Thoughts from 4A wrestling semifinals
One of the unique features of a state wrestling meet is there is so much going on at once. The only other high school championship I’ve covered that really compares in terms of dizzying activity is a state track and field meet.
Because of that, it is hard to do much more than scratch the surface in articles we produce for the print edition of the Deseret News. With that in mind, here are some additional notes and observations from the 4A wrestling meet on Thursday not contained in my article:
∗ It’s safe to say the final bout at 285 is shaping up to be a memorable one.
Daniel Crook, the defending 4A champ, earned his third pin in three matches on Thursday when pinned Springville’s Aaron Turley in 2:47. Crook, a senior at Box Elder, pinned both previous opponents in under a minute.
His opponent, Chad Gough, is on quite a roll as well. Gough dealt the Bees a huge blow in the 4A team competition when he pinned Box Elder junior Shane Hardy late in the second period of their semifinal match. The Snow Canyon grappler has also pinned three straight opponents going into the final at 285.
Don’t expect Crook to feel nervous about what Gough brings to the mat though. He is 41-2 this season and, despite the additional pressure of being a defending state champ, isn’t lacking for confidence.
“I feel like if I wrestle my game no one can beat me,” Crook said. “It might be a little cocky. But, you know, you got to have a little bit of confidence.”
∗ For a second consecutive season, Box Elder wrestler Koleton Hardy will face a defending state champ in the final at 135.
Last year, Hardy gave Mountain Crest senior Raider Lofthouse a run for his money before dropping a 5-3 decision. This year, he draws Uintah senior Damon Mele. Through three rounds, both wrestlers have looked impressive.
Hardy pinned his first two opponents and scored a 9-0 major decision over Payson’s Kaelen Loveless in the semis.
Mele as pinned three consecutive opponents in Orem and he has done it more rapidly in each round. On Thursday, just 1:07 ticked off the clock before he subdued Mountain Crest senior Tyson Kendrick.
∗ Maple Mountain deserves praise for an impressive showing for a first-year school. The Golden Eagles are in fourth place heading into today’s final matches with 128 points.
The biggest star from Maple Mountain has to be Britain Carter at 103. The freshman improved his season record to 56-6 with a 10-1 major decision over teammate Brandon George in the semifinals. Carter pinned his first two opponents at the state meet while spending a combined total of just 68 seconds on the mat.
∗ Much controversy resulted over Uintah’s move to 4A in the most recent round of realignment. When it comes to wrestling, however, the Utes are doing just fine.
Two Uintah grapplers are in position to defend state titles they earned at the 3A level a year ago. Mele, as I previously mentioned, will go for the state title at 135. The other Ute in contention is Colby Christiansen at 119. Christiansen carries a 53-3 record into his final bout with Payson freshman Jed Mellen.
As a team, Unitah is fifth in the points standings with 117 points.
—