Wrestling USA Magazine and IntermatWrestle.com, Utah Editor's Preseason Picks

Wrestlers to Watch for 2008–2009
 

Mitch Kay
Freshman, Spanish Fork High School, 103 lbs.
GPA: 3.6

School Classification: 5A (1,500 enrolled)

I've watched Mitch develop as an athlete for a number of years now, making leaps in technique and overall ability one right after another.  He's a good technician and is game to get right in and brawl with the best of them.  His performance at AAU Grand Nationals in Castle Rock, Colo., last summer was particularly impressive, where he won a national title in Greco-Roman, then followed it by finishing fourth in freestyle and third in folkstyle.  He is a two-time junior-high state champion, as well as a state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.  Mitch has been consistently ranked among the best in his age division, if not all the Kids divisions, since 2005, and broke into the Elite division rankings this past year in both the Cadet Division and the Overall Elites with his strong performances.

Following is a summary of Mitch's wrestling career so far:

• Two-Time Junior High State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships

• 2008 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman

• 2008 Bronze Medalist, AAU Grand Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2008 4th Place, AAU Grand Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2008 Bronze Medalist, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships

• 2008 4th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 4th Place, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman

• 2007 6th Place, AAU Grand Nationals, Freestyle

• 2007 8th Place, AAU Grand Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2007 5th Place, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle

• 2007 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 6th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2006 5th Place, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2005 Bronze Medalist, Gladiator World Championships, Folkstyle

• 2005 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2005 Silver Medalist, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships

UtahWrestling.org 2008 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 5th Cadet Division

• 10th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 11th Schoolboy Division

• 15th Overall Kids Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 19th Schoolboy Division

UtahWrestling.org 2005 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 7th Novice Division

• 19th Overall Kids Divisions

Mitch has also served on the Diamond Fork Student Council from 2006–2008.

Spencer McKay
Freshman, Logan High School, 103 lbs.
GPA: 3.94

School Classification: 3A (1,500 enrolled)

I've watched Spencer grow and develop as an athlete for a number of years now.  He is in a fortunate position, having the kind of family support behind him to help him be successful.  And it is certainly paying off.  He is a very technical wrestler, with a lot of tools at his disposal.  As a result, he has won six state titles between freestyle and Greco-Roman.  In 2008, he finished second at 1A/2A/3A Junior High State, placing ahead of very tough competitors like Altamont's Kyle Foy and South Summit's Connor Crandall.  He came up short against Delta's Raymond Evans, and had a repeat of that experience in the finals at the Beehive Brawl.  In 2007, he received bronze medals in both styles at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, placing ahead of competitors like North Summit's Chris Robinson, and behind the likes of West Jordan's Jacob Falk.  Spencer is certainly a wrestler worth watching.

Career Record (Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Folkstyle): 588-91.

Following is a summary of Spencer's wrestling career so far:

• Four-Time State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle (2000–2003)

• Two-Time State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman (2002, 2005)

• 2008 Silver Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Beehive Brawl, Folkstyle

• 2008 4th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 6th Place, USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam, Folkstyle

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 6th Place, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2005 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2004 5th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2002 4th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle

UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 13th Schoolboy Division

UtahWrestling.org 2005 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 12th Novice Division

Spencer is also a member of the National Honor Society and is an Eagle Scout.

Riley Charlesworth
Freshman, Wasatch High School, 112 lbs.
GPA: 3.5

School Classification: 3A

Like Spencer, I've watched Riley grow and develop as an athlete for a number of years now, and watched him blossom as an athlete with proper support from his family.  In the last couple or three years in particular, he has been "forced" (his words, not mine) to expand his horizons and include competition in Greco-Roman.  And the results are clear in how he has become a more well rounded competitor, including a 2008 freestyle/Greco-Roman/folkstyle season with a record of 38-6, and a junior-high state championship, where he placed ahead of competition like South Summit's Brian Adlard and a folkstyle state title at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, where he beat teammate Jake Fassold in the finals.  He's been banging heads with my son every other year for a few years now, and I've seen it firsthand — he's a wrestler to watch.

Following is a summary of Riley's wrestling career so far:

• 2008 Junior High State Champion, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2007 5th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 Silver Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2005 4th Place, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

UtahWrestling.org 2004 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 16th Midget Division

Taylor Merkley
Sophomore, Uintah High School, 112 lbs.
GPA: 4.0

School Classification: 3A

Merkley is another kid from a wrestling family in Vernal, but he makes it on his own merits.  He's a great technician who wrestles smart.  As a freshman, he finished fifth in state outside the bottom three weight classes, losing close decisions to Delta's Derek Peterson (5-3, who finished second) and Hurrican'e Skylar Mills (6-4, who finished third).  He's a two-time junior high state champion and was the champ at the All-American Camp he attended summer 2007.  One thing about those two junior-high championships ... in 2005, he finished second ... behind South Summit's Cody Thornton.  That says a lot.  He's a long drink of water, but he uses his length and leverage to the best advantage.  He made it to the finals at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals in 2007, where he fell short against Altamont's Zach Hatch.

2007 5th in State (125 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 30-16.

Following is a summary of Taylor's wrestling career so far:

• Two-Time Junior High State Champion, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships (2006–2007)

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Region X Championships

• 2007 Champion, All-American Camp

• 2007 Silver Medalist, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals

• 2005 Silver Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2005 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2004 Bronze Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

Wrestling USA Magazine Picks

• Nationally Ranked Utahn in National Sophomore/Freshman Rankings (125 lbs.): Special Mention

UtahWrestling.org 2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking

• 13th Novice Division

Brock Brown
Junior, Payson High School, 125 lbs.

School Classification: 4A (1,400 enrolled)

Brock Brown comes from a prominent wrestling family in Utah, his dad making a mark against international competition.  Brock is a chip off the old mat.  He is a very skilled technician who never seems to run out of steam.  He's a very smart wrestler who makes very few mistakes.  As a sophomore, he finished second in state behind Highland's Mike Phetvixay, losing a very close 10-9 decision after pinning defending champ Marty Rubalcaba of Snow Canyon to get to the finals.  And that's a perfect example of how Brock's mind works: it doesn't matter who he's facing, he's going at it like it's just another opponent.  It dates back to his junior-high years, when he beat the hulk, Raider Lofthouse, at the Payson Junior High Duals in 2006.  It was an amazing display of technique and determination.  At the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, he won the title against Kaleb Ashworth, Outstanding Wrestler from 2006's 4A/5A Junior High State Championships.  Last year, he finished second in state in both freestyle and Greco-Roman behind Koleton Hardy (no shame there).  Last April, he also finished sixth at the Reno World Championships.  In 2007, he took state in freestyle, beating out tough opponents like Spanish Fork's Jace Kelley and Mountain Crest's Corrick Knight.  In Greco-Roman, he finished third behind Cottonwood's Spencer Brown and Wasatch's Matthew Gallen.

Brock Brown is a very exciting wrestler to watch.

2008 2nd in State (119 lbs.).  2007–2008 Interscholastic Record: 43-9.

Following is a summary of Brock's wrestling career so far:

• Silver Medalist, High School State Championships

• Two-Time National Champion, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals

• 2008 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2008 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2008 6th Place, Reno World Championships, Folkstyle

• 2007 Champion, Region VII Championships

• 2007 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, freestyle

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• Two-Time Junior High State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State Championships

• 2006 Team Member, Utah All-Star Team vs. Ohio All-Stars

UtahWrestling.org 2008 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 17th Cadet Division

UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 23rd Schoolboy Division

Spencer Brown
Junior, Cottonwood High School, 140 lbs.
GPA: 3.9

School Classification: 4A (1,500 enrolled)

Spencer Brown, when he's healthy (he missed a lot of his sophomore year due to an injury) and on, he's unbeatable.  He's a very technical wrestler, with great skills and deceptive strength.  This past summer, he won the FILA Cadet National Championships in Greco-Roman and got to represent the United States in international competition.  He's an eight-time state champion (between the three styles), a two-time District Champ in junior high, took titles at the USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman this past year in Laramie, as well as placing at USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships each of the past two years.  To boot, he was the Outstanding Wrestler for the Lower Weights at the USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in 2006.  Very impressive is his junior-high career record of 42-1 with 32 pins, and is 2-0 against the Outstanding Wrestler from the 4A/5A Junior High State Championships in 2006, Kaleb Ashworth, and 1-0 against another 4A/5A junior-high state champion, Brock Brown.  As a freshman, he finished fifth in state in high school, and was a finalist in Region VI.  He had a lucrative spring and summer of wrestling last year, making it to the finals in Greco-Roman at the AAU Grand Nationals in Butte, and finishing third in freestyle at the same tournament.  He was the champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regionals in Laramie.

2008 4th in State (125 lbs.).  2007 5th in State (112 lbs.).  2007–2008 Record: 17-3.  2006–2007 Record: 28-7.  Career Interscholastic Record: 49-10 with 32 Pins.  Freestyle Record: 24-0.  Greco-Roman Record: 62-5.

Following is a summary of Spencer's wrestling career so far:

• 2008 4th Place, High School State Championships

• 2008 Champion, Region VI Championships

• 2008 National Champion, FILA Cadet National Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 5th Place, High School State Championships

• 2007 Silver Medalist, Region VI Championships

• 2007 Silver Medalist, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, AAU Grand Nationals, freestyle

• 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Freestyle

• 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 5th Place, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Freestyle

• 2006 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 Outstanding Wrestling, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2006 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2006 Team Member, Utah All-Star Team vs. Ohio All-Stars

• 2005 4th Place, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2005 District Champion, Junior High, Granite School District

• 2005 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2005 5th Place, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2004 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2004 State Champion, 4A/5A Junior High State, Middle School Division

• 2004 Silver Medalist, Junior High, Granite School District

• 2004 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2004 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

UtahWrestling.org 2008 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 24th Cadet Division

UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 5th Cadet Division

• 9th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2006 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 1st Schoolboy Division

• 8th Overall Kids Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2004 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking

• 6th Novice Division

• 24th Overall Kids Divisions

Spencer was the 2006–2007 Student Body President at Bonneville Junior High.
 

Tyson Larsen
Junior, Rich High School, 189 lbs.
GPA: 4.0

School Classification: 1A (150 enrolled)

Tyson Larsen is an outstanding upper-weights wrestler.  As a sophomore, he took state and was named Outstanding Wrestler, pinning his way through the tournament, until the finals, when he beat Kyle Jackson of Duschesne in a barn burner, with a score of 14-11. 

2008 State Champion (189 lbs.).  2007 3rd in State (215 lbs.).  2007–2008 Record: 35-6.  2006–2007 Record: 37-12.  Career Interscholastic Record: 72-18 with 54 Pins.

Following is a summary of Tyson's wrestling career so far:

• High School State Champion

• Bronze Medalist, High School State Championships (as a freshman)

• 2008 Champion, Region North Championships

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, Region North Championships

• 2005 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
   

Cody Thornton
Junior, South Summit High School, 103 lbs.
GPA: 3.7

School Classification: 2A (410 enrolled)

Cody Thornton is a finisher.  He finished with a silver at state as a sophomore, losing a very close 9-7 decision to Millard's Kamron Day in the finals.  It's interesting to note that, as a freshman, he met that same Kamron Day in the finals, who forced him to an 11-6 decision to win the title after he had pinned his way to the finals.  He is a two-time champion for Region B.  He represented the 1A/2A team at the All-Star Duals as a freshman and a sophomore, and represented Utah in the all-star dual against the Ohio All-Stars in 2006.  In 2005, he beat Taylor Merkley in the finals and junior-high state, and placed ahead of such tough competitors as Shay Hunt from Richfield and Juab's Blake Greenhalgh.  I used to coach against this kid, and he consistently pulled ahead of one of my best wrestlers.  He's smart, he's tough, and he's the real deal.

2008 State Runner Up (112 lbs.).  2007 State Champion as a freshman (103 lbs.).  2007–2008 Record: 47-5.  2006–2007 Record: 40-9.  Career Interscholastic Record: 87-14.

Following is a summary of Cody's wrestling career so far:

• High School State Champion (as a freshman)

• High School State Runner-Up

• Two-Time Champion, Region B Championships

• 2008 2A Member, Utah All-Star Duals

• 2007 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org

• 2007 5th Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2007 Silver Medalist, Warrior Duals

• 2007 Champion, High Country Classic

• 2007 Champion, 2A Duals

• 2007 2A Member, Utah All-Star Duals

• 2007 5th Place, Rocky Mountain Rumble

• 2006 4th Place, Evanston Invitational

• 2006 Team Member, Utah All-Star Team vs. Ohio All-Stars

• 2006 5th Place, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals

• Two-Time Junior High State Champion

• 2002 3rd Place, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2001 Silver Medalist, AAU Ironman World Wrestling Championships

• 2001 5th Place, USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle National Championships

• 2000 6th Place, USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle National Championships

• 2000 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Freestyle

• 2000 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

Matt Sunkees
Junior, Vernal High School, 145 lbs.

School Classification: 3A

Matt is a wrestler who I think is going to really come into his own this year.  He has really started to turn into a force to be reckoned with in the past couple years.  He has put in time in the spring to further develop his craft, including a third-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver, and a 6th-place finish at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals in Virginia Beach in 2007, which undoubtedly set the stage for the success he had as a sophomore, marching through the state tournament to the finals, where he lost a close decision to Delta's Westly Anderson, 15-13.  Sunkees will be a true force this season.

2008 State Runner Up (145 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 48-24.  2007–2008 Record: 29-10.  2006–2007 Record: 19-14.

Following is a summary of Matt's wrestling career so far:

• 2008 Silver Medalist, High School State Championships

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Region 10 Championships

• 2007 3rd Place, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2007 6th Place, NHSCA Freshman National Championships, Folkstyle

• 2007 Silver Medalist, Region 10 Championships

• 2007 Silver Medalist, Evanston Invitational

• 2006 3rd Place, U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, Folkstyle

• 2006 State Champion, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

• 2005 Silver Medalist, 1A/2A/3A Junior High State Championships

Matt Finger
Senior, Fremont High School, 125 lbs.
GPA: 3.55

School Classification: 5A

Matt Finger is solid.  His junior year, he placed fourth in state, losing to Bingham's Ryker Vandertoolen (who went on to finish second) and Weber's Bracken Nipko in the match for third, both coming down to three-point decisions.  The previous year, he fell to Vandertoolen in the first round of the tournament, and had to wrestle back through the consolation bracket, beating the likes of Skyline's Brent Winterton and West Jordan's Devon Paraso, only to fall short against Viewmont's Nate Larsen, then beat Spanish Fork's Kaleb Ashworth in overtime for the fifth-place finish.  But what really impressed me was this past April, where he made it all the way to the finals in the Reno World Championships.  That is one of the toughest folkstyle tournaments in the country, he was made his yeoman-like way through it.  I expect to see good things from Matt this year.  He is worth watching.

2008 4th in State (112 lbs.).  2007 5th in State (112 lbs.).  2007–2008 Record: 48-8.  2006–2007 Record: 41-10.

Following is a summary of Matt's wrestling career so far:

• 2008 4th Place, High School State Championships

• 2007 6th Place, High School State Championships (as a freshman)

• 2008 Bronze Medalist, Region I Championships

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, Region I Championships

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Reno World Championships

• 2007 5th Place, Reno World Championships

• 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Freestyle

• 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Greco-Roman

• 2007 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle

• 2007 4th Place, Layton Invitational

• 2007 4th Place, Richardson Memorial

• 2006 Champion, Juab Invitational

• 2006 Champion, Manti Invitational

• 2006 Champion, Bruin Classic

• 2006 5th Place, Region I Championships

• 2005 Bronze Medalist, Manti Invitational

UtahWrestling.org 2008 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 13th Junior Division

• 24th Overall Elite Divisions

UtahWrestling.org 2007 Youth Wrestling Ranking

• 6th Cadet Division

• 10th Overall Elite Divisions

Matt is a member of the National Honor Society and plays violin in Honors Orchestra.

Jud Marshall
Senior, Beaver High School, 152 lbs.

School Classification: 2A (500 Enrolled)
 

Jud is an exciting wrestler to watch, particularly in the last year.  He's tough and gets things done.  He really seemed to develop during his junior year, taking his performance to the next level.  After two seasons where he was winning two out of three matches (which is by no means a weak record), he rose to an outstanding 41-4 record, topped off by a state title.  His march to the championship was distinguished, including a 5-4 decision over South Summit's Kendall Prescott (the 2007 state champ at 125 lbs.) and a 7-5 decision in the finals in a payback match over a very tough Zach Cropper of Richfield.  (Cropper had beaten Marshall for the Division A title going into the state tournament.)  Marshall will certainly distinguish himself in the 2A ranks this year.

2008 State Champion (140 lbs.).  Career Interscholastic Record: 101-29.  2007–2008 Record: 41-4.  2006–2007 Record: 34-12.  2005–2006 Record: 26-13. 

Following is a summary of Jud's wrestling career so far:

• 2008 High School State Champion

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Division A Championships

• 2008 Champion, Utah Summer Games, Folkstyle

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Utah Summer Games, Freestyle

• 2007 3rd Place, Division B Championships

• 2007 Champion, Utah Summer Games, Folkstyle

• 2008 Silver Medalist, Utah Summer Games, Freestyle

• 2006 4th Place, Region XIV Championships