Feb.
10, 2007:
Deseret Morning News
Weber Finally Wins Championship
by Michael Black
OREM — It has been 51 years since Weber
last won a state title.
The Warriors won the 5A state wrestling
championship Friday with 241.5 points. Viewmont was second
with 150 points, followed by Bingham with 137 and Pleasant
Grove with 124.
The finals turned into a family affair. A
pair of brothers won state titles, and two father-son
combinations joined the rare company of four-time state
champions.
The Moss brothers of Bingham each took an
individual crown. Kade, a freshman in the 103-pound
classification, got things started as he beat Bracken
Nipko of Weber.
"It is just amazing," Kade said.
"Everything I have worked so hard for all year just paid
off. Now I just have to go back to work and start looking
toward next year."
Mitch is a senior and became a two-time
champion after beating Blake Mangum of Lone Peak. He had
an unusual method at getting the two titles. After winning
two years ago, he finished a disappointing fourth-place
last year before getting redemption. It is something he
doesn't want to see happen to his younger sibling. "I got
a little too cocky after winning as a sophomore, goofed
around too much," Mitch said. "I don't think that will
happen to Kade. He has always been more serious about the
sport, more dedicated. I guess if it does start to happen,
I'll come back and work him over."
Shay Warren became only the 15th wrestler
in Utah to become a four-time champion. He beat Taira Abe
of Viewmont and ran to celebrate with his father and Weber
coach, Jody Warren.
"It was everything I expected it to be,"
Shay Warren said. "All my goals and dreams to this point
were just realized. I've been working with him (Jody) ever
since I was young, so to get this with him was something
special."
Just minutes after Warren joined the ranks
of the four-time champions, Davis' Sean Porter punched his
ticket as the 16th wrestler in the exclusive club with a
win over Alta's Luke Rasmussen — another family
connection, as Rasmussen is the cousin of the Moss
brothers. Like Warren, Porter also got to celebrate with
his father and coach, Alan.
"It means everything. I am the luckiest
kid in the world to have so much support around me," Sean
Porter said. "I told my dad when I was just teeny that I
was going to be a four-time state champion, and it never
would have happened if I didn't have the support of my
family around me."
Paul Johnson of Lone Peak won his second
consecutive state title and has a chance to become a
three-time champion next year.
"When you have that title, people look at
you a little differently," Johnson said. "I dreamed about
it, but I never really thought I could get here. I guess I
can start training right now for next year."
The night's biggest upsets were Cole
Shafer of Brighton denying Mitch Sanderson from becoming a
three-time state champion by getting a pin for the
171-pound championship, and David Williams of Copper Hills
beating defending champ Mike Baker of Northridge. The
other individuals to win a title were Keola Goodman
(Pleasant Grove), Blake Griffiths (Bingham), K.C. Nate
(Brighton), Lew Woolsey (Weber), Chris Moat (Layton), Adam
Fager (Layton) and Jaden Briskey (Weber).
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