Tooele's Hochstrasser Tops List of Utahns in National Rankings

WrestlingUSA Magazine published a national ranking of high-school senior wrestlers in its Oct. 1, 2003, issue. Top ranked of the 13 Utahns included in the list was Andrew Hochstrasser of Tooele High School, who was ranked no. 4 in the country at 125 lbs.

Some of Hochstrasser's notable exploits include being crowned the champion at last year's Rocky Mountain Nationals at 125 lbs., a second-place finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions (one of the toughest tournaments in the country), and All-American status with USA Wrestling for his fifth-place finish at the Junior Nationals last summer in freestyle. He is also a three-time high school state champion, with a high school record of 131-7 thus far in his career.

Not only was Hochstrasser ranked no. 4, but his weight was the one division where the most Utah wrestlers appeared. Hochstrasser was joined by Josh Burnett of Mountain Crest High School, no. 22; and Michael Robins of Lehi High School, no. 30.

The list was compiled by Dan Fickel, National Editor for the magazine, based on six criteria: 1) accomplishments at state high-school championships (folkstyle); 2) National Junior freestyle and Greco-Roman success; 3) Cadet National freestyle and Greco-Roman success; 4) performance at prestigious high-school tournaments; 5) information from coaches and parents; and 6) the state from which the nominee hails.

Utah wrestlers appeared in the rankings in all weight divisions but three.

Other standouts include Luke Lofthouse of Mountain Crest, who was ranked no. 7 at 189 lbs.; Colton Salazar of Wasatch, ranked no. 10 at 152 lbs.; Chase Walker of Timpanogos, no. 11 at 145 lbs.; McKay Sanderson, also of Timpanogos, no. 12 at 135 lbs.; Dave Beagley of Spanish Fork, no. 18 at 103 lbs.; Cody Sweat, Wasatch, no. 22 at 140 lbs.; Randy Callicoat, Timpanogos, no. 23, 160 lbs.; Mark Freeman, Orem, no. 26, 275 lbs.; and a host of wrestlers ranked no. 30, including Casey Fehlberg, Orem, 130 lbs., Pete Rosem Wasatch, 135 lbs., Jeb Clark, Spanish Fork, 140 lbs., Landon Essig, Viewmont, 152 lbs., Cade Neuman, Pineview, 160 lbs., and Craig Mock, Weber, 171 lbs.

Bill Kilpack, Utah Editor for WrestlingUSA Magazine, had chosen Lofthouse as the preseason pick for the state's most outstanding wrestler. He said, "Lofthouse is special. He's gone two years undefeated and I expect he'll do it again this year. You just don't see athletes like him very often, particularly in the upper weights."

Of all the high schools represented by wrestlers in the national rankings, Timpanogos had three listed, followed by Mountain Crest, Orem, Spanish Fork and Wasatch, all with two. Lehi, Pineview, Tooele, Viewmont and Weber each had one on the list.

Kilpack said, "I'm not surprised that Timpanogos and Wasatch were so well represented. I am, however, a little shocked to see that no one was ranked from Fremont or Millard." His preseason picks for the top four high-school wrestling teams in Utah included both Timpanogos and Wasatch, along with Fremont (defending 5A state champions) and Millard (defending 3A state champions in one of the biggest team wins in recent memory). "I was really torn about Mountain Crest when making my preseason picks," Kilpack said. "In the end, I put them at no. 5. But that's what makes preseason picks fun. If the best teams on paper always came out on top, there would be no reason to play the game."

He predicted that Timpanogos would unseat last year's 4A team champion, that Mountain Crest would come in second and Spanish Fork would drop from first to third. He also predicted that Lehi would move up to second in 3A state, edging out North Sanpete, while remaining behind what he will be repeat state champion Wasatch.

Other preseason picks included outstanding junior Michael Watts of Riverton High, and sophomore Jake Swensen of North Sanpete. Two wrestlers Kilpack noted as ones to watch were Brighton sophomore Talan Knox and Taylorsville junior Josh Nufrio.

WrestlingUSA Magazine has been the voice of national high school wrestling since 1965. For more information, see www.wrestlingusa.com.

Kilpack is a past AAU national champion, a seven-time national silver medalist, an AAU All-American, and earned an alternate position on the U.S. Pan-Am Team in Greco-Roman. He coaches an independent freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling program through Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Jordan Freestyle Wrestling. For more information about the program, go to http://members.aol.com/jordanfreestyle/.