Jan. 17, 2008: Tooele-Transcript Bulletin

Springville Grapplers Topple Tooele
by Dylan Trujillo

Tooele's final home wrestling dual fell short of the team's expectations with a loss 39-24 to Springville. Tooele came out on the mat pumped with a large crowd of supporters, motivational music and a senior tribute.

The matches began with Glen Kummer (THS) facing off against Sabastion Lucio in the 171-pound weight bracket. The first period ended 2-0 with Lucio getting credited with a takedown. Kummer revived himself after getting a point for an escape and ended the second period down 2-1. Lucio pulled away in the final period and won 9-3 by decision.

T.C. Tate (THS) in the 189-pound weight bracket faced off against Cody Dennis, where Dennis was credited with a takedown in the first period 2-0. In the second period Dennis kept Tate with no points and received eight more ending the period 8-0. Dennis then pinned Tate early in the third period.

At 285 pounds Isaac Brown (THS) wrestled Aaron Turley. Isaac worked his way around the mat and scored two take-downs and ended the period up 6-1. He then defeated Aaron with a pin in the third period.

Tim Namonny (THS) grappled against Steve Brown in the 103-pound weight bracket, and was pinned late in the third period. At 112 Jake Prather (THS) wrestled Brett Johnson and earned two points with a takedown in the first quarter, and won the match 4-0 by decision.

Derek Vigil (THS) in the 119-pound bracket faced off against Tyson Hamilton and was pinned in the middle of the first period. Jake Golden (THS) wrestled Rick Wilson. It was scoreless in the first two periods but in the third period Golden was credited with two escapes and Wilson got two points for a takedown, which sent the match into sudden death, where Wilson managed the win with a takedown.

Jesse Bissegger (THS) in the 130-pound bracket wrestled Niel Burnett and both wrestled to the last period where Burnett was able to pull away to win 7-4.

In the 135-pound bracket, two competitors that placed at state faced off. Dan Goode (THS) wrestled returning state champ Hayden Peterson. Things got off to a rocky start as neither of them scored points but then in the second period Peterson received a point for an escape. Then in the third period Goode was able to get out of two holds and got two points for his efforts, Hayden received four points for two takedowns and won by decision 7-4.

"Give it another three weeks and Dan will be able to beat that kid," coach Gary Coffman said.

At 140 pounds Chris Heaps (THS) faced a challenge that has won state three times. Jason Chamberlain came out and easily scored 10 points until Heaps was able to escape his grasp and receive a point for the escape. In the second round Heaps was able to get two more points for two escapes. Chamberlain won the match by decision 19-3.

"For him being as experienced as he is, I did as was expected of me," Heaps said. "Next time we wrestle I think I can stand a better chance."

Austin Hansen (THS,) at 145 pounds, wrestled Caleb Christen. Christen was credited with a takedown in the first period and was ahead 2-0. Hansen was credited for two escapes while Christen received an escape and three takedowns. The third period was similar and Christen won by decision 18-4.

Monte Scmalhaus (THS) wrestled Devin Bodily in the 152-pound weight bracket. Scmalhaus easily took the first period with an easy takedown. In the second period, Scmalhaus was given the only points of the round for a reversal and led 4-0. In the final period, Bodily received two points for a reversal same as Scmalhaus won by decision 6-2.

The final match of the night was between Zeb Hansen (THS) and Bryan Wright in the 160- pound weight bracket. Hansen took an easy lead in the first period and came out on top 4-0. Hansen then came out in the second period, got a reversal and pinned his opponent.

"We started off too slow, the first matches we wrestled hesitant," Coffman said. "We picked back up after the first couple of matches."

Tooele had four of their wrestlers beat the opponents, and one win due to forfeit.

"We need to work on our feet a little more and conditioning, but I expect us to finish in the top 10 in the tournaments ahead," Coffman said.