OREM - Nothing has been taken for granted in the Class 4-A state wrestling championships. Each round of the tournament ended with a new leader, but it was Box Elder that walked away with the team title.
   The Bees finished with 226 points Friday, replacing two-time defending champion Spanish Fork as the title holder. Box Elder's last title came in 2001. At the beginning of the season, coach Mike Ripplinger issued a challenge to his team.
   "You can be one of the great Box Elder teams," Ripplinger said, "You're going to have to work hard to do it."
   Some of the Bees' hardest work came in the consolation rounds Thursday.
   "We felt we had a comfortable lead," Ripplinger said, "That really set the tone for the rest of the tournament for us."
   Box Elder and Payson fought a close battle in the finals, though Payson trailed in the team standings with 158 points to Box Elder's 212 heading into the championship matches. The Bees sent six wrestlers to the finals, and five more placed sixth or higher in the consolation brackets. Of the six wrestlers the Bees sent   to the finals, three took first place.
   Leading the Bees was senior John Johnson in the 152-pound class, beating Payson's defending champion Kelly Kelsey with a commanding 16-2 major decision.
   "If I wasn't so tired, I would be screaming and jumping around," said Johnson, "It's a great way to wrap up my senior year. It was finally my year."
   Johnson's title comes after a third place finish at last year's state meet and a fourth place ranking in 2003.
   Also taking titles for Box Elder was Casey Fromm at 145 and Brett Boyce at 189.
   Payson started strong, taking titles in three straight weight classes with Shawn Rohbock (119), Jared Ahlin (125) and Ryan Gonzalez (130).
   Rohbock, looking to surpass a fourth-place finish at last year's tournament, fought an even match with Provo's Michael Holt. The two remained at a stalemate until a 2-0 overtime decision.
   "Michael had beaten me before twice, just barely" Rohbock said. "I'm just so glad I can rely on my duck under."
 At 135, Bountiful's Cam George faced off against Trever Mellen, both with undefeated seasons on the line.
   "It didn't ever really get in my head," George said after the match. "I came here to get one thing and I was going to get it. It's been a big goal for a long time, and I am loving it."
   George led off with a strong attack and bolted to a 7-1 lead before the first period even ended.