Bear River senior Zack Elliott has a chance to make school wrestling history.
At the 152 weight class, Elliott has an opportunity to be the first three-time state champion ever for the Bears. In fact, Elliott hasn't lost in Utah in two years and has won twice at the Annual Utah High School All-Star Wrestling Classic. His estimated career record is 119-13.
Not bad for a kid who just tried the sport because he thought it looked fun.
The second of four kids, having fun and being naturally talented at almost everything has been a pattern in Elliott's life. Although wrestling is now his favorite sport, Elliott has also participated in activities ranging from karate to football. He first attempted to grapple at age 7, with a little prodding from a friend.
As he started to learn the fundamentals of the mat, his passion for the sport increased. He credits his parents and first coaches, Ken Hatch and Greg Williams, with getting him started on the right foot.
"The more I (wrestled), the more fun I had and liked it," he said. "I like the one-on-one part of it. It's not like a team sport where you rely on others to succeed."
As he grew in stature and wrestling experience, he developed a solid work ethic by laboring on the family farm. Among other chores, Elliott's jobs included feeding the cows, building fences and moving sprinkler pipe. As it came time to enter high school, Elliott was excited for a chance on the big-boy mat. He knew things would be good when he met and bought into the system of the high school coach Gene Wilcox.
"I thought Wilcox was a cool coach, easy to talk to," Elliott said. "He knew how to fire me up and eventually I learned (from him) how to motivate myself."
Wilcox was aware of Elliott's ability well before he entered his freshman year.
"I had followed him since fifth or sixth grade and knew he was talented," Wilcox said. "I knew he'd been a little discouraged by always being matched against bigger and tougher opponents. He definitely turned the corner as a frosh."
To a causal observer, one might say Elliott got on the wrestling fast track. As a freshman in the 130 weight class, he went 25-15, won region and placed third at state. As a sophomore wrestling 145, he posted a record of 31-10 and upset heavily favored Morgan senior Todd Whimpy to earn his first state title. Elliott defeated Whimpy with a take-down in the final 15 seconds to win 4-3.
"Beating Whimpy was a great boost to my confidence," Elliott said.
Things on the mat only got better for Elliott during his junior season. Now at 152, he went on to produce a record of 40-2 (the two losses were out of state) and topped Delta senior Jake Abbott in another close match that again went down to the final seconds.
Now a senior with no way to sneak up on opponents, Elliott is a walking bull's eye. He tries not to let the pressure get to him by keeping busy with other activities. Besides carrying a 3.1 GPA, Elliott earned all-region honors in the fall as a running back for the Bears football team. Football coach Chris Wise said Elliott was the kind of person that has impact on whatever he is doing.
"He's real sure of himself and not in a cocky way," said Wise, who also mentioned that Elliott was always off at wrestling tournaments when he should have been conditioning for football. "I don't know much about wrestling, but I know enough to know when a kid can dominate, and Zack is that kind of athlete."
Now in his 11th season, Wilcox has no doubt as to who might be the best wrestler he's ever coached.
"For sure, he is the best," Wilcox said. "He may be one of the best in the state, too, but probably the best caliber wrestler to come from Bear River."
Wilcox pinpointed Elliott's exceptional balance and his ability to handle tense situations as some of his greatest weapons.
"Being a black belt in karate may have had something to do with his incredible balance," Wilcox said. "Zack is also really playful and a kind of a free spirit (when it comes to being serious)."
Wilcox has had to keep a close eye on Elliott more than once in his four years at Bear River. Many times in practice Wilcox has turned around to see Elliott doing back flips off the wall, among other crazy things. As a teammate and close friend to Elliott, Morgan Jeppsen can relate to his friend.
"Zack's got a great sense of humor and is fun to be around," Jeppsen said. "He can make you forget that work is work and somehow makes everything fun."
For now, Elliott wants to stay low key, hang out with friends, push his little brother Tag to follow in his footsteps and for the success to continue. He is also considering wrestling offers from Boise State, Nebraska and Virginia.
E-MAIL: ttoone@desnews.com