Nov. 10, 2004: Vernal Express

Uintah Wrestling

Uintah High School wrestling coach, Gregg Stensgard says he feels “real good” about where his team is going.

And well he should feel good — he has four athletes who are ranked nationally in the top 30 in their age divisions.

Three of the four have earned All American status.

Senior Phillip Keddy is a returning Utah state champion from last year. He wrestled last year and his record was 39 and one. He finished fourth in the Brut Junior National tournament. Currently Keddy is ranked 21st in the country. He wrestled at 160 last year, but is projected this year to wrestle at 171.

Levi Mele, a junior who is currently ranked third in the junior class division, is also a returning state champion. Going 35 and three last year, he finished fourth in the Asic’s Jr. Nationals and won the Brut sophomore nationals as champion. Projected to be wrestling at 112 this year, he performed at 103 last year. Mele is a two-time All American.

Junior Jared McCurdy took third in the 3-A state championships last year. “He had a great year,” says Stensgard who adds that at the Brut sophomore championships McCurdy won a national championship and is currently ranked third in the country in the junior class. McCurdy has earned All American status.

Sophomore Jared Ruppe is ranked 26 in the sophomore class and took fourth in the state competition as a freshman. Wrestling last year at 145, he is projected to perform at 160 this year.

“We have more we feel will be nationally ranked this year,” says Stensgard, pointing to two-time state placer, senior Czyz Woody who finished fourth last year.