January 2008: West Valley Journal

Pirates in Good Shape as Wrestling Season Winds Down
by Josh McFadden
 

Cyprus head wrestling coach Eddie Berrest has high expectations for his team. Of course, coming off a region championship and a fourth-place showing at last year’s class 4A state tournament, there’s reason for optimism in the Pirates’ program.

“We’re doing pretty well against teams,” Berrest said. “I predict we’ll go undefeated in region. I hope we can take region and would like to be in the top 10 at state.”

As of Jan. 7, the Pirates were 10-2 overall and on target to match Berrest’s goal of finishing the regular season without a region loss. Berrest said the team’s toughest tests would come against Highland and East. Unlike most successful wrestling teams in the Salt Lake Valley, the Pirates find a way to win without having huge numbers. Cyprus has 30 wrestlers on its team, far below the 60 Berrest would like to have.

“We’re doing really well for a small team,” he said. “The kids I have are great.”

Berrest credits his pupils’ commitment and work ethic for the team’s good fortune. He said he urges his wrestlers to do their best every time out on the mat and to strive for improvement every day.

“We work on the mental aspect,” he said. “Our goal is if you make a mistake to not do it again. We want to go out and dominate and be physical. I push the kids. Hopefully the end result is going to pay off.”

Having one of the state’s top wrestlers doesn’t hurt.

Senior 135-pound standout Matt Brown has won the state title in his weight class each of the past two seasons. Berrest said there’s no reason to think he won’t do it a third time when the 4A state tournament rolls around this February.

“He’s a great addition to the program,” he said. “He leads by example. He tries to improve. He has the skills. When I’m not there, he keeps the kids on task. He’s going to be the first three-time champion at Cyprus.”

Brown has already signed to wrestle next year at Iowa St. University, which is currently ranked number two in the nation. His coach will be Cael Sanderson, the Utah native who never lost a single match in high school or college.

But Brown isn’t the only Cyprus wrestler from whom Berrest is expecting big things. Thomas Kane, a senior heavyweight, finished third at a tournament in Layton earlier this season. He qualified for state last season and is ranked in the top three in class 4A this year. Corbin Alvey, Anthony Montano, Ace Sudbury and Jordan Arnt have also wrestled well and have a shot at placing in the state tournament.

The Region 6 tournament is set for Feb. 6 and 7 at East High School. The 4A state tournament will be held Feb. 13 and 15 at Utah Valley State College.