Wrestling USA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com, Utah Editor's Preseason Picks

Outstanding Junior Wrestlers for 2011–2012
 

Kyle Foy
Altamont High School, 182 lbs.

School Classification: 1A (110 Enrolled)

Kyle Foy is a stud.  He's been on the mat since a kid and has placed well at a lot of big tournaments.  He is a skilled technician with a good head on his shoulders.  Not only that but, as a freshman at 152 lbs. — Foy took state, destroying Duchesne's Wesley Rowly 11-2 in the finals.  He followed that with a national title at the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver.  His sophomore year was no less shining, where he won his second consecutive state title; this time, not a single opponent made it out of the first round with him, his longest match running 1:48 against Oakley's Maclane Whims. This achievement following finishing a very respectable fourth place at the Rocky Mountain Rumble, where his only losses came to the eventual champ and a 10-6 loss to Tooele star Thomas Manning. He also represented the 1A/2A schools at the All-Star Duals, where he defeated Layton's Crue Kopecky with a second-round fall. He was a three-time champion in junior high and a two-time OW at those tournaments.  He twice won the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, was in the finals at the Gladiator World Championships, and fought through the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver with only one loss, coming out bronze.  Kyle has been frequently ranked among the best in his age division, and that without wrestling much freestyle and Greco-Roman until recently.  Kyle's strong and fast, and a super nice kid.  He's well on his way to being added to that very exclusive list of Utah four timers — halfway there!

2011 State Champion (171 lbs.).  2010 State Champion as a Freshman (152 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 84-10. 2010–2011 Record: 35-4. 2009–2010 Record: 49-6 with 25 Pins.

Following is a summary of Kyle's wrestling career so far:

• Two-Time State Champion, 1A High School State Championships
• Two-Time Champion, North Region Championships
• 2011 6th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals
• 2011 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2011 1A/2A All-Star Duals Team Member
• 2011 4th Place, Rocky Mountain Rumble
• 2011 Champion, Uintah Tournament of Champions
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• 2010 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2010 National Champion, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
• 2010 4th Place, Viewmont Invitational
• 2010 Runner Up, Panguitch Invitational
• 2009 Runner Up, High Country Classic
• Three-Time Junior High State Champion, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships (2007–2009)
• Two-Time Outstanding Wrestler, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships
• 2009 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
• 2008 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Folkstyle
• 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, Folkstyle
• 2008 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
• 2007 National Champion, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
• 2007 Bronze Medalist, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
• 2006 Runner Up, Monster Match Nationals, Folkstyle
• 2005 National Champion, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
• 2005 Runner Up, Gladiator World Championships, Folkstyle

Wrestling USA Magazine Picks

• Nationally Ranked Utahn in National Junior Rankings (182 lbs.): No. 15

UtahWrestling.org 2010 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 23rd Cadet Division

UtahWrestling.org 2009 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 25th Schoolboy Division

UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 18th Novice Division

Rasten Yeates
Box Elder High School, 152 lbs.
GPA: 4.0

School Classification: 4A (1,600 enrolled)
 

I've watched Rasten develop and grow as an athlete since he was about six or seven, since he and my son have been wrestling each other every other year from then until now.  He is solid, taking counter-wrestling to a place that you don't see often.  He's like a spider, waiting for you to make that bad decision, then he pounces and you better hope that he doesn't execute, because he will be coming with all he's worth.  As a sophomore, he won his first state title and in dramatic fashion, topping two-time state champion Zach Loveless from Payson 7-5 in overtime. He followed this with state titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman (of which he has many). As a freshman, he finished fourth in state, with his only losses coming in an overtime 9-7 decision to Dakotah Holmes of Uintah in the semis, then falling behind Payson's Tito Ortiz in the payback match for third. (Ortiz took second in the state the year before, but lost to Rasten first round at the state tournament).  Rasten was the Region IV champ and finished third at the North Super Region tournament, closing his first high-school season with a record of 46-8 and being named Outstanding Freshman at Box Elder High School.  Over the summer, he finished top three at the USA Wrestling West Regional Championships this summer, winning it in folkstyle, finishing second in freestyle and third in Greco-Roman.  He won the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championship tournament in all three styles in 2010, and was the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman for the Cadet division.  (Something he accomplished in 2007, as well.)  Prior to high school, Rasten had competed at the national level and placed well against some of the best talent in the country; for example, finishing fifth at the Reno World Championships (the largest folkstyle tournament in the country) in 2008.  He is sure to have an excellent junior year, adding another state title to his list of many accomplishments on the mat.

2011 State Champion (125 lbs.).  2010 4th in State as a freshman (125 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 91-11 with 56 Pins. Freestyle Record: 50-8. Greco-Roman Record: 39-7. 2010-2011 Record: 45-3. 2009-2010 Record: 46-8.

Following is a summary of Rasten's wrestling career so far:

• 2011 State Champion, 4A High School State Championships
• 2011 Outstanding Wrestler, 4A High School State Championships, Lower Weights
• 2011 Outstanding Wrestler, Region V Championships, Lower Weights
• 2011 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2011 Champion, 4A Northern Divisional Championships
• 2011 Undefeated, Wasatch Duals
• 2011 Champion, Richardson Memorial
• 2011 Undefeated, Jaguar Duals
• 2010 4th Place, 4A High School State Championships
• Two-Time Champion, Region V Championships
• 2010 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• Six-Time Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• Five-Time State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, North Super Region Championships
• 2010 Champion, Region IV Championships
• 2010 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
• 2010 Runner Up, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Greco-Roman
• 2010 Outstanding Wrestler, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Cadet Division, Greco-Roman
• 2010 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Folkstyle
• 2010 Runner Up, Richardson Memorial
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, Viewmont Invitational
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, Layton Invitational
• Two-Time State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships (2006–2007)
• 2009 Runner Up, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
• 2008 5th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
• 2008 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• 2008 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
• 2007 6th Place, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Freestyle
• 2007 Outstanding Wrestler, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Schoolboy Division, Greco-Roman
• 2007 Team Member, Utah All-Star Team vs. Ohio All-Stars
• 2006 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
• 2005 4th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

Wrestling USA Magazine Picks

• Nationally Ranked Utahn in National Junior Rankings (145 lbs.): No. 28

UtahWrestling.org 2011 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 3rd Junior Division

• 10th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2010 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 5th Cadet Division

• 6th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2009 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 14th Cadet Division

• 24th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 7th Schoolboy Division

UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 13th Novice Division

UtahWrestling.org 2004 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 8th Midget Division

• 25th Overall Kids Divisions

Rasten is a member of the Junior National Honor Society and a Team Captain of the Sophomore Football Team.

Jed Mellen
Payson High School, 132 lbs.
GPA: 3.6

School Classification: 3A

I've watched Jed develop as an athlete for a number of years now, making remarkable leaps in technique and overall ability.  The thing that stands out with him is that he came into the sport relatively late, but he is doing exceptionally well.  He took state as a sophomore, with an amazing record of 54-0. You don't see that every day. Nor do you see a state tournament like he had, pinning his way to the finals, where he defeated Logan's Quinn Hinckley soundly, with a 9-1 decision. Prior to this, he won the Rocky Mountain Rumble, handing Wasatch star Morgan Sweat a sound defeat in the finals, with a score of 10-0. In the All-Star Duals, he was just as dominant, handing Kearns' Abraham Hernandez a 17-0 technical fall. As a freshman, he finished second in state behind Uintah stud Colby Christensen (who also handled Maple Mountain's freshman phenom Grant LaMont in the semis).  He finished an impressive fifth at the Reno World Championships this past April.  Prior to high school, Jed had competed at the national level and placed well against some of the best talent in the country; for example, in his 2008–2009 season, he had only two losses, but returned to beat both of them later on in the season by a large margin.  This kid is all heart and, having watched him on the mat with my son more than once, he is always dangerous and strong as an ox.  He's a good technician and is game to get right in and brawl with the best of them.  His determination and drive has resulted in two junior-high state titles, tournament placements ahead of the likes of Skyline's Jess Clapier and Springville's Josh Campbell, championships at both the Beehive Brawl and the USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, and placements at tournaments as prominent as the Reno World Championships and, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Reno Nationals and U.S. Folkstyle Nationals.  He is sure to have an exceptional junior year, taking on a second state championship.

2011 State Champion (125 lbs.).  2010 Runner Up in State as a freshman (119 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 91-8. 2010-2011 Record: 54-0. 2009-2010 Record: 37-8

Following is a summary of Jed's wrestling career so far:

• 2011 State Champion, 4A High School State Championships
• 2010 Runner Up, 4A High School State Championships as a Freshman
• 2011 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2011 4A All-Star Duals Team Member
• 2011 Champion, 4A Southern Divisional Championships
• 2011 Champion, Region VIII Championships
• 2011 Champion, Rocky Mountain Rumble
• 2011 Champion, Uintah Tournament of Champions
• 2010 Champion, Viewmont Invitational
• 2010 Runner Up, South Super Region Championships
• 2010 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2010 Runner Up, Region VIII Championships
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
• 2010 5th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, Rocky Mountain Rumble, Folkstyle
• 2009 Bronze Medalist, Viewmont Invitational
• Two-Time State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships
• 2009 6th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
• 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, Folkstyle
• 2008 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
• 2007 Bronze Medalist, Reno Nationals
• 2007 5th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals
• 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam
• 2007 Silver Medalist, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships
• 2006 Bronze Medalist, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
• 2006 Bronze Medalist, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships

Wrestling USA Magazine Picks

• Nationally Ranked Utahn in National Junior Rankings (132 lbs.): No. 17

UtahWrestling.org 2011 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 21st Cadet Division

Britain Carter
Maple Mountain High School, 120 lbs.

School Classification: 4A

Britain Carter is a stud.  He's been on the mat for years, and is a skilled technician with a seemingly endless reservoir of drive for those tough matches.  On top of all that, he rarely loses his cool.  He's not flashy, he's solid, coming at you like a predator stalking its prey.  When he strikes, he might as well be a cobra.  When he won his second high-school state title, he pinned or teched every opponent to get to the finals, where he won an exciting overtime decision over Spanish Fork freshman phenom Branson Ashworth, 4-2. When he won the 4A/5A Junior High State Championships in 2009, he came out ahead of Box Elder's Shand Hardy, Highland's Skyler Lloyd and Bonneville's Cade Wilson. Yet, for a long time, he seemed to fly under everyone's radar — that is, until he made it to the finals at the USA Wrestling Kids National Championships in 2009.  That might well have been the reason for his selection to represent 4A at the All-Star Duals, where he beat Wasatch stud Gerritt Bradley 5-3.  He followed that by winning the South Super Region Championships, then wading through the state tournament, destroying whoever stood in his way, including beating Brandon George 10-1, then Salem Hills' Spencer Davis 8-2 in the finals.  And that was about as loaded a 103 class as any in a long time, with the likes of Skyler Lloyd, Stansbury's Logan Stewart and Mountain Crest's Rayden Lindley fleshing out the rest of the top six.  But what is really telling was the Best of the West, where Britain beat Syracuse's Josh Boman in the finals (who went on to take the 5A state crown at the same weight).  I have no doubt that Britain will continue his dominating career as a junior.

2011 State Champion (112 lbs.).  2010 State Champion as a freshman (103 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 91-8. 2010-2011 Record: 44-5. 2009-2010 Record: 37-8

Following is a summary of Britain's wrestling career so far:

• Two-Time State Champion, 4A High School State Championships
• 2011 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2011 4A All-Star Duals Team Member
• 2010 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2010 Champion, Region VIII Championships
• 2010 Runner Up, Reno Tournament of Champions
• 2010 Champion, Best of the West
• 2010 Undefeated, Great Basin Grapple
• 2010 4A All-Star Duals Team Member
• 2009 8th Place, Reno Tournament of Champions
• 2009 Runner Up, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
• 2009 6th Place, Reno World Championships
• 2009 4th Place, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Freestyle
• Two-Time State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle (2008–2009)
• Two-Time State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships (2008–2009)
• 2008 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, Folkstyle
• 2004 Runner Up, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

Wrestling USA Magazine Picks

• Nationally Ranked Utahn in National Junior Rankings (120 lbs.): Special Mention

UtahWrestling.org 2009 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 12th Schoolboy Division

UtahWrestling.org 2005 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 24th Midget Division

UtahWrestling.org 2004 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 22nd Midget Division

Cade Coles
Panguitch High School, 112 lbs.
GPA: 3.9

School Classification: 1A

Cade Coles is rock solid.  He took state as a sophomore, beating Altamont standout Brady Thacker 5-0 in the finals, which really established him as one of the top names in the state. He's been on the radar since his bronze-medal finish at the 1A State Championships as a freshman, but he really impressed me at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, where he finished second behind Kearns' Antonio Meikel in freestyle. He pinned both Bracken Lovell and Trent Kelly to get to the cross-bracket, where he really destroyed Kearns' Austin Kennedy, winning without allowing a point to be scored against him in the match, only to fall short against Meikel. He had an outstanding sophomore high-school season, going 41-2, and will undoubtedly add a second state title to his resume.

2011 State Champion (112 lbs.).  2010 Bronze Medalist in State as a Freshman (112 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 73-10 with 56 Pins. 2010–2011 Record: 41-2. 2009–2010 Record: 32-8. Freestyle Record: 4-1 with 4 Pins.

Following is a summary of Cade's wrestling career so far:

• 2011 State Champion, 1A High School State Championships
• 2011 Runner Up, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
• 2011 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
• 2011 Champion, 1A Southern Regional Championships
• 2011 Champion, Milford Invitational
• 2011 Undefeated, Manti Duals
• 2010 Runner Up, Region Championships
• 2010 Champion, Panguitch Invitational
• 2010 Champion, Parowan Invitational
• 2010 Bronze Medalist, Region Championships