Dec.
14, 2007:
Deseret Morning News
Pl. Grove Wrestlers Top Rival Knights
in a Romp
by Brian E. Preece
PLEASANT GROVE — Paced by their lower
weight wrestlers, the Pleasant Grove Vikings again bested
their rival Lone Peak 41-27 in the opening dual meet of
the Region 4 season.
The Knights have generally had a solid
program over the years, but beating their rival in a
Region meet has been elusive. And for another year, the
Vikings prevailed, this time relying on their lower
weights.
The random drawing starting at 103 pounds
played right into the Vikings' hands as Pleasant Grove
posted four straight wins — two by pin, one by technical
fall and one by forfeit — before Lone Peak's two-time
defending champion Paul Johnson got the Knights on the
board with a 13-3 win over Clint Jacob.
Kendrick Roberts and Justin Olsen secured
pins at 103 and 112 pounds respectively, while Craig Young
won by forfeit and Brock Nichols dominated Jordan Cormier
16-0 to give the Vikings a commanding 23-0 team lead.
Lone Peak made a run in the upper weights,
starting with Josh Hunsaker's 9-5 win over Joel Robinette
at 160 pounds.
This was followed by pins by Zane
Mendenhall and Tanner Jones at 171 and 189 pounds
respectively, which pulled Lone Peak within 11 points at
35-24.
After Jones' pin, the Knights needed two
more to win the dual, but Pleasant Grove's Parker Dawe
clinched the Viking win by losing to Lone Peak's Tyler
Curtis 5-2.
Ahead eight points with only one match
remaining, Korry Roper's pin wasn't necessary but still
brought the raucous Viking crowd to their feet. Perhaps
the best match of the night was at 152 pounds where
Pleasant Grove's Alex Nicholes pulled off a mild upset of
Chase Stilson, a returning state placer for the Knights.
The Viking grappler won the match 9-7, catching Stilson on
his back for a five-point move in the second round to go
ahead 9-4.
Choosing top in the final round, Stilson
fought back with a two-point near-fall and picked up a
stalling point, but Nicholes had enough in the tank to win
the match.
Another big win for the Vikings came at
135 pounds where Quin Nielsen pinned Zach Breur in the
third round in what was a hotly contested match.
"Being a young team, we did what we needed
to do," said assistant coach Chris Burton. Our lower
weights came through for us. Each week we are getting
better and making progress."
Lone Peak will compete at the tough
Viewmont Invitational this week while Pleasant Grove is
scheduled to travel to Nevada for the prestigious Reno
Tournament of Champions early next week.
-
103 Pounds: Kendrick Roberts (PG) pinned
Sam Henninger (LP) in the first round.
-
112 Pounds: Justin Olsen (PG) pinned Cory
Hancock (LP) in the third round.
-
119 Pounds: Craig Young (PG) won by
forfeit.
-
125 Pounds: Brock Nichols (PG) won by
technical fall 16-0 over Jordan Cormier (LP).
-
130 Pounds: Paul Johnson (LP) major
decisioned Clint Jacob (PG) 13-3.
-
135 Pounds: Quin Nielsen (PG) pinned Zach
Breur (LP) in the third round.
-
140 Pounds: Todd Dearing (LP) won by
technical fall 16-1 over Trevan Robinette (PG)
-
145 Pounds: Chase Lott (PG) decisioned
Travis Johnson (LP) 5-2.
-
152 Pounds: Alex Nicholes (PG) decisioned
Chase Stilson (LP) 9-7.
-
160 Pounds: Josh Hunsaker (LP) decisoned
Joel Robinette (PG) 9-5
-
171 Pounds: Zane Mendenhall (LP) pinned
Evan Argyle (PG) in the first round.
-
189 Pounds: Tanner Jones (LP) pinned
Taylor Wilson (PG) in the second round.
-
215 Pounds: Tyler Curtis (LP) decisions
Parker Dawe (PG) 5-2. 285 Pounds: Korry Roper (PG) pinned
Jon Montrose (LP) in the first round.
-
Referee — Paul Dart
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