Jan. 20, 2008: Deseret Morning News

Utah's Best Prep Wrestlers Show They're Ready to Rumble
by Michael Black

OREM — The best wrestlers in Utah are proving they can compete with anyone.

With 60 teams from five states competing in the 2008 Rocky Mountain Rumble, Utahns claimed every individual title except one, and Wasatch proved that it is not only the class of the Beehive State, it also dominated some top teams from Washington, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming.

The Wasps captured the team title with 286 points. Mountain Crest was second with 224.5. Rock Springs, Wyo., was third at 223.5 and Millard fourth with 186.5.

Not only did the school from the Heber Valley capture the team title, but it had three individual champions in Jake Salazar (152 pounds), Cole Shafer (171) and Garrett Gleave (189).

"It is almost more fun to come in and win a tournament like this as a team than it is to get the individual title," said Shafer. "The reason we do so well is because we are a team. Everyday in the room we are getting after each other and working hard. With so many good wrestlers on the team, we help each other get better giving some challenges."

The Rumble has grown in stature and prestige nearly every year, something event organizer Cole Kelley said should continue.

"This tournament just keeps getting better with more top teams wanting to come each year," Kelley said. "It is definitely a top-5 tournament in the west, and probably a top-20 in the country. It is always every kids dream to win a state title, but to be honest, it is probably tougher to win this tournament in some ways than it is to win a state title."

Alta's Carson Kuhn was the individual champion at 103 pounds after pinning his opponent from Deer Park, Wash. He is 38-0 this season and is ranked as high as No. 9 in the country. He agreed with Kelley's assessment.

"You get some really tough guys when there are 60 teams and they aren't all split up in classifications," Kuhn said. "It is very satisfying knowing that you really had to beat some of the best guys in the west when you win the Rumble."

Jason Chamberlain continues to prove that his No. 1 ranking in the country is well-deserved. He won the 140-pound title with a 10-1 major decision as he completely dominated Derek Garcia from Sedro Wooley, Wash., the No. 5-ranked wrestler in the country, according to some publications.

"I love to wrestle against good competition," Chamberlain said. "What I like about wrestling is going out on the mat and putting yourself up against the best."

The much-anticipated rematch between Ethen Lofthouse and Ethan Smith once again proved to be a thriller. After Smith won at the All-Star Tuesday night, handing Lofthouse his first loss on the season, the junior from Mountain Crest got his revenge, prevailing with a 5-1 decision.

"It was a great feeling to know that I got him in what was probably the last time we'll ever wrestle," Lofthouse said.

Other individual champions included Ryker Vandertoolen (112) of Bingham, Kade Moss (119) of Bingham, Jerrett (125) and Jake (130) Morrill of Mountain Crest, Kevin O'Neil (135) from Sedro Wooley, Wash., Jon Gappmaier (145) of Brighton, Dylan Clark (215) of North Sanpete and Justin Blackmore (285) of West Jordan.