Lofthouse Wins Greco-Roman National Title in Fargo

Mountain Crest's Ethen Lofthouse won a national championships at the USA Wrestling Cadet-Junior National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships held at North Dakota State University in Fargo, July 19–26, 2008.  This championship was among nine All-American finishes for Utah athletes between the two styles.

“This was a great showing for Utah,” said Craig LaMont, president of USA Wrestling-Utah.  “It's a massive tournament, where every weight is just packed with talent.  We had three make the finals, Ethen Lofthouse, Candace Workman and Jacob Falk.  Utah can really be proud about the state's showing.”

Lofthouse won the title at Junior (ages 17 and 18) 171 pounds in Greco-Roman, going 7-0 on the tournament, and winning his championship match over a Minnesota wrestler the first two rounds, with scores of 2-0 and 5-1.  He finished third in the tournament in freestyle.

Uintah's Candace Workman made it to the finals in the women's freestyle tournament, at Junior 102 pounds.  She pinned every opponent until the finals, where she lost to a California wrestler, the first two two, 4-0 and 5-3.  This was the second consecutive year Workman made it to the finals in this tournament.

West Jordan's Jacob Falk also made it to the finals in Greco-Roman, at Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 105 pounds.  He fell short in the finals to a Missouri athlete the first two rounds, with scores of 3-0 and 4-0.  He went 7-2 for the tournament.

Other Greco-Roman All-American finishers included

• Third Place: Alta's Carson Kuhn (8-1), Cadet 105 lbs.
• Fourth Place: Box Elder's Koleton Hardy (6-2), Cadet 130 lbs.
• Eighth Place: Mountain Crest's Raider Lofthouse (5-3), Cadet 130 lbs.

Other Freestyle All-American finishers included

• Third Place: Ethen Lofthouse (9-1), Junior 171 lbs.
• Fourth Place: Raider Lofthouse (8-2), Cadet 130 lbs.
• Fifth Place: Kuhn (8-2), Cadet 105 lbs.