Springville's Chamberlain Tops Utahns in National Preseason Senior Rankings

Wrestling USA Magazine published a national ranking of high-school senior wrestlers. Top ranked of the 15 Utahns included in the list was Jason Chamberlain, Springville's wrestling phenom, who was ranked no. 1 in the country at 135 lbs.

Some of Chamberlain's notable exploits include taking three high-school state titles, winning a USA Wrestling national championship in freestyle wrestling in Fargo, ND, last summer, winning a Utah High School Coaches Association national junior title in Virginia Beach, and winning the nationally respected Reno Tournament of Champions.  Through his junior year, he has an amazing interscholastic wrestling record of 149-2.  In 2007 season, he was selected by the Wrestling USA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com Utah Editor as a Junior Wrestler of the Year; in 2006, a Sophomore Wrestler of the Year; and, in 2005, a Freshman Wrestler of the Year.

Bill Kilpack, Utah Editor for WrestlingUSA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com, has chosen Chamberlain as the preseason pick for the state's All Divisions Outstanding Wrestler. He said, "Chamberlain comes from a family with a long history in wrestling, and he is the best.  He is a slick technician who never loses his head, regardless of the situation.  It's this maturity, far beyond his years, that makes all the difference.  He is patient and waits for his openings and opportunities.  And it's certainly paid off.  This season, Chamberlain is a shoe-in to join that very exclusive list of four-time state champions."

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.

Fifteen Utah wrestlers appeared in the rankings in 11 of the 14 weight divisions.

Other standouts include Jacob Salazar of Wasatch, who was ranked no. 5 at 145 lbs.; Nate Larsen, Viewmont High School, no. 10 at 112 lbs.; Matt Brown, Cyprus High School, no. 14, 140 lbs.; Matt Fairbrother, Murray High School, no. 24, 285 lbs.; Blake Mangum, Lone Peak High School, no. 29, 130 lbs.; and Paul Johnson, Lone Peak High School, no. 30, 125 lbs.

Receiving special mention were 112 lbs., Ryker Vandertoolen, Bingham High School; 130 lbs., Jarrett Morrill, Mountain Crest High School; 135 lbs., Ky Lucero, Brighton High School; 152 lbs., Lew Woolsey, Weber High School; 160 lbs., Ethan Smith, Wasatch High School; 171 lbs., Cole Shafer, Wasatch High School; 189 lbs., Adam Fager, Layton High School; and 215 lbs., Dylan Clark, North Sanpete High School.

Of all the high schools represented by wrestlers in the national rankings, Wasatch had three listed, Lone Peak had two listed, and Bingham, Brighton, Cyprus, Layton, Mt. Crest, Murray, North Sanpete, Springville, Viewmont and Weber each had one listed.

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

Kilpack is editor of UtahWrestling.org, an AAU national champion and seven-time national silver medalist, a 15-time AAU/USA Wrestling 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, Mountain Top Wrestling Club and the junior-high program, Jordan Junior Wrestling.