Jan. 16, 2008: The Salt Lake Tribune

Prep Wrestling: Third Time the Charm
by Chhun Sun

OREM — Wasatch senior Ethan Smith sat in one of the chairs from which his coach had screamed out encouragement. He was there for a while, only a few feet away from the mat where he had perhaps the match of his life.

Though he was tired, Smith was elated.

In the headline bout in the annual All-Star Classic at the McKay Events Center, Smith pulled off a stunning 3-2 upset over his main rival, Mountain Crest junior Ethen Lofthouse. The win signified more than Wasatch's sixth victory of the night. It was much, much more.

Before Tuesday night, Smith had lost to Lofthouse twice in two very close matches. Smith used those defeats as motivation, as he said once he knew he was going to face his No. 1 rival in the prestigious event, he was going to win it on the third try.

"No one wants to keep losing to the same guy," Smith said. "[The win] tells me that I can beat anybody that I go up against. There's nobody that I should lose to. Whoever it is, I have the ability to beat anybody."

There wasn't a score until the second period, when Smith managed an escape. Lofthouse tied it up with an escape of his own, and the crowd of at least 3,000 presumably got a sense as to why the Ethen-Ethan showdown was the last contest of the evening - one that ended in an overall victory for the Class 5A All-Stars.

With about 20 seconds left, Smith got a takedown.

Though Smith was later called for stalling, giving Lofthouse a 3-2 deficit with not much time left, the Wasatch coaches and teammates knew the victory was Smith's, one he said he couldn't enjoy too much since he has a match today.

The other matches between Lofthouse and Smith were unforgettable, too. The bouts went down to the wire, with Smith losing 5-3 and 5-4 on each attempt.

"The difference was that my Ethan didn't take any shots that first match," Wasatch coach Steve Sanderson said. "He had a little bit more confidence, he got his shots this time. And he ended up being OK."

Smith said he was much more aggressive this time around.

"After the first time I lost to him, he was my main focus the rest of the year," Smith said. "The state championship is a goal and I've won a bunch of tournaments, but beating him was one of my top priorities."

Tuesday's Results

Team Results 1. Class 5A 41; 2. Class 3A 31; 3. Class 4A 17; 4. Class 1A/2A 16.

Individual Results

• 103 — Carson Kuhn, Alta def. Chasen Tolbert, Delta, 7-5.

• 103 — Kevin Sierer, Murray def. Matt Tuttle, Millard, 15-10.

• 112 — Nate Larsen, Viewmont def. Cody Thornton, South Summit, 18-3.

• 112 — Colby Christensen, Uintah def. Raider Lofthouse, Mountain Crest, 8-3.

• 119 — Trevor Sweat, Wasatch def. Justin Bradley, Manti, 6-2.

• 119 — Marty Rubalcaba, Snow Canyon def. Kade Moss, Bingham, 7-3.

• 125 — Blake Mangum, Wasatch def. Jarrett Morrill, Mountain Crest, 4-2 OT

• 125 — Nick Flores, Layton def. Jonsen Crandall, South Summit, 4-3.

• 130 — Bryson Foy, Altamont def. Jake Morrill, Mountain Crest, 8-4.

• 130 — Paul Johnson, Lone Peak def. Creedon Merkley, Uintah, 15-2.

• 135 — Mason Stott, Millard def. Hayden Petersen, Springville, 7-3.

• 135 — Jaes Jones, Brighton def. Keaton Cheney, North Sanpete, pin 3:11.

• 140 — Jason Chamberlain, Springville def. Aaron Butler, Monticello, 20-5.

• 140 — Broc Prince, Hurricane def. Tanner Porath, Davis, 7-1.

• 145 — Quincy Thatcher, Millard def. Westly Anderson, Delta, 22-12.

• 145 — Jon Gappmaier, Brighton def. Mountain View's Clay Frost, 9-7.

• 152 — Jake Salazar, Wasatch def. Tyler Reinhardt, Duchesne, pin.

• 152 — Lew Woolsey, Weber def. Kolby Williamson, Box Elder, 4-2.

• 160 — Levi Rutledge, Jordan def. Clancey Mortenson, Millard, 9-5.

• 160 — Ethan Smith, Wasatch def. Ethen Lofthouse, Mountain Crest, 3-2.

• 171 — Cole Shafer, Wasatch def. Tanner Torres, Dixie, 14-4.

• 171 — Hayden Moss, Jordan def. Joseph Begaye, San Juan, 18-3.

• 189 — Kody Keisel, Juab def. Brett Kendrick, Logan, pin 1:17.

• 189 — Adam Fager, Layton def. Nate Carter, Dixie, 13-10.

• 215 — Jordan Bainter, Juab def. Mike Demkov, Cottonwood, 3-2.

• 215 — Dustin Martin, Weber def. Dylan Clark, North Sanpete, 3-1.

• 285 — Sean Sullivan, Wasatch def. Tyson Hunt, Wayne, pin.

• 285 — Matt Fairbrother, Murray def. Dylan Stadel, Lehi, 5-2.