WrestlingUSA Magazine recently published a national ranking of high-school sophomore and freshmen wrestlers in its pages.  Top ranked of the six Utahns included in the list was Talan Knox of Brighton High School, ranked no. 2 in the nation at 140 lbs.

 

Knox took second in high-school state competition (folkstyle) last year as a freshman and is Cadet National champion in freestyle wrestling.

 

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 five of the 13 weight classes.

 

Other Utah sophomores ranked in the top four included Jake Swensen of North Sanpete, ranked no. 3 at 119 lbs., who took state last year as a freshman; and Nathaniel Holt of Provo, ranked no. 4 at 135 lbs.

 

Other standouts include Tyrell Sweat of Wasatch, ranked no. 10 at 135 lbs.; Carson Brown of Wasatch, ranked no. 30 at 112 lbs.; and Tag Elliott of Bear River, ranked no. 30 at 125 lbs.

 

Bill Kilpack, Utah Editor for Wrestling USA Magazine, had chosen Swensen as the preseason pick for the state’s most outstanding sophomore wrestler, and Knox as a wrestler to watch.

 

Of all the high schools represented by wrestlers in the national rankings, Wasatch had two sophomores listed, while Bear River, Brighton, North Sanpete and Provo each had one ranked on the list.

 

Kilpack said, “It’s no surprise Wasatch is so well represented, they’re a wrestling power house.”  His preseason picks for the top four high-school wrestling teams in Utah included Wasatch (defending 2A champions), as well as Timpanogos, Fremont (defending 5A state champions) and Millard (defending 3A state champions in one of the biggest team wins in recent memory).

 

He predicted that Wasatch will repeat as 3A state champion, followed by Lehi and North Sanpete.

 

Others of Kilpack’s Utah preseason picks included senior Luke Lofthouse of Mountain Crest as the state’s most outstanding wrestler; and Michael Watts of Riverton as most outstanding junior.  Another wrestler Kilpack noted as one to watch was Taylorsville junior Josh Nufrio.

 

Wrestling USA 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/.  He is also editor of UtahWrestling.org, newly formed Web site aimed at becoming the voice of Utah wrestling.