Alta's Kuhn Utah's Top-Ranked Junior Wrestler In the National Rankings

Wrestling USA Magazine published a national ranking of high-school junior wrestlers. Top ranked of the four Utahns included in the list was Carson Kuhn of Alta High School, who was ranked no. 3 in the country at 103 lbs.

Some of Kuhn's notable exploits include an undefeated high-school wrestling season last year, culminating in a state title, All-American finishes in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling Cadet National Championships in Fargo, ND, last summer; and winning regional titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling Junior Western Regional Championships in Las Vegas.  Through his sophomore year, he has accumulated an interscholastic career record of 83-13.  In the 2008 season, he was selected by the Wrestling USA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com Utah Editor as a Sophomore Wrestler of the Year; in 2004, he was the UtahWrestling.org Youth Wrestler of the Year.

Bill Kilpack, Utah Editor for WrestlingUSA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com, has chosen Kuhn as a preseason pick for Junior Wrestler of the Year. He said, "Carson Kuhn is one of the slickest young wrestlers I have ever seen.  He is smart, level-headed, a fine technician, and never seems to lose his cool.  He would be a two-time state champion now, if he hadn't been giving up a ton of weight as a freshman, although he still won the championship for Region II and was the Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights.  As a sophomore, he was just amazing.  All it took was a little more meat on his bones, and he pinned his way through the state tournament."

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.

Six Utah wrestlers appeared in the rankings.

Ranked no. 7 at 130 lbs. was Raider Lofthouse, Mountain Crest High School, who won his second state title and finished the season with a record of 41-7.  Another standout was Kade Moss of Bingham High School, ranked no. 18 at 125 lbs.  Receiving special mention were three Utah wrestlers: Colby Christensen, Uintah High School, 112 lbs.; Jonsen Crandall, South Summit High School, 125 lbs.; and Bryson Foy, Altamont High School, 130 lbs.

Wrestling USA 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.