December 2003: Wrestling USA Magazine

Tooele's Hochstrasser Tops List of Utahns in All-Division National Rankings

Wrestling USA Magazine recently published an all-inclusive national ranking of high-school wrestlers from all age divisions, freshman through senior. Top ranked of the 10 Utahns included in the list was Andrew Hochstrasser of Tooele High School, ranked no. 3 in the nation at 125 lbs.

Some of Hochstrasser's notable exploits include being crowned high-school state champion three times, working this year to become the seventh Utahn to take state. He was also crowned champion at last year's Rocky Mountain Nationals at 125 lbs., a second-place finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions (one of the toughest tournaments in the country), and All-American status with USA Wrestling for his fifth-place finish at the Junior Nationals last summer in freestyle.

The list was compiled by Dan Fickel, National Editor for the magazine, based on six criteria: 1) accomplishments at state high-school championships (folkstyle); 2) National Junior freestyle and Greco-Roman success; 3) Cadet National freestyle and Greco-Roman success; 4) performance at prestigious high-school tournaments; 5) information from coaches and parents; and 6) the state from which the nominee hails.

Utah wrestlers appeared in the rankings in nine of the 13 weight classes.

Other Utahns ranked in the national all-division list included no. 10 ranked Luke Lofthouse, a senior at Mountain Crest High School, 189 lbs. (ranked no. 7 in the senior national rankings); no. 10 ranked Cyler Sanderson, a junior at Wasatch High School, 130 lbs. (ranked no. 4 in the junior national rankings); no. 13 ranked Dallin Norton, a junior at Wasatch, 275 lbs. (ranked no. 4 in the junior national rankings); no. 16 ranked Jake Swensen, a sophomore at North Sanpete, 119 lbs. (ranked no. 3 in the sophomore/freshman national rankings); no. 17 ranked Chase Walker, a senior at Timpanogos High School, 145 lbs. (ranked no. 11 in senior national rankings); no. 17 ranked Colton Salazar, a senior at Wasatch, 152 lbs. (ranked no. 10 in senior national rankings); no. 19 ranked McKay Sanderson, a senior at Timpanogos, 135 lbs. (ranked no. 12 in the senior national rankings); no. 26 ranked Tyson Thompson, a junior at Lehi High School, 140 lbs. (ranked no. 9 in the national junior rankings); and no. 29 ranked Talan Knox, a sophomore at Bright High School, 140 lbs. (ranked no. 2 in the national sophomore rankings).

Bill Kilpack, Utah Editor for Wrestling USA Magazine, had chosen Lofthouse as the preseason pick for the state's most outstanding wrestler. He said, "Lofthouse is special. He's gone two years undefeated and I expect he'll do it again this year. You just don't see athletes like him very often, particularly in the upper weights."

Of all the high schools represented by wrestlers in the national rankings, Wasatch had three wrestlers listed, followed by Timpanogos with two, then Brighton, Lehi, Mountain Crest, North Sanpete and Tooele, each with one ranked on the list.

Kilpack said, "It's no surprise Wasatch is so well represented, they're a wrestling dynasty acknowledged here and nationwide for the high quality of their program." His preseason picks for the top four high-school wrestling teams in Utah included Wasatch (defending 2A champions), as well as Timpanogos, Fremont (defending 5A state champions) and Millard (defending 3A state champions in one of the biggest team wins in recent memory).

With 10 wrestlers nationally ranked, Utah is tied for 11th in the nation in terms of wrestlers represented (tied with Missouri and New York). "We have quality athletes in Utah, and it's great to see that some of them are getting the recognition they deserve," Kilpack said.
He predicted that Wasatch will repeat as 3A state champion, followed by Lehi and North Sanpete.

Others of Kilpack's Utah preseason picks included Michael Watts of Riverton as most outstanding junior; Swensen as most outstanding sophomore; and another wrestler to watch was Taylorsville junior Josh Nufrio.