OCR Text |
Show rl si)pOi C1 Vernal Express . Wednesday, February 20, 2008 TWO CHAMPS, SEVEN FINALISTS, 13 PLACERS OVERALL -STILL NOT ENOUGH Uintah Utes take third place state wrestlin By Casey Christeksen Express Writer Even by Head Coach Gregg Stensgard's high standards Uintah's performance at the state tournament was impressive. impres-sive. The team brought home two champions, seven finalists, and 13 placers, but still could not place any higher than third. Meanwhile, Candace Workman made history by being the first girl to make the finals. "I couldn't ask for more from these guys," said Stensgard. "They really overachieved to a point in some cases." He notes that last year the Utes were only able to place four wrestlers at the state tournament. tourna-ment. "This year we had seven finalists," final-ists," he said. Why was that not enough for Uintah to take the top spot? Answer: Delta and Wasatch. The Wasps featured the toughest varsity line-up and Delta's junior ju-nior varsity was what Stensgard called "probably a little better than ours." "If you consider what we accomplished ac-complished this year it is pretty amazing. We only had seven guys with any varsity experience," said the coach. "Where we started the year and where we ended shows a lot of growth and speaks highly of our program." Uintah began the season going go-ing 5-5 in their first 10 duals, losing to North Sanpete and Cedar. Both teams placed lower than Uintah at the State tournament. tourna-ment. "There are a lot of teams that would like to be where we are," he added. Uintah's performance was led by the team's two state champions, both of whom will be back on the squad next year, Creedon Merkley (130) and Colby Christensen (112). "Christensen wrestled a little tight and not as fluid as he usually is," explained Stensgard. "So that match went the distance instead of ending in a tech or pin like we expected. Merkley took care of business pin- l .... . .-. , . .., i Si-. !- ; , v . . '- '" :., ...... ..... - - , - - Ytiaii -- -J 7C i; ' p . r ... 'I I 4 i ' I .V f 1 ) . mnHwrimi fa Colby Christensen took first in the 112-pound division beating his opponent from Cedar City 5-3. Matt Sunkees was taken to his back early in the first, but fought back into the match and nearly pinned his opponent in the the third. He is a sophomore and will be back ready to compete next year. ; r t r i' ning his kid. He won throughout the tournament from his feet, something we worked on." The otherfivefinalists were Workman Work-man ( 1 03), Matt Sunkees ( 1 45), Justin Curtice ( 1 60), Josh Rhodes (2 1 5) and Rusty Farns worth (285). Although Workman made history his-tory by reaching the finals it was not her day to take home the first place medal. "It was the best match that kid has ever wrestled against us," said the coach. Curtice's match against Ethan Smith of Wasatch was the premiere match of the tournament, according to Stensgard. After losing twice to Smith throughout the season, and losing by a tech fall at region Curtice wrestled all three periods and lost the match 3-2. Curtice's match was not the only heart-breaker as Sunkees and Farnsworth both came close to a victory. Two warriors going up against each other," recounted Stensgard. "It was l-l with 30 seconds left and we got a little impatient giving up a takedown." "With Matt I think he wanted to win so badly he got into bad positions in the first period and allowed the kid to get a lead," said Stensgard. "He turned him in the third and I really thought the match was over, I was surprised to see the kid fight off his back ... Farnsworth worked hard to avoid getting thrown. He wrestled a great match until he got worried about a stall call. It was l-lwith about 19 seconds and he started to panic." Stensgard mentioned the outstanding out-standing performance of Rhodes who after missing lastyear made the finals. "You have to give him all the credit in the world," commented Stensgard on Rhodes going to his back for the record-breaking pin. "He could've wrestled a match to not get pinned, but he went out there and tried to win. It was a David against Goliath match and Goliath won." Uintah had two Utes place third, Daniel Stratton (130) and Jesse Mckee (135). Stensgard said Mckee finally wrestled to the potential the coaching staff had seen in him throughout the year. Both Mckee and Stratton avenged their early tournament tourna-ment losses in the quarterfinals of the championships to take third place. Taylor Merkley, a freshman wrestler Stensgard says he expects to be a superstar, placed fifth. Stratton Strat-ton Schultz, John Kunzler and Nick SEE WRESTLING on C3 Creedon Merkley took first, winning his finals match with a pin. Daniel Stratton, right of Merkley, took third, beating an opponent who beat him earlier in the tournament. Q ATTENTION: -1 Anvone interested in coachina Li Anyone interested in coaching Vernal Youth Baseball 2008 MANDATORY MEETING A Monday, February 25, 2008 7:30 PM 7-11 Ranch Restaurant 77 East Main, Vernal SEVERAL CHANGES IN 2008 - WE NEED ALL MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT COACHES TO ATTEND 7 For more information, call Ron Gardner 789-3735 Kam Pope 828-8780 Rick Reynolds 621-2535 IER OUTSIDE MAY BE COLD. PLENTY OF UlSll) n77 BUYS DURING THE 1 UT INSIDE ARE i"H ANNUAL rrfnniinr3 L o) 7 Sl Xj t "" Vic-"" hmS If m mm 25 ST Mega-Lite by Extreme RVs Generator Equipped Fuel Station $288.10 per month 7.99 180 mo. 0AC t fcB-- " mw $484.42 per month 8.25 240 Mo. 0AC mmr 33S RV Victory Lsne by Dutch man -, hey wrz r.mrn mm rn v. mi 1 ) Register daily for nightly drawings y FREE refreshments 11 :Cfl am -7:00 pm daily fir Chili dogs and drinks FREE balloons for the kids 267 TS Spcrtsmaster by Extreme RVs mm &m..ymi-' fcty iM i r ! II! $267.42 per month 8.25 144 mo. 0AC r., i" 111 ! n i ... - - II (4 S i , j w i, a J: , . . l j v -1 i i - ; -I Special Offer! ; Anyone purchasing an RV during the show will he j entered in a drawing for a Yamaha 2400 generator to uc yivcii itwdf Odiuiudf dl I .Uil p.m. H ) l,JUU Value! ffilstlli Si 'talJI'PI-i! X3 -- - i |