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Show Page 8 e August 29, 979 1 Sporrsfacular From singing 1 By Keith Duncan ; (Editors Note: Ricky Tanner and I first met last winter as I extensively covered Weber High wrestling and since that time I have sat back and marveled at how remarkable he is at everything he does. Ricky, who is noted by most as a highly talented singer, is also a very keen athlete. Ricky wants the world to know old with the same problems that he is a regular and concerns everybody else has. Perhaps in this story j j ar I can reveal some interesting View youth.) things about this j Pleasant Dad put it best when he said, "If Rickys body had grown as fast as his spirit, hed be 74 today. But Gary Tanner is very satisfied with just the son hes got. t Ricky Tanner, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Tanner, 217 W. Lomond View Dr., Pleasant View, has charmed thousands of people with his singing voice with the beginning of a bright career only starting. But there is another side to Tanner, 17, a junior this j fall at Weber High School. If youve been to a wrestling meet or two, youd quickly know Side 2. wrestler Last winter, while a sophomore, for the Weber Warriors, Ricky created excitement that is only expected to continue this November when local grapplers do it all again. Rick, who had very little wrestling experience at North Ogden Junior High, made up his mind to try the sport out in high school. Thats all it took; said Mr. Tanner, who has followed his son closely in the athletic world, "Once Ricky has made up his mind to do something there is little that can stop him. Rick was a plus, a big plus for Weber as the season progressed and he gained more experience. His strong competitive desire and uncanny ability to never give in led him to numerous victories on the varsity level. As Region One meet time approached, Rick found himself with a 17-- 5 mark and a second seed in the region tournament. chamRick wrestled his way into the pionship but gave up the title to a Sky View wreetlec . , who owned a bit more experience, a sharp edge in the wrestling world. So with a second place finish in region it was onto state where again young Tanner found experience a valuable asset to those who had it. All in all his performances helped Weber as a whole capture a fourth place finish in the state tournament. At the awards banquet a few weeks later, Rickys mind was at work. He wasnt in a dream world while reminising over past accomplishments or brooding over his Most Valuable Sophomore award, he was carefully planning out the summer of how he would attend wrestling camps to gain some of that experience that had defeated him in the last two tournaments. Twice this summer, Brigham Young University wrestling camps have had Rick on their rosters. "I learned some new moves that will help a lot if I practice them, said Rick. And what are summers without vacations. The three-mont-h summer break has been more than what Rick could ask for, just time to forget a fraction of his singing, cheering, wrestling crowds and books. Rickys favorite summer retreat is his grandfathers ranch in Riverdale, Idaho, just a few miles from Preston. Rick and his grandfather have developed a closeness over the years, one that an outsider can sense very quick. I like going to Idaho, mainly because its a chance to get away and enjoy the beauty of the mountains while riding horses, said Rick. Tanner now owns, horses of his own and is quite a master of the reigns. Breaking wild horses ynd taking long horseback rides into the mountains are not uncommon. This summer Ive got a chance to work, which has been a good experience for me. Weve hauled hay, fixed fences, and done about everything else there is to do on a ranch, he said. Memorable experiences are more often than not for Rick and those that experience them with him. One day while hauling hay, Rick and his uncle were working together. The uncle, unaware that a rattle snake was near a bale he was about to handle and out of distance of Rick's cries. For some reason he was unable to pick up the bale so some major trouble was averted. Rick and his uncle did catch the snake however and together they skinned with the ratlers in Ricky's possession t today. Mr. Bensons ranch will always be a favorite place for Ricky and the visits with his grandfather will be' Just as special. Mr. Benson is presently serving as a. regional representative in the Tremonton area for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. He has ; ' |