to forfeit the 103 and 112 divisions – it makes it pretty tough to win duals.”

Though the Bengal season has proven difficult to win meets as a team, individuals still excel. Jaes Jones, a senior who competes in the 135-weight division, is returning after placing fifth last year in the state meet at 130 pounds. Also leading the team is senior Jon Gappmaier who placed second in the state as both a freshman and a sophomore in the 145-weight division. He transferred to Brighton last year and was required by UHSAA to sit out his junior year. Now officially a Bengal, Gappmaier reached the mid-season mark with only one loss. Jones has only one loss as well.

Brown said the team lost a lot of its strength from last year due to graduation and athletes moving over the summer, but he’s optimistic with the talent of the young kids filling their place.

“We have some really good kids that work hard and are contributing,” said Brown. “Hopefully, come region, we’ll have a little more experience and be able to do something. We’re hoping we peak at the right time and get as many kids as we can to the state tournament.”