High school boys wrestling: Spanish Fork takes home second consecutive 5A trophy
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Spanish Fork celebrates their second straight championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Carson Hilton has covered high school sports in Utah for the Deseret News since 2022.
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Spanish Fork led by only a single point over Box Elder after day one of the 5A state tournament. The Bees were fighting for its first state championship since 2011 while the Dons were searching for a second consecutive state title.
It was close through day two, but ultimately Spanish Fork found late separation and took home the 5A state championship trophy alongside five individual titles.
“We just tell them to control what they can control,” said Spanish Fork head coach Kip Spencer. “You win the next possisiton, whether it’s your next match, whether you’re on top or whether you’re on bottom. Just win the next position and score a lot of points.”
Spanish Fork’s Karson Shelley headlined the Dons’ successful day with his fourth individual state title with a win over Roy’s Kaleb Blackner in the 120-pound weight class.
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Spanish Fork’s Karson Shelley celebrates his win over Roy’s Kaleb Blackner and his fourth consecutive state title in the 120-pound state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder head coach Jed Craner hugs Easton Connelly after he won the 157-pound state championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Hillcrest’s Moroni Mahe celebrates his win over Spanish Fork’s Preston Graber in the 215-pound category as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder’s Easton Connelly celebrates his win in the 157-pound state championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder head coach Jed Craner hugs Easton Connelly after he won the 157-pound state championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Hillcrest’s Moroni Mahe celebrates his win over Spanish Fork’s Preston Graber in the 215-pound category as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Spanish Fork’s Karson Shelley wrestles Roy’s Kaleb Blackner. Shelley won his fourth consecutive state title at 120 pounds at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder’s Easton Connelly celebrates his win in the 157-pound state championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder’s Easton Connelly celebrates his win in the 157-pound state championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Spanish Fork’s Karson Shelley wrestles Roy’s Kaleb Blackner. Shelley won his fourth consecutive state title at 120 pounds at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Hillcrest’s Moroni Mahe celebrates his win over Spanish Fork’s Preston Graber in the 215-pound category as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Box Elder’s Easton Connelly celebrates his win in the 157-pound category as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Spanish Fork celebrates their second straight championship as wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Wrestlers compete in the state championships at UVU in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
“I’ve been wanting to do this since I started wrestling in first grade and it never really seemed possible until I started my freshman year and realized I can do this,” Shelley said. Shelley’s younger brother Easton Shelley got the day started off with a win for Spanish Fork in the 106-pound weight class.
However, Spanish Fork was in no position to cruise to a state title. Box Elder fought multiple times to keep itself in range of first place. A crucial win came in the 157-pound weight class as the Bees’ Easton Connelly defeated Spanish Fork’s Jaxon Sorenson to keep them in the title race.
“It means everything,” Connelly said. “I’ve tried so hard for three years, every single day, to get here. I imangined it in my head for three years and to finally be here and win is the greatest feeling of my entire life.”
While Connelly gave Box Elder a fighting chance, Dons’ Ryker Olson took first in the 165-pound weight class to widen the gap. Spanish Fork’s Porter Olson and Hyrum King also took home individual titles.
While Spanish Fork and Box Elder took first and second, Wasatch also had a successful day with five wrestlers taking home an individual title.