Dec.
14, 2007: The Salt Lake Tribune
Prep Wrestling: Viewmont Proving
Itself This Year
by Chhun Sun
Viewmont wrestling coach Brandon
Ripplinger likes to preach the little things.
He tells his wrestlers this all the time.
On Wednesday, it was the little things
that mattered - as a number of Vikings prevented takedowns
as well as refused pinfalls to squeeze out enough points
to beat perhaps the state's best all-around team in
Wasatch, 29-28. The victory comes at a perfect time.
Because the Vikings will be hosting their
27th annual Viewmont Invitational starting today, the
close win answered a simple yet daunting question that
hovered above the wrestlers' heads at the start of the
season.
How good can Viewmont be?
"I think when we came in this year, people
didn't know how competitive of a team we can be," said
Ripplinger, whose team finished as the Class 5A runner-up
last season. "I think we really show them that we can
compete with the best team in the state."
Ripplinger doesn't expect opponents to be
gunning for the Vikings this weekend, since the setting
will different than the dual meet against Wasatch.
Ripplinger praised the efforts of Danner Kjar for his 14-6
win over Parker Cummings in the 145-pound championship
match, and Moroni Redd for not giving up a pin against
Jake Salazar in the 152-pound final.
Wasatch will not compete in this weekend's
event, which will have 23 teams in attendance.
"They have a lot horses and all of them
can score big points," Ripplinger said of Wasatch. "Our
strength is we have good kids at every weight class and
have depth and we have kids who can help."
Mike Winger (103), Nate Larsen (112), Sam
Graham (189) and Eric Call (160) are Viewmont's top
wrestlers - and all are expected to score big points this
weekend.
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