High school boys wrestling: Altamont ends long drought, captures 1A state championship

After years of finishing as the runner-up, the Altamont boys wrestling team gutted out its first team championship since 2018 on Saturday.

“We’ve had a couple of years where we didn’t quite get it done, but they’re doing it today,” said Mike Foy, the elder of the father-son coaching duo at Altamont.

The Longhorns racked up 293.5 points to outpace six-time champion Panguitch, which finished the night with 173 points.

“A lot of people would be really happy with the results we’ve had, but there’s getting to be too much silver in that trophy case,” said Bryson Foy, assistant coach.

“We challenge them, but it’s the kids who buy in and do the work. We’re very proud of them.”

For Keaton Huff, the motivation for his first individual state championship as a senior was much deeper than just another wrestling match.

“I did it for my grandpa,” said Huff, whose grandfather’s funeral was earlier this week, making the 165-pound match against Whitehorse’s Hunter Tsinigine an emotional one.

“I just love my team,” Huff said, expressing appreciation for the motivation his coaches and teammates gave him.

Said Bryson Foy of Huff: “He’s an absolute competitor. I’m super happy for him.”

Altamont had a pair of juniors pick up their third consecutive individual titles — Levi Scott at 126 and Gage Bird at 152.

“They are leaders who work hard and want to get better at wrestling,” Bryson Foy said. “They’ve earned everything they got.”

Scott won his match against Panguitch’s Gaige Stewart with a pin in 55 seconds.

“I just try my best,” Scott said. “Wrestling means a lot to me. It’s really cool to be part of this.”

Bird completed his night with a second-round pin over Wayne’s Jake Chestnut.

“It’s the state tournament, so I just decided to go out there and pin him,” Bird said. “He’s a strong wrestler.”

Bird’s goal is to become a four-time state champion, like his older brother.

Altamont’s McCrey Beal capped off his senior year by earning his first state championship in a hard-fought 12-10 decision against Panguitch’s Kole Fullmer in the 175-pound weight class.

“McCrey put it together and did the things he needed to do tonight,” Bryson Foy said.

Said Beal: “I just went out there and gave it my all. It just paid off. I’m just so thankful to my coaches, my team and my parents. This is a great community I live in.”

Class 1A boys state tournament

Final Team scores

1. Altamont, 239.5
2. Panguitch, 173
3. Milford, 128
4. Rich, 85.5
5. Monticello, 75.5
6. Tintic, 62
7. Piute, 57.5
8. Wayne, 44

Individual results

106 pounds

1. Hayden williams, Altamont, Fr. (27-10)
2. Bronk Downing, Rich, Fr. (10-9)
3. David Russo, St Joseph Catholic High School, Fr. (4-1)
4. Liam Walsh, Milford, Fr. (16-16)

Championship — Hayden williams, Altamont def. Bronk Downing, Rich, Fall 1:17

113 pounds

1. Kyler Bunker, Piute, Jr. (24-5)
2. Judson Pollock, Panguitch, Jr. (19-21)
3. Briggs Judd, Altamont, Fr. (22-11)
4. Colt Sutherlin, Wayne, So. (12-23)

Championship — Kyler Bunker, Piute def. Judson Pollock, Panguitch, Fall 1:03

120 pounds

1. Mitch Dodds, Panguitch, So. (38-6)
2. Chaz Thacker, Altamont, Sr. (26-9)
3. Cutler Netto, Milford, So. (28-9)
4. Diego Cortez, Monticello, So. (35-21)

Championship — Mitch Dodds, Panguitch def. Chaz Thacker, Altamont, Dec 5-0

126 pounds

1. Levi Scott, Altamont, Jr. (31-9)
2. Gaige Stewart, Panguitch, Jr. (23-15)
3. Arturo Gutierrez, Monticello, Jr. (39-10)
4. Tristan Lovell, Tintic, Jr. (32-10)

Championship — Levi Scott, Altamont def. Gaige Stewart, Panguitch, Fall 0:55

132 pounds

1. Boston Thompson, Milford, Sr. (33-5)
2. Emmitt Despain, Tintic, So. (38-7)
3. Trayson Young, Altamont, Fr. (28-17)
4. Bryson Adair, Monticello, Fr. (30-19)

Championship — Boston Thompson, Milford def. Emmitt Despain, Tintic, Fall 4:50

138 pounds

1. Max Albrecht, Panguitch, Sr. (39-9)
2. Asa Fisher, Altamont, Fr. (37-14)
3. Landon Shumway, Monticello, Sr. (34-11)
4. Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley, Jr. (5-3)

Championship — Max Albrecht, Panguitch def. Asa Fisher, Altamont, Dec 9-5

144 pounds

1. Trexton Spaulding, Milford, Sr. (38-6)
2. Lance Tsinigine, Whitehorse, Sr. (28-6)
3. Jackson Heaton, Panguitch, Sr. (23-16)
4. Tayzen Walker, Altamont, Sr. (25-23)

Championship — Trexton Spaulding, Milford def. Lance Tsinigine, Whitehorse, Fall 3:30

150 pounds

1. Trenden Thompson, Milford, Sr. (37-6)
2. John Leber, Monticello, Jr. (44-6)
3. Colt Duncan, Altamont, Sr. (14-15)
4. Joshua Perez, Panguitch, Sr. (10-11)

Championship — Trenden Thompson, Milford def. John Leber, Monticello, TF-1.5 4:18 (16-0)

157 pounds

1. Gage Bird, Altamont, Sr. (37-9)
2. Jake Chesnut, Wayne, Sr. (19-18)
3. Brayden Frandsen, Panguitch, Sr. (19-13)
4. Remington Atherley, Tintic, So. (30-14)

Championship — Gage Bird, Altamont def. Jake Chesnut, Wayne, Fall 1:54

165 pounds

1. Keaton Huff, Altamont, Sr. (27-9)
2. Hunter Tsinigine, Whitehorse, So. (24-11)
3. gage smith, Piute, Jr. (33-18)
4. Archer Ward, Panguitch, So. (16-23)

Championship — Keaton Huff, Altamont def. Hunter Tsinigine, Whitehorse, Fall 1:57

175 pounds

1. McCrey Beal, Altamont, Sr. (30-6)
2. Kole Fullmer, Panguitch, Sr. (22-9)
3. Crosby Saign, Wayne, Sr. (32-10)
4. Mason Ahlstrom, Bryce Valley, Sr. (5-3)

Championship — McCrey Beal, Altamont def. Kole Fullmer, Panguitch, Dec 12-10

190 pounds

1. Kacey Stewart, Milford, Sr. (39-4)
2. Rylan Gough, Rich, Jr. (19-16)
3. Payson Evans, Altamont, Jr. (21-2)
4. Colten Mullins, Altamont, Sr. (24-21)

Championship — Kacey Stewart, Milford def. Rylan Gough, Rich, Fall 1:50

215 pounds

1. Maverick Albrecht, Panguitch, Sr. (39-9)
2. Boedy Morrison, Piute, Sr. (31-9)
3. Bailey Weston, Rich, Jr. (37-13)
4. Corbin Atherley, Tintic, Sr. (20-16)

Championship — Maverick Albrecht, Panguitch def. Boedy Morrison, Piute, Dec 8-5

285 pounds

1. Boston Jolley, Rich, Sr. (14-1)
2. Kyson Miles, Altamont, Sr. (26-15)
3. Skyler Russell, Milford, Jr. (29-7)
4. Jesse Benson, St Joseph, Jr. (3-3)

Championship — Boston Jolley, Rich def. Kyson Miles, Altamont, Fall 1:03