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Show Viewmont grapplers on way to top By TOM HARALDSEN Sports Editor VIEWMONT HIGH When Viewmont wrestling coach Bart Thompson arrived on the job three years ago, he faced a monumental task. He had only one returning letterman, and no returning wrestlers wrest-lers who'd placed at state the year before. How times have changed. When Viewmont takes the mat tomorrow (Thursday) night at Bountiful, in the Battle for the War Shield, it could well mark the first unbeaten season in Region Four dual meets for the Vikings in years. The story gets even better. Already this season, Thompson's Thomp-son's young team (just three seniors among his 13 varsity wrestlers) wrest-lers) has won region matches against East (53-16), Highland (40-21) (40-21) and Woods Cross (62-6). They also beat Davis 37-2 1 , the first time they've toppled the Darts in recent memory. Viewmont has shown itself at tournaments as well, including a sixth place finish this past weekend at the tough Pleasant Grove Invitational. Invita-tional. Coupled with a ninth place finish at Layton, a fifth place finish at its own Viewmont Invitational, and a tenth place showing at the Box Elder tournament, the Vikes have established themselves as a clear favorite for the Region Four title that will be settled next Thursday, Thurs-day, Feb. 4, at Davis High. Bart Thompson is soft spoken, but his coaching skills are becoming becom-ing evident in a hurry. An all-region performer and state runnerup himself him-self when he wrestled for Davis High in 1978, he and his assistants have taken a group of dedicated wrestlers and molded them into a cohesive unit that has opened some eyes this winter. Heading the list is senior Shan-dell Shan-dell Smoot, 23-0 on the year in the 160 pound division and arguably the best wrestler in the state. Smoot was state champ last year, and has earned Outstanding Wrestler Wrest-ler honors at every tournament so far this year. Joining him in the December De-cember rankings of state wrestlers (new rankings should be out shortly) short-ly) are junior Allen Freestone, fourth in the 135 division; and Kevin Randall, a senior, sixth at , 125, - At Pleasant Grove, Smoot mowed through his opponents for the 160 title, while fourth place finishes were earned by Jason Tanner Tan-ner at 1 12, Van Christensen at 1 19, Deelyn Zesiger at 152 and Mike Wersland at 171. During region action, Thompson's Thomp-son's troops have amassed the following fol-lowing records: Rick Mclnelly, 3-1 at 103; Tanner, 3-0 at 112; Christensen, Christ-ensen, 3-0 at 1 19; Freestone, 3-0 at 130, Randall, 3-0 at 125, Ryan Wilson, Wil-son, 2-1 at 135; Jeff Randall, 3-0 at 140; Darren Zesiger, 3-0 at 145; his brother Deelyn, 3-1 at 152; Wersland, Wers-land, 2-2 at 171; Adam Evens, 1-3 at 189; and Craig Randall, 0-4 at heavyweight. Even the losses of many wrestlers have been close, leaving Thompson optimistic about ab-out region. "If we stay healthy and wrestle to our potential, we should win it," he said. Though Viewmont cannot be considered a favorite for the title, ti-tle, a high placement is certainly possible, and likely. First, however, comes the match with Bountiful, always exciting as the schools battle for the War Shield captured by Viewmont last year. The match begins tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Bountiful High. Region Re-gion will be held for junior varsity wrestlers Friday at 3 p.m. at Woods Cross, with varsity wres-lers wres-lers gathering next week at Davis for region. This year's state tournament tourna-ment is set for Feb. 11,12 and 13 at Hillcrest High. ) fj. .Ok ... SfX0 6 mt'-- - ;s UJ I Viewmont's Ryan Wilson is about to be stacked by Highland's High-land's Jason Burg in action from last week's Region Four wrestling schedule. Despite this match, Wilson and his Viewmont View-mont teammates are having a great season, and are favored to capture the Region Four title a week from tomorrow at Davis High School. rnxw?w?&vw v "WWW I " ' ' '- Yjf 1 . J.D. Robinson of Davis High tries to gain the upper hand on Bountiful's Rich Eggett during Region Four wrestling action last week. The match at 189 was an exciting one. Region wrestling concludes Thursday with Bountiful hosting crosstown rival Viewmont at 7:30 ". p.m. - ---i.:-.- .... attittMllMWillilllMWW nil M IlinriMiiM 11 ill David Wilding, Doug Stout, president; and Haven Burningham, all of the Bountiful Area i Chamber of Commerce join Gary Totland, Benchmark Regional Hospital Marketing Director, and Craig Smith, Human Resource Manager at Benchmark to complete plans for the ninth annual Presidents' Day Road Race, a Bountiful tradition. |