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Wrestling USA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com, Utah Editor's Preseason
Picks
Outstanding Sophomore Wrestlers for 2011–2012
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Dusty Hone
Cedar City High School, 113 lbs.
School Classification: 3A |
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Dusty Hone is is a
great wrestler and a fine young man. I have had the
pleasure and frustration of coaching against him since the
first time he wrestling my son back when they were 8 or 9
years old at the Utah Summer games. It has been a real pleasure to
see him grow as an athlete and an individual in the time since then. And if
you know anything about Utah wrestling, you know his
family. Dusty is technically solid, and never stops
thinking while on the mat. Many a time have I
watched him, thinking that he was going to be taken down,
but he somehow managed to move on his butt and keep just
ahead of his opponent. And he's not even in a
dentist's chair! Moreover, he blasted onto the high-school wrestling scene with an undefeated freshman season and a state title! In the finals, he faced Hurricane standout Josh Pettus and made it look easy, teching him 15-0. This came after pinning Delta's Tayten Babb in the second round to get to the finals. Following state, he took state in freestyle at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, beating Box Elder's Shand Hardy in the finals. He is a four-time Junior High State
Champion, and was named Outstanding Wrestler at two of
those four tournaments. He is a four-time National
Champion, and twice placed at the Reno World Championships
(one of those times, making it all the way to the finals).
He
has twice won the Beehive Brawl, in eighth grade, falling short
in the finals against Idaho stud Michael Cook (and if you
know Michael, you understand). He is has been ranked
in the Top 25 in his age division several times, and each
well deserved. His brains are as much a reason for
his good fortune as his athleticism and technique.
Dusty is well on his way to that exclusive list of four-timers.
2010 State
Champion as a Freshman (103 lbs.). 2010–2011
Record: 32-0.
Following is a
summary of Dusty's wrestling career so far:
- High School State Champion as a Freshman
- 2011 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- Champion, 3A Southern Divisional Championships
- State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 Champion, Las Vegas Holiday Classic
- Four-Time State Champion, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State
Championships (2007–2010)
- Two-Time Outstanding Wrestler, 1A/2A/3A Junior High
State Championships (2008–2009)
- 2010 Champion, Jacob's Challenge, Folkstyle
- 2010 Champion, State Games of the West, Freestyle
- 2010 Champion, State Games of the West, Folkstyle
- 2010 Runner Up, State Games of the West, Greco-Roman
- 2010 Runner Up, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2010 5th Place, NHSCA Middle School Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2009 National Champion, NHSCA Middle School Nationals,
Folkstyle
- 2009 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, Folkstyle
- 2008 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2007 National Champion, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
- 2007 4th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
- 2006 National Champion, Gladiator World Championships,
Folkstyle
- 2006 Runner Up, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
- 2006 National Champion, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
Wrestling
USA Magazine Picks
UtahWrestling.org 2009 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2005 Youth Wrestling Ranking
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Matt Findlay
Alta High School, 113 lbs.
3.8 GPA
School Classification: 5A |
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Matt is a
kid with more heart than should rightfully fit in someone
his size. I coached him for a number of years, and
I've seen him wrestle with his head bandaged like he
crawled off a triage table; lips blue from an asthma
attack; beaten, battered and bloody, and he just doesn't
give an inch if it's within his physical capacity to
prevent it. He has the drive that you love to see in
an athlete — particularly if you're sitting in his corner.
He has a rock solid foundation, with an arsenal of moves
that fit his stout body style to a T. He is a skilled technician but,
when push comes to shove, as I said before, he can certainly shove.
He charged onto the high-school scene at full throttle and never let up, finishing with an outstanding record of 46-3 and earning his first high-school state title. In the finals, he soundly beat Kearns' Anthony Montoya 12-7, but the real challenge was in the semis, where he had a knockdown brawl with his nemesis for years, West Jordan's Kyler Machan (now at Jordan), winning a grueling 9-8 decision. Prior to state, he won the Rocky Mountain Rumble, beating Maple Mountain star Brandon George in the finals in another brawling decision, 11-10, after pinning Hurricane star Josh Pettus in the semis. He followed his successful freshman high-school season with runner-up finishes at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, where he lost a tight match against Spanish Fork's Branson Ashworth in the finals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. The year prior was when Matt really seemed to step up, though, realizing the
potential that was always there, winning the 4A/5A Junior
High State Championships, making it to the finals at the
USA Wrestling West Regional Championships in Greco-Roman,
finishing third in freestyle and sixth in folkstyle at
that same tournament in Pocatello. At the USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships this past season, he
finished second in both freestyle and Greco-Roman behind
West Jordan's Kyler Machan, but won it in folkstyle,
beating Box Elder's Shand Hardy (his nemesis for many years) in the finals. He is has been ranked in the
Top 25 in his age division several times, and each well
deserved.
Matt is well on his way to that oh-so-shirt list of four-timer state titleists.
2010 State
Champion as a Freshman (103 lbs.). 2010–2011
Record: 46-3.
Following is a
summary of Matt's wrestling career so far:
- High School State Champion as a Freshman
- 2011 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- Runner Up, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- Champion, Region IV Championships
- 2010 Runner Up, USA
Wrestling West Regional Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2010 Bronze Medalist,
USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 6th Place, USA
Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2010 State Champion,
4A/5A State Championships
- 2010 State Champion,
USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Folkstyle
- 2010 Runner Up, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 Runner Up, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2009 Champion, Beehive
Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2009 Runner Up, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2009 4th Place, 4A/5A
State Championships
- 2008 4th Place, 4A/5A
State Championships
- 2007 Silver Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2006 Silver Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2006 Silver Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2005 Silver Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2005 Bronze Medalist, USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2005 Outstanding Wrestler, Novice Division, Mountain Top Classic, Freestyle
- 2005 Outstanding Wrestler, Mountain Top Wrestling Club
Wrestling
USA Magazine Picks
UtahWrestling.org 2011 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2010 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2005 Youth Wrestling Ranking
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Branson Ashworth
Spanish Fork High School, 120 lbs.
GPA: 3.9
School Classification: 3A (940 Enrolled) |
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I've been
coaching against Branson since he was about 4 years old and
had the pleasure of watching he grow and develop as a
wrestler and a fine young man over those many years.
He is a very smart wrestler, with a solid grasp of
strategy on the mat. He plans out moves and
counters in advance and has the technique to make those
plans come to fruition. He's been on the mat for a
very long time and done well at some of the biggest
national tournaments, as well as locally and regionally.
He and my son have wrestled each other at least 30 times,
before he stopped growing and my son sprouted like a twig.
He made a huge splash in his freshman high-school season by finishing second in state and earning an outstanding record of 41-9. In the state finals, he was impressive as ever, losing to state champ Britain Carter of Maple Mountain 4-2 in overtime. This followed a runner-up finish at the 4A Southern Divisional Championships. He followed these accomplishments with state titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, where he beat Alta's Matt Findlay in the finals on both occasions, and a runner-up finish in freestyle at the USA Wrestling West Regional Championships in freestyle. Branson is a four-time state champion in junior high and
took those titles ahead of some very high-end talent: in
2009, he placed ahead of the likes of Pleasant Grove's
Bronson Young and Layton's Ken Astle; in 2008, again ahead
of Young, and Brighton's Rami Haddadin; in 2007, he took
that title ahead of Payson's Jed Mellen and Skyline's Jess
Clapier. Also in 2009, he finished fourth at the USA
Wrestling Kids National Championships, finishing ahead of
Mountain Crest's Rayden Lindley, and two spots behind
Maple Mountain's Britain Carter. In 2007, he won the
USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, beating Westlake's Brigg
Butler in the finals, and again placing ahead of Lindley
and Uintah's Tanner Merkley; that same year, he made it to
the finals at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, where he
placed ahead of Maple Mountain's Grant LaMont and Payson's
Jed Mellen. For Branson's eighth-grade season, he
went undefeated. This kids got the stuff.
Although he has won only one national title, he has been
in the finals in many big, national tournaments, as well
as earning many All-American honors. He has
consistently been ranked in the Top Twenty-Five in his age
division and it is well
deserved.
Branson is
precise and executes with authority. He will continue his winning ways as a sophomore.
2010 State
Runner Up as a Freshman (103 lbs.). 2010–2011
Record: 41-9.
Following is a
summary of Branson's wrestling career so far:
- 2011 Runner Up at High School State Championships as a Freshman
- 2011 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- 2011 Runner Up, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2011 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Freestyle
- 2011 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2011 Runner Up, 4A Southern Divisional Championships
- 2011 Runner Up, Region VIII Championships
- 2011 Champion, Best of the West
- 2010 Champion, Desert Storm
- 2010 Runner Up, Jacob's Challenge, Folkstyle
- Four-Time Junior High State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High
State Championships (2007–2010)
- Four-Time State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Freestyle (2004–2005, 2007, 2010)
- 2010 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships,
Freestyle
- 2010 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships,
Folkstyle
- 2010 5th Place, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships,
Greco-Roman
- 2010 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2010 Runner Up, Jacob's Challenge, Folkstyle
- 2010 Outstanding Wrestler, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Cadet Division, Freestyle
- 2010 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Folkstyle
- 2009 Runner Up, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships,
Freestyle
- 2009 4th Place, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships,
Freestyle
- 2009 Runner Up, Games of Rome, Folkstyle
- 2009 Bronze Medalists, USA Wrestling Kids Western Regional
Championships, Folkstyle
- 2009 6th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle
- 2009 6th Place, Terminator World Championships, Folkstyle
- 2009 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2009 Runner Up, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships,
Freestyle
- 2008 Runner Up, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2008 Champion, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2008 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam,
Folkstyle
- 2007 Runner Up, Gladiator World Championships, Folkstyle
- 2007 4th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2007 Runner Up, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
- 2006 Runner Up,
Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2006 Runner Up, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
- 2006 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, Freestyle
- 2005 National Champion, Gladiator World Championships,
Folkstyle
- 2005 6th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle
UtahWrestling.org 2011 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2010 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2009 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2008 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking
UtahWrestling.org 2004 Youth Wrestling Ranking
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Hunter Bowring
Monticello High School, 106 lbs.
GPA: 3.95
School Classification: 1A
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When I first saw Hunter Bowring, I thought that he was very unassuming, even nonthreatening, getting ready for his match against one of the best wrestlers I had at that tournament that day (I believe it was at the Beehive Brawl). Little did I know that I was looking at someone who was going to unleash on my wrestlers. Not only did his demeanor not divulge just how powerful and explosive he is, but how in the world did I not know who he was before that day? Needless to day, my wrestler didn't even make it out of the first round. Later that year, I watched him wrestle several more matches, beating rock-solid opponents while I was officiating at the State Games of the West. I've got to say, I've been a fan of Hunter's ever since. He is aggressive and executes with confidence born of winning a lot of matches and titles. As a freshman, he finished second in state behind Panguitch star Jory Owens. This came after a second-place finish at the 1A Southern Regional Championships. He never won a state title in junior high, but lost only three matches in the three years of competing at that tournament, in the finals to Delta's Victor Almanza, in 2010. But he made up for it with his freshman performance, accumulating an exceptional record of 40-5. He places at big tournaments and is consistently among the top of his competitors.
2010 State
Runner Up as a Freshman (103 lbs.). 2010–2011
Record: 40-5 with 28 Pins.
Following is a
summary of Hunter's wrestling career so far:
- Runner Up at High School State as a Freshman
- 2011 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- Runner Up at 1A Southern Region Championships
- 2011 Champion, Carbon Tournament
- 2011 Champion, Dove Creek Tournament
- 2011 Champion, Shiprock Tournament
- 2010 Champion, State Games of the West, Greco-Roman
- 2010 Bronze Medalist, State Games of the West, Freestyle
- 2010 Bronze Medalist, State Games of the West, Folkstyle
- 2010 4th Place, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2010 Runner Up, Jacob's Challenge, Folkstyle
- 2010 Runner Up, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships
- 2009 Bronze Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships
- 2009 Bronze Medalist, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
- 2008 Bronze Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships
- 2008 4th Place, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle
Hunter is also the Sophomore Class President, on the Honor Roll and a member of the National Honor Society.
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Beau Blackham
Uintah High School, 120 lbs.
GPA: 3.2
School Classification: 3A (1,100 enrolled) |
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Beau Blackham is legit. He's fast, he's strong, he's got a good toolbox of technique to draw from. He made it all the way to the finals at the 4A High School State Championships, where he came up short against Payson star Mitch Brown in a 5-1 decision. Interestingly, this was something of a payback match for Brown, who lost to Blackham in the Region VIII Championships, resulting in Blackham being named Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights at that tournament. (I say "something of a payback," because Brown came out on top at the 4A Southern Divisionals, as well.)
But that does not diminish Blackham's tournament in any way, where every match until the finals resulted in a pin or tech fall. He's smart and powerful, and has been tangling with some of the best in the state (and the nation) for some time now.
Blackham is absolutely one of the top sophomores in Utah.
2010 State
Runner Up as a Freshman (119 lbs.). 2010–2011
Record: 42-9 with 22 Pins.
Following is a
summary of Beau's wrestling career so far:
- 2011 Runner Up at High School State as a Freshman
- 2011 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- 2011 Runner Up at 4A Southern Region Championships
- 2011 Champion, Region VIII Championships
- 2011 Champion, Green River Tournament
- 2011 4th Place, Uintah Tournament of Champions
- 2010 Champion, Beehive Brawl
- 2010 Bronze Medalist, Desert Storm
- 2010 4th Place, Monster Match Nationals
- 2010 Runner Up, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships
- 2007 Runner Up, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals
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