High school wrestlers compete in the Ross Brunson All-Star Dual at UVU’s UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
James Edward
By James Edward
James has been covering high school sports in Utah for the Deseret News for three decades.

The 5A boys wrestling state tournament is shaping up to be a very tight race.

Two-time defending state championship Spanish Fork, Box Elder and Wasatch are all within six points of each other after the opening day of competition at UVU on Thursday.

Spanish Fork leads with 88 points, followed by Box Elder with 84.5 points and Wasatch with 82 points. Of the three, Spanish Fork advanced the most wrestlers into the semifinals with six, followed by Wasatch with six and Box Elder with five.

Competition resumes with the last two rounds and consolation rounds on Friday at UVU.

One of the feature wrestlers to watch is Wasatch senior Ben Kohler, who improved to 53-6 with a pair of wins on Thursday. He’s two wins away from his third straight individual state championship.

Six other wrestlers are still in the hunt for a state title repeat after advancing to their respective semifinals: Spanish Fork junior Easton Shelley, Wasatch sophomore William Shallenberger, Spanish Fork senior Ryker Olson, Wasatch junior Wyatt Hansen, Spanish Fork senior Hyrum King and Hillcrest senior Moroni Mahe.

Class 5A boys state tournament

Day 1 Team scores

  1. Spanish Fork, 88
  2. Box Elder, 84.5
  3. Wasatch, 82
  4. Payson, 71
  5. Viewmont, 55
  6. Roy, 45.5
  7. Salem Hills, 43.5
  8. Springville, 43

106 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Dane King, Alta def. Julian Gamino, Box Elder, TF-1.5 2:15 (17-0)
  • Tyson Lee, Viewmont def. Tyler Robertson, Maple Mountain, Fall 3:19
  • Andre Tavtigian, West def. Caden Lacy, Springville, Dec 8-3
  • Max Hartvigsen, Maple Mountain def. Kope Rinker, Skyline, TF-1.5 2:51 (18-1)
  • Ryder Thomas, Salem Hills def. Adrian Mascerenas, Roy, Fall 2:33
  • Tucker Willet, Wasatch def. Stetson Teeples, Payson, TF-1.5 3:39 (15-0)
  • Conner Finch, Payson def. Isaiah Zimmerman, Hillcrest, TF-1.5 3:06 (17-0)
  • Chase Weight, Salem Hills def. Dallin Anderson, Fremont, Fall 2:59

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Dane King, Alta def. Tyson Lee, Viewmont, Fall 2:24
  • Andre Tavtigian, West def. Max Hartvigsen, Maple Mountain, Dec 9-3
  • Ryder Thomas, Salem Hills def. Tucker Willet, Wasatch, Fall 0:29
  • Conner Finch, Payson def. Chase Weight, Salem Hills, Dec 8-5

Friday’s semifinals

  • Dane King, Alta vs. Andre Tavtigian, West
  • Ryder Thomas, Salem Hills vs. Conner Finch, Payson

113 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Easton Shelley, Spanish Fork def. Cooper Blair, West, TF-1.5 1:48 (15-0)
  • Levi Tueller, Payson def. Kirk Nielsen, Box Elder, Dec 10-5
  • Jake Zesiger, Viewmont def. Brock Revell, Pleasant Grove, MD 10-2
  • Aaron Beckett, Northridge def. Ryan Hua, Kearns, TF-1.5 1:58 (15-0)
  • Ryker Winward, Box Elder def. Brit Miner, Maple Mountain, Fall 0:24
  • Brody Ellis, Alta def. Conner Lewis, Salem Hills, MD 16-2
  • Jesse Judkins, Maple Mountain def. Charles Sessions, Viewmont, Fall 0:53
  • Tate Allred, Olympus def. Rico Quintana, Roy, TF-1.5 2:50 (15-0)

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Easton Shelley, Spanish Fork def. Levi Tueller, Payson, TF-1.5 2:36 (15-0)
  • Jake Zesiger, Viewmont def. Aaron Beckett, Northridge, Fall 3:06
  • Ryker Winward, Box Elder def. Brody Ellis, Alta, Fall 1:53
  • Tate Allred, Olympus def. Jesse Judkins, Maple Mountain, Dec 8-3

Friday’s semifinals

  • Easton Shelley, Spanish Fork vs. Jake Zesiger, Viewmont
  • Ryker Winward, Box Elder vs. Tate Allred, Olympus

120 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Lucas Herbert, Maple Mountain def. Caleb Manheimer, Kearns, Dec 8-4
  • Stetler Lloyd, Spanish Fork def. Zach Fowlke, Salem Hills, Fall 4:50
  • Conley Evans, Box Elder def. Jaidon Huynh, Hunter, Fall 0:27
  • Taegan Leavitt, Spanish Fork def. Luke Crookston, Viewmont, TF-1.5 3:13 (16-0)
  • Bennett Weight, Salem Hills def. Cole Ashworth, Viewmont, Fall 2:26
  • McKay Clements, Springville def. Jacob Gardner, Woods Cross, Fall 0:47
  • Ken Starr, Roy def. Xavier Dew, Skyline, MD 9-0
  • Gage Anderson, Wasatch def. Mathew Harris, Payson, Fall 0:41

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Lucas Herbert, Maple Mountain def. Stetler Lloyd, Spanish Fork, Dec 3-1
  • Taegan Leavitt, Spanish Fork def. Conley Evans, Box Elder, Dec 7-1
  • Bennett Weight, Salem Hills def. McKay Clements, Springville, TF-1.5 2:19 (15-0)
  • Gage Anderson, Wasatch def. Ken Starr, Roy, TF-1.5 4:29 (20-5)

Friday’s semifinals

  • Lucas Herbert, Maple Mountain vs. Taegan Leavitt, Spanish Fork
  • Bennett Weight, Salem Hills vs. Gage Anderson, Wasatch

126 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Kaleb Blackner, Roy def. Joseph Jordan, Cyprus, Fall 1:08
  • Tyler Carlos, Salem Hills def. Wendell Maw, Fremont, Fall 2:30
  • Gunner Knudsen, Westfield def. Camden Caufield, Roy, Fall 0:30
  • Daxton Jolley, Payson def. Kade Burr, Wasatch, Fall 1:43
  • Seth Hall, Skyline def. Ryder Paea, Hunter, Fall 1:23
  • Hunter Young, Maple Mountain def. David Brems, Skyline, TF-1.5 3:17 (24-6)
  • Kyler Spencer, Spanish Fork def. Amin Rahimi, West, Fall 4:22
  • Adrian Gamino, Box Elder def. Dawson Thompson, Northridge, Fall 4:41

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Kaleb Blackner, Roy def. Tyler Carlos, Salem Hills, Fall 2:33
  • Gunner Knudsen, Westfield def. Daxton Jolley, Payson, Fall 4:11
  • Seth Hall, Skyline def. Hunter Young, Maple Mountain, Fall 1:37
  • Adrian Gamino, Box Elder def. Kyler Spencer, Spanish Fork, Dec 4-2

Friday’s semifinals

  • Kaleb Blackner, Roy vs. Gunner Knudsen, Westfield
  • Seth Hall, Skyline vs. Adrian Gamino, Box Elder

132 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Walter Beacham, Alta def. Colt Hanssen, Wasatch, Fall 1:08
  • Braken Hester, Box Elder def. Hunter Mcmurdie, Payson, Dec 7-0
  • Diesel Knudsen, Westfield def. Cooper Lambert, Pleasant Grove, Fall 1:14
  • Warren Christensen, Maple Mountain def. Chad Rees, Viewmont, Dec 8-2
  • William Shallenberger, Wasatch def. Beckam Bastian, Northridge, Fall 5:18
  • Maxwell Ferguson, Olympus def. Rope Baum, Spanish Fork, Fall 3:26
  • Kaden Herrera, Roy def. Denver Ellis, Box Elder, Fall 1:33
  • Brody Rydalch, Bountiful def. Cael Sandquist, Hunter, TF-1.5 4:06 (21-4)

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Walter Beacham, Alta def. Braken Hester, Box Elder, Dec 6-5
  • Diesel Knudsen, Westfield def. Warren Christensen, Maple Mountain, TF-1.5 4:38 (21-3)
  • William Shallenberger, Wasatch def. Maxwell Ferguson, Olympus, Fall 3:04
  • Brody Rydalch, Bountiful def. Kaden Herrera, Roy, MD 14-0

Friday’s semifinals

  • Walter Beacham, Alta vs. Diesel Knudsen, Westfield
  • William Shallenberger, Wasatch vs. Brody Rydalch, Bountiful

138 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Connor Simons, Spanish Fork def. Jarom Gappmayer, Brighton, Fall 3:07
  • Bennett Ashcroft, Olympus def. Carson Duong, Hunter, Dec 7-5
  • Rylan Winward, Box Elder def. Vinson Moe, Alta, Fall 1:10
  • Colby Tennant, Westfield def. Caleb Lewis, Spanish Fork, Fall 2:32
  • Benjamin Kohler, Wasatch def. Evan Moss, Alta, Fall 0:33
  • Clayton Morrill, Payson def. Sam Allen, Box Elder, TF-1.5 3:27 (16-0)
  • Maximo Quintana, Roy def. Joshua Makitrin, Viewmont, Fall 4:43
  • Markus McCoy, Wasatch def. Kade Nordmann, Fremont, Dec 11-9

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Connor Simons, Spanish Fork def. Bennett Ashcroft, Olympus, Fall 3:35
  • Colby Tennant, Westfield def. Rylan Winward, Box Elder, Dec 9-4
  • Benjamin Kohler, Wasatch def. Clayton Morrill, Payson, Fall 1:38
  • Maximo Quintana, Roy def. Markus McCoy, Wasatch, TF-1.5 2:33 (16-0)

Friday’s semifinals

  • Connor Simons, Spanish Fork vs. Colby Tennant, Westfield
  • Benjamin Kohler, Wasatch vs. Maximo Quintana, Roy

144 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Jonas Lotz, Payson def. Elijah Castillo, Kearns, TF-1.5 2:19 (18-1)
  • Braxton Trimble, Westfield def. Hunter Privett, Hunter, TF-1.5 5:42 (20-3)
  • Kolvin Thompson, Box Elder def. Taima Anderson, Spanish Fork, Fall 3:10
  • Adam Terry, Timpview def. Tucker Price, West, MD 14-0
  • Daxton Bonner, Wasatch def. Alex Turner, Northridge, Fall 0:38
  • Luke Mason, Spanish Fork def. Gabriel Phippen, Box Elder, Fall 5:19
  • Kale Zorn, Fremont def. William Holdcroft, West, Fall 2:10
  • Pace Williams, Olympus def. Enoc Oteo, Timpview, MD 15-1

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Jonas Lotz, Payson def. Braxton Trimble, Westfield, Fall 5:06
  • Kolvin Thompson, Box Elder def. Adam Terry, Timpview, TF-1.5 5:37 (16-1)
  • Daxton Bonner, Wasatch def. Luke Mason, Spanish Fork, TF-1.5 3:29 (21-6)
  • Kale Zorn, Fremont def. Pace Williams, Olympus, Dec 15-8

Friday’s semifinals

  • Jonas Lotz, Payson vs. Kolvin Thompson, Box Elder
  • Daxton Bonner, Wasatch vs. Kale Zorn, Fremont

150 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Kael Theobald, Payson def. Parker Yorgason, Westfield, Fall 0:51
  • Seth Steele, Salem Hills def. Deacon Neilson, Maple Mountain, Fall 3:08
  • Rider Eggett, Viewmont def. Taylor Nageli, Cyprus, Fall 2:25
  • Ben Redd, Viewmont def. Rilen Brindley, Spanish Fork, Fall 3:30
  • Kamon Thompson, Box Elder def. Damon Innes, Maple Mountain, Fall 0:34
  • Max Richins, Wasatch def. Jeff Heywood, Spanish Fork, TF-1.5 3:45 (18-3)
  • Derek Harrison, Pleasant Grove def. Masen Hancey, Box Elder, Dec 16-15
  • Landon Hill, Brighton def. Brody Walker, Hunter, TF-1.5 6:00 (20-4)

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Kael Theobald, Payson def. Seth Steele, Salem Hills, TF-1.5 3:02 (18-1)
  • Rider Eggett, Viewmont def. Ben Redd, Viewmont, Dec 5-2
  • Kamon Thompson, Box Elder def. Max Richins, Wasatch, MD 15-1
  • Derek Harrison, Pleasant Grove def. Landon Hill, Brighton, MD 21-11

Friday’s semifinals

  • Kael Theobald, Payson vs. Rider Eggett, Viewmont
  • Kamon Thompson, Box Elder vs. Derek Harrison, Pleasant Grove

157 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Ryker Olson, Spanish Fork def. Landon Nielsen, Bountiful, Fall 0:58
  • Colter Beck, Payson def. Dean Christensen, Box Elder, Dec 3-0
  • Owen Seeley, Viewmont def. Nicholas Lowe, Cyprus, Dec 5-2
  • Joseph Naylor, West Jordan def. Andrew Card, Olympus, TF-1.5 3:04 (20-1)
  • Cash Vigos, Alta def. Logan McNally, Wasatch, Fall 1:38
  • Ryker Cluff, Spanish Fork def. Connor Mardanlou, Bountiful, Fall 4:56
  • Porter Kemp, Pleasant Grove def. Jameson English, Olympus, Fall 2:15
  • Kilun Engelbrecht, Box Elder def. Gatlyn Collier, Northridge, Dec 8-7

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Ryker Olson, Spanish Fork def. Colter Beck, Payson, MD 13-2
  • Joseph Naylor, West Jordan def. Owen Seeley, Viewmont, Dec 5-2
  • Ryker Cluff, Spanish Fork def. Cash Vigos, Alta, Fall 1:52
  • Porter Kemp, Pleasant Grove def. Kilun Engelbrecht, Box Elder, TF-1.5 5:31 (16-0)

Friday’s semifinals

  • Ryker Olson, Spanish Fork vs. Joseph Naylor, West Jordan
  • Ryker Cluff, Spanish Fork vs. Porter Kemp, Pleasant Grove

165 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • William Childs, Maple Mountain def. Jack Witt, Wasatch, TF-1.5 3:20 (19-2)
  • Xane Shurtleff, Payson def. Keiran Barton, Olympus, Fall 3:21
  • Isaac Katoa, West def. Brennan Pierce, Spanish Fork, Dec 6-5
  • Zayden Darger, Salem Hills def. Micah Olsen, Northridge, TF-1.5 5:12 (16-1)
  • Jonah Ware, Wasatch def. Taylor Graham, Fremont, Fall 1:14
  • Noah Vaterlaus, Viewmont def. Nash Judy, West Jordan, Dec 12-9
  • Jesse Button, Salem Hills def. Ethan Castillo, Pleasant Grove, Fall 2:27
  • Christia Miller, Box Elder def. Ethan Hawks, Springville, Fall 1:00

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • William Childs, Maple Mountain def. Xane Shurtleff, Payson, Dec 4-2
  • Isaac Katoa, West def. Zayden Darger, Salem Hills, Fall 0:52
  • Jonah Ware, Wasatch def. Noah Vaterlaus, Viewmont, Fall 1:36
  • Christia Miller, Box Elder def. Jesse Button, Salem Hills, Fall 4:56

Friday’s semifinals

  • William Childs, Maple Mountain vs. Isaac Katoa, West
  • Jonah Ware, Wasatch vs. Christia Miller, Box Elder

175 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Alexande Navarro, West Jordan def. Jack Lahn, Bountiful, Fall 1:04
  • Alexande Swain, West Jordan def. Marcus Reyes, Bountiful, Fall 4:32
  • Dominic Jones, West def. Sean Wilkerson, Maple Mountain, Dec 11-8
  • Preston Graver, Spanish Fork def. Colt Hawkins, Viewmont, Fall 2:12
  • Tayson Wylie, Box Elder def. Chase Mathiesen, Alta, Fall 1:20
  • Trent Harris, Springville def. Dillan Thacker, Wasatch, Fall 3:16
  • Bruce Walker, Hunter def. Oliver Mangum, Viewmont, Fall 1:14
  • Bo Goodman, Pleasant Grove def. Atticus Feldon, Olympus, Fall 3:54

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Alexande Navarro, West Jordan def. Alexande Swain, West Jordan, Dec 12-9
  • Preston Graver, Spanish Fork def. Dominic Jones, West, Dec 9-3
  • Trent Harris, Springville def. Tayson Wylie, Box Elder, Fall 0:35
  • Bo Goodman, Pleasant Grove def. Bruce Walker, Hunter, TF-1.5 3:35 (15-0)

Friday’s semifinals

  • Alexande Navarro, West Jordan vs. Preston Graver, Spanish Fork
  • Trent Harris, Springville vs. Bo Goodman, Pleasant Grove

190 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Lisiate Valeti, Springville def. Keenan Simmons, Box Elder, Fall 1:42
  • Fernando Cortez, Brighton def. Nathen Berkuta, West Jordan, Dec 10-5
  • Judson Yorgason, Westfield def. Cael Cottle, Payson, Fall 0:50
  • Karter Casperson, Pleasant Grove def. Jacob Galatro, Viewmont, Fall 2:45
  • Kingston O’Bannon, Salem Hills def. Christia Herrick, West Jordan, Fall 3:12
  • Zion Talia, Northridge def. Jesse Schiffman, Westfield, Dec 8-3
  • Hyrum King, Spanish Fork def. Archer Gale, Woods Cross, Fall 1:30
  • Parker Whetton, Box Elder def. Peter Liscomb, Cyprus, Fall 0:25

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Lisiate Valeti, Springville def. Fernando Cortez, Brighton, Fall 2:46
  • Karter Casperson, Pleasant Grove def. Judson Yorgason, Westfield, MD 21-8
  • Zion Talia, Northridge def. Kingston O’Bannon, Salem Hills, Fall 5:08
  • Hyrum King, Spanish Fork def. Parker Whetton, Box Elder, Fall 3:02

Friday’s semifinals

  • Lisiate Valeti, Springville vs. Karter Casperson, Pleasant Grove
  • Zion Talia, Northridge vs. Hyrum King, Spanish Fork

215 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Porter Jones, West Jordan def. Avirey Miller, Box Elder, Fall 1:59
  • Noah Ramboz, Clearfield def. Jaxon Grant, Salem Hills, Fall 3:31
  • Mack Youngberg, Viewmont def. Owen Ellsworth, Northridge, Fall 1:34
  • Ethan Ure, Payson def. Radly Martin, Granger, TF-1.5 2:52 (15-0)
  • Wyatt Hanssen, Wasatch def. Logan Packer, West Jordan, Fall 0:32
  • Cyrus Armenta, Cyprus def. Hogan Mumford, Box Elder, TF-1.5 4:58 (17-1)
  • Tuiono Valeti, Springville def. Emmanuel Ramos, Granger, Fall 0:50
  • Viliami Tapa, Woods Cross def. James Nielsen, Alta, Fall 2:51

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Porter Jones, West Jordan def. Noah Ramboz, Clearfield, TF-1.5 3:43 (19-3)
  • Mack Youngberg, Viewmont def. Ethan Ure, Payson, MD 8-0
  • Wyatt Hanssen, Wasatch def. Cyrus Armenta, Cyprus, Fall 0:28
  • Tuiono Valeti, Springville def. Viliami Tapa, Woods Cross, Fall 3:38
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Friday’s semifinals

  • Porter Jones, West Jordan vs. Mack Youngberg, Viewmont
  • Wyatt Hanssen, Wasatch vs. Tuiono Valeti, Springville

285 pounds

Thursday’s first round

  • Carter Rudolph, Roy def. Brodrick Lee, Woods Cross, Fall 2:57
  • Brandon Swain, Viewmont def. Richard Jordan, Fremont, Dec 7-3
  • Logan Tull, Wasatch def. Desert D Ale, Pleasant Grove, MD 15-3
  • Kyler Olson, Spanish Fork def. Alex Vanisi, Kearns, Fall 3:04
  • Moroni Mahe, Hillcrest def. Lincoln Frost, Fremont, Fall 1:27
  • Faaifoao Pili Jr, Granger def. Garrett Pickett, Clearfield, Fall 0:51
  • Malakai Filimoe atu, Payson def. Ryan Rowley, Westfield, Fall 2:55
  • Caleb Cefalo, Box Elder def. Rylen Rude, Northridge, Dec 9-3

Thursday’s quarterfinals

  • Carter Rudolph, Roy def. Brandon Swain, Viewmont, Fall 4:44
  • Kyler Olson, Spanish Fork def. Logan Tull, Wasatch, Fall 5:15
  • Moroni Mahe, Hillcrest def. Faaifoao Pili Jr, Granger, Fall 1:54
  • Malakai Filimoe atu, Payson def. Caleb Cefalo, Box Elder, Fall 3:59

Friday’s semifinals

  • Carter Rudolph, Roy vs. Kyler Olson, Spanish Fork
  • Moroni Mahe, Hillcrest vs. Malakai Filimoe atu, Payson
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