Wrestling: Vikings cruise to 1st state championship for coach Thompson
BY JAY DREW
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
CLASS 5-A WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
OREM -- Seniors Ben Kjar and Wade Steed and junior Logan Essig won individual titles to lead the Viewmont Vikings to their first state Class 5-A prep wrestling championship Saturday night.
But the Vikings said their biggest star was a guy who never put on a singlet or headgear.
Bart Thompson, a 17-year coaching veteran at the Bountiful school, had suffered through a bunch of second-, third- and fourth-place finishes but never tasted a title. He finally got one in convincing fashion at Utah Valley State College.
"If it were between my title and the team title, I would take the team title, all because of coach Thompson," said Kjar, a 119-pounder who won his third consecutive state championship. "Coach Thompson waited way too long for this, and he deserves it more than anyone. He is the best coach in the state."
The Vikes finished with 260.5 points, Weber was second with 158 and Taylorsville third with 128.5. Eleven of Viewmont's 17 state qualifiers are seniors, but with Essig, sophomores Landon Essig and Adam Kjar and freshman Shay Lawrence returning, the program is in solid shape. Adam Kjar and Lawrence each placed third.
"We have had a core group of kids that from the time they entered high school, were absolutely committed to excellence," Thompson said. "They were dedicated to doing whatever it took to get us over the hump."
Thompson won the 5-A coach of the year award. His father, Frank, was coach at Davis High for 11 years without ever getting a championship, and his 42-year-old son was an assistant at Clearfield for a few years. So the title was a long time coming, Bart Thompson said.
"It is nice, it is a relief. But I am just thrilled for the kids. It is their accomplishment."
Having clinched the title in Saturday's first consolation-round match, Viewmont won three of its five title matches. Kjar, Steed and Essig won fairly easily, but senior Zac Morby (125) and sophomore Landon Essig (135) were knocked off in close matches.
"I am heartbroken for Zac Morby," Thompson said. "He never missed a practice in three years of wrestling."
Kjar was Viewmont's inspirational leader. Born with Crouzon's Syndrome, a malady that stunts the growth of his body and facial features, Kjar has returned from several surgeries to become one of the state's top all-time wrestlers. He will likely wrestle for Minnesota after an LDS Church mission.
"All the hundreds and hundreds of hours of hard work paid off," he said. "I go out knowing I worked harder than any of my opponents."
Other notable achievements:
Layton's Zach Lamano became a three-time state champ with a 9-5 win over Weber's Craig Mock. Lamano said he could not help but wonder what might have been, having taken third as a freshman. "The goal since I was little was four, but three isn't bad."
Clearfield senior Dan Gardner pulled off the night's biggest upset. He beat Viewmont's Morby 5-1 after having lost to Morby three straight times, including at last week's Region 1 meet.
Taylorsville's Oliver Bradstreet (135), Hillcrest's Brandon Shafizadeh (160) and Fremont's Billy Green (275) won their second state championships. Shafizadeh and Brighton's Daryl Spackman, a defending state champ who returned from a nearly fatal battle with aplastic anemia who placed fourth, were named most outstanding wrestlers.
Northridge's Graham Allen (103), Taylorsville's Kyle Thornock (112), West Jordan's Race Sawyer (145), Jordan's Trevor Moss (171), Davis' Skyler Stephens (189) and Taylorsville's Matt Payton (215) also won individual championships.
Class 5-A
Final Team Results
1, Viewmont 260.5.
2, Weber 158.
3, Taylorsville 128.5.
4, West Jordan 119.5.
5, Brighton 107.5.
6, Northridge 101.
7, Alta 89.
8, Layton 85.5.
9, Bingham 83.5.
10, Jordan 72.
11, Fremont 71.5.
12, Clearfield 71.
13, Davis 69.5.
14, Hillcrest 56.5.
15, Skyline 47.
16, Riverton 39.5.
17, Cottonwood 36.
18, Granger 25.
19, Copper Hills 21.5.
20, Hunter and Kearns, 13.
Championship Matches
103 -- Graham Allen (Northridge) def. Brent Anderson (Layton), 4-2.
112 -- Kyle Thornock (Taylorsville) def. Tyler White (Weber), 8-6.
119 -- Ben Kjar (Viewmont) def. Aaron Burrup (Alta), 13-3.
125 -- Dan Gardner (Clearfield) def. Zac Morby (Viewmont), 5-1.
130 -- Wade Steed (Viewmont) def. Craig Tennant (Weber), 5-2.
135 -- Oliver Bradstreet (Taylorsville) def. Landon Essig (Viewmont), 5-3 (OT).
140 -- Zach Lamano (Layton) def. Craig Mock (Weber), 9-5.
145 -- Race Sawyer (West Jordan) def. Shawn Brunson (Hillcrest), 7-5.
152 -- Logan Essig (Viewmont) def. Nick Bricker (Davis), 11-6.
160 -- Brandon Shafizadeh (Hillcrest) pinned Jason Syphus (Taylorsville), 1:18.
171 -- Trevor Moss (Jordan) def. Danny Richards (Bingham), 6-2.
189 -- Skyler Stephens (Davis) def. Tristan White (West Jordan), 3-1.
215 -- Matt Payton (Taylorsville) def. Mark Collard (Northridge), 14-7.
275 -- Billy Green (Fremont) def. Jacob Moss (Weber), 2-1.
Third-Fourth
103 -- Shay Lawrence (Viewmont) def. J.P. Defngin (Brighton), 4-3.
112 -- Adam Kjar (Viewmont) def. Everett Ito (Northridge), 9-8 (OT).
119 -- Charlie Sandness (West Jordan) def. Cuyler Clifton (Weber), 7-3.
125 -- Daniel Purrington (Brighton) def. Daryl Spackman (Brighton), 3-1.
130 -- Casey Lawson (Alta) pinned Josh Meadows (Brighton), 1:48.
135 -- Kennedy Nate (Brighton) def. Dave Malan (Weber), 4-1.
140 -- Kevin Bishop (Cottonwood) def. A.J. Kim (Bingham), 5-4.
145 -- Riley Bullock (Viewmont) def. Kurt Phister (Riverton), 6-1.
152 -- Brendon Pearson (West Jordan) def. J. Johnson (Bingham), 3-1.
160 -- Dustin Cameron (Weber) def. Ben Buckley (Layton), 5-2.
171 -- Jeremy Brown (Copper Hills) def. Karson Storey (Fremont), 10-7.
189 -- Greg Farnsworth (Viewmont) pinned John Emett (Skyline), 4:31.
215 -- Blake Bastian (Northridge) def. Brandon Birch (Jordan), 3-2.
275 -- Jason Speredon (Granger) pinned Kevin Freestone (Jordan), 2:58.
Fifth-Sixth
103 -- Justin Bell (Bingham) def. Michael Watts (Riverton), 12-3.
112 -- Spencer Eldredge (Alta) def. Bryce Bartell (Brighton), 14-0.
119 -- Jake Moore (Bingham) def. Jacob Ito (Northridge), 9-3.
125 -- Nathaniel Ward (Viewmont) def. Devin Bawden Taylorsville), 11-2.
130 -- Ben Harding (Fremont) def. Kalen Wilson (West Jordan), 17-6.
135 -- Jordan Haycock (Skyline) def. Derren Atkinson (Clearfield), 4-3.
140 -- Brock Wilberg (Clearfield) def. Jon Moore (Bingham), 14-3.
145 -- Ryan Weeks (Davis) def. Jess Dickson (Weber), 10-8 (OT).
152 -- Nik Ruoti (Viewmont) def. Court McGee (Layton), 9-4.
160 -- Sam Delahunty (Alta) pinned Jordan Funk (Northridge), 4:32.
171 -- Nick Galbraith (Clearfield) def. Zach Roberts (Bingham), forfeit.
189 -- Bobby Sheen (West Jordan) pinned Dan DuPaix (Skyline), 1:32.
215 -- Jerry Flannery (Viewmont) pinned Alex Nickle (Riverton), :38.
275 -- Stuart Sondrup (Viewmont) pinned Zac Wadsworth (Cottonwood), 1:35.
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