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Wrestling USA Magazine, Utah Editor's Preseason Picks
Wrestlers to Watch for 2004–2005
Jacob Salazar
Freshman, Wasatch High School, 125 lbs.
Salazar
is as about as exciting a freshman as there is. Last
summer, he went an astonishing 6-1 in freestyle at the USA
Wrestling Cadet National Duals, losing his only match in a
close 5-3 decision. This is after he went 5-2 in
Greco-Roman at the same tournament. At the later USA
Wrestling Cadet Nationals in Fargo, he took silver in
Greco-Roman. He is definitely holding up the family
tradition.
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
UtahWrestling.org
2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
Jonathan Gappmaier
Freshman, Jordan High School, 103 lbs.
I've watched and coached Gappmaier since he first started
wrestling 2003. He came out, no experience, but a
natural feel for the sport. He did not know who was
tough, who wasn't, and immediately commenced beating
champions. He took 2nd in Junior High State his
first year on the mat, followed by a 4th-place finish in
freestyle and 5th-place finish in Greco-Roman at the USA
Wrestling Utah State Championships. Year two, he was
crowned champion in Junior High State, then followed it up
with a 2nd-place finish in Greco-Roman at USA Wrestling
Utah State Championships. He pounded out a 4th-place
finish at the Reno World Championships last April, having
to gut out that bronze-medal match immediately after
winning a match that went into overtime. The only thing
that might hold him back is size: he wrestled 95 lbs. in
freestyle and Greco-Roman last year, and dropped to 89
lbs. for Reno. But it's not the size of the dog in
the fight ....
Following is a
summary of Jonathan's wrestling career so far:
-
2004 3rd Place,
Layton Invitational
-
2004 Junior High School
State Champion
-
2003 2nd Place,
Junior High State Championships
-
2004 4th Place,
Reno World Championships
Utah Wrestling
Coaches Association Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
Bo Beckman
Sophomore, Timpanogos High School, 103 lbs.
I've watched Beckman grow and develop for years. He
has always been a tough competitor, skilled and simply
without quit. But this year is going to be a real
breakout year for him, if last summer is any indication.
He went 7-0 in Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling Cadet
National Duals and followed it strong with 5-2 finish in
freestyle, losing two decisions, one in a nail-biting 6-5
finish. Watch for Beckman to turn heads this year.
UtahWrestling.org
2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
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Wade Eldredge
Sophomore, Monticello High School, 130 lbs.
GPA: 3.2
School Classification: 2A (150 Enrolled)
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Eldredge placed
2nd in state at 130 lbs. in the 2A, and was the Region 13
champion. He finished out his freshman year with an
very impressive 35-5 record, and did it in a very tough
weight class. On his way to that silver medal, he
beat Kolby Lambertson of Millard, a senior who placed
second in state the year before. I've said it before
and I'll say it again: any freshman placing well at state
outside the bottom three weights is a wrestler worth
watching.
2004 2nd in
State as a Freshman (130 lbs.).
High School Career Record: 35-5 with 15 Pins.
Following is a
summary of Wade's wrestling career so far:
-
2004 2nd Place,
High School State Championships
-
2004 Region 13
Champion
-
2004 3rd Place,
Rocky Mountain Nationals
-
2003 Junior High School
State Champion
-
2003
Outstanding Wrestler, Junior High State Championships
-
2003 Utah
Summer Games Champion
-
2002 2nd Place,
Rocky Mountain Nationals
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
Colten Miles
Sophomore, Altamont High School, 112 lbs.
Miles had a
great freshman year. He went 36-3 to win the 1A
title at 103 lbs. and was the Region 16 champion after
beating a very tough Skye Marshall of Panguitch.
This one's for real.
2004 State
Champion as a Freshman (103 lbs.)
Casey Smith
Sophomore, Wasatch High School, 103 lbs.
Wasatch's Smith
took 2nd in state in 3A. He lost to Levi Mele of
Uintah in the championship match after beating Mele the
week before to win the Region 10 championship. Smith
gnawed out an excellent 38-3 record as a freshman, then
followed it with some very strong performances this summer
in freestyle and Greco-Roman, finishing out the USA
Wrestling Cadet National Duals at 5-2 in both styles in
Greeley, Colo., followed by a 5th-place freestyle finish
at USA Wrestling Cadet Nationals in Fargo.
2004 2nd in
State as a Freshman (103 lbs.)
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
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Riley Yeates
Sophomore, Box Elder High School, 135 lbs.
GPA: 3.8
School Classification: 4A (1,380 Enrolled)
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Yeates had a
great freshman year, winning or placing well in some big
tournaments, and did it outside the bottom weight classes. He finished 3rd in 4A state after
winning the Region 4 title, racked up a record of
37-9, and went on to make a strong showing at the USA
Wrestling Cadet National Duals.
2004 3rd in State as a Freshman. High School Career
Record: 37-9 with 5 Pins.
Freestyle Record: 27-2. Greco-Roman Record: 25-2.
Following is a
summary of Riley's wrestling career so far:
-
2004 3rd Place,
High School State Championships
-
2004 Region 4
Champion
-
2004 Layton
Invitational Champion
-
2004 2nd Place,
Viewmont Invitiational
-
2004 2nd Place,
Richardson Memorial
-
2004
6th Place, Tiger-Grizzly Invitational
-
2003 USA
Wrestling Western Regional Champion in freestyle
-
2003
3rd Place, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in
Greco-Roman
UtahWrestling.org
2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
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Levi Mele
Junior, Uintah High School, 103 lbs.
Mele took state
in 3A at 103 lbs., recovering from a loss for the Region
10 championship. He followed that up with powerful
performances at the Reno World Championships last April,
where he took 1st at 105 lbs. in folkstyle, then finished
4th in freestyle at USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in
Fargo.
2004 State
Champion (103 lbs.)
Following is a
summary of Levi's wrestling career so far:
-
One-Time High
School State Champion
-
2004 1st Place,
Reno World Championships
-
2004 1st Place,
Sophomore Division, BRUTE-adidas Nationals
-
2004 4th Place,
USA Wrestling Junior National Championships
-
2004 1st Place,
Top of the Rockies
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
Tag Elliott
Junior, Bear River High School, 140 lbs.
Elliott
is a quality athlete, coming from a strong wrestling
family. He finished 3rd in state last season as a
sophomore in a very tough weight class, finishing behind
Morgan's Josh Wilson and high-school phenom Cyler
Sanderson. Elliott is definitely a wrestler to watch
this year.
2004 3rd in
State (135 lbs.)
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
Phillip Keddy
Senior, Uintah High School, 171 lbs.
Keddy
is a gifted wrestler with skills. He turned in strong performances
supporting the expectations laid last season his national
junior ranking (finished the season ranked no. 29), including
a state championship and an impressive 2-1 finish at the
National High School Coaches Association National State
Duals in Lincoln, Neb.
2004 State
Champion (160 lbs.). 2003 2nd in State (145 lbs.).
High School 2003–2004 Season Record: 39-1
Following is a
summary of Phillip's wrestling career so far:
-
One-Time High
School State Champion
-
One-Time High
School State Silver Medalist
-
2004 4th Place,
Junior Division, BRUTE-adidas Nationals
-
2004 Warrior
Classic Champion
-
2004 1st Place,
Top of the Rockies
Wrestling
USA Magazine Preseason Picks
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Josh Pappas
Senior, Taylorsville High School, 112 lbs.
GPA: 3.825
School Classification: 5A
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I've watched Josh grow as an athlete (and coached him
through part of that process). I've never seen
anyone put into the sport what he does. When he
needs that point in the last seconds, he's always got the
extra soup to get it. He's smart and sharp on the
mat. Last season was a bit surprising for some, but
he broke his ankle at the beginning of the season and
continued wrestling on it. With that in mind, he still placed well at tournaments like the Layton
Invitational. Once healthy, he was back in stride,
wrestling a great tournament at the Reno World
Championships last April, finishing with a 4th-place
bronze.
2004 5th in State. 2003 4th in State. High
School Career Record: 65-16 with 30 Pins.
Freestyle Record: 38-17. Greco-Roman Record: 21-8.
Following is a
summary of Josh's wrestling career so far:
-
Two-Time High
School Region 3 Champion
-
Two-Time
Three-Style Champion, Utah Summer Games (freestyle,
Greco-Roman, folkstyle)
-
2004 Layton
Invitational Champion
-
2004 Clash of
the the Titans Champion
-
2004 4th Place,
Reno World Championships
-
2004
Taylorsville High School Outstanding Junior Wrestler
-
2003 USA
Wrestling Utah State Champion in Greco-Roman
-
2003
Taylorsville High School Outstanding Sophomore Wrestler
-
2002 National
High School Coaches Association All-American
Utah Wrestling
Coaches Association Preseason Ranking
Josh is also a
member of the National Honor Society and a Letterman in
Music.
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Anthony Elder
Senior, Sky View High School, 140 lbs.
School Classification: 4A
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Anthony has
only come to my attention to recently. After
learning a bit about him, I thought he was someone worth
watching this year. He has a strong record, taking
2nd in state last year, has some national accomplishments
at the USA Wrestling Cadet National Championships, and
finished an impressive 3rd at the Reno World
Championships. I think that Elder will turn some
heads this year.
2004 2nd in State. High
School Career Record: 72-23 with 36 Pins.
Following is a
summary of Anthony's wrestling career so far:
-
One-Time High
School State Silver Medalist
-
2004 3rd Place, Reno World Championships
-
2002 5th Place,
USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman
-
2002, 7th
Place, USA Wrestling Cadet National Championships,
Greco-Roman
Utah Wrestling
Coaches Association Preseason Ranking
Preseason
Wrestlers to Watch
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