 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Box Elder wrestlers reign supreme once again; win 4th title in 7 years
By Devon Black
Deseret Morning News
OREM — Box Elder and its wrestling coach Mike Ripplinger added one more trophy to the school's growing collection as the Bees captured the 4A state wrestling championship for the fourth time in six years on Friday night.
 Jared Ahlin of Payson High flips Mountain Crest's Troy Kohler to the mat during the 4A high school state wrestling championships.  Stuart Johnson, Deseret Morning News |
This year's title is just one more item to add to the long list of accomplishments by Box Elder. Riplinger's team has now won five state championships and 18 region championships — including 10 in a row — during his 20 years as head coach.
Ripplinger was also named the Class 4A coach of the year after his team was awarded the championship trophy.
The Bees won three consecutive championships from 2000-2002 and returned to their dominating form this year, placing wrestlers in the top six in nearly every weight class.
"Each one is special," said Ripplinger. "The first one it seemed like we had to work a long time for, back in 1989. Then we got the three in a row. But then this year it's like it's totally brand new. It's like a new thing that you've sought all year and it's really exciting."
Casey Fromm at 145-pounds, John Johnson (152), and Brett Boyce (189) all captured individual state championships to pace the Bees who easily outscored the rest of the competition, garnering 226 team points.
"We had some great seniors and we've got some good underclassmen," said Riplinger. "They both worked together so well. I think that's why we had an awful lot of success — just a great team camaraderie."
Region 7 champion Pleasant Grove finished second with 190 points, with Payson and Region 6 champion Payson finished third and fourth with 170 and 130.5 points respectively. Mountain Crest and Provo rounded out the top five teams.
Johnson's major decision over last year's state champion Kelly Kelsey midway through the final matches was the clinching win that assured Box Elder first place. Kelsey entered the tournament — who will return to compete next year and the Bees should once again be a very competitive team match — with a 42-3 overall record, but Johnson, who finished third in state last year dominated from start to finished to win 16-2. The win helped Johnson earn the outstanding wrestler award for the upper weight divisions.
"That was awesome," said Ripplinger. "Kelsey's a great kid and to beat him, that was kind of exciting."
Caleb Isom (112) and Rhett Robinson (215) also finished second in their weight divisions for the Bees.
Pleasant Grove had two wrestlers win individual state championships in Mitch Anderson (160) and Teddy Owens (215).
Other individual winners were sophomore and freshman wrestlers Kolby Brady (103) and Jason Chamberlain (112) from Springville, Shawn Rohbock (119) Jared Ahlin (125) and Jason Gonzalez (130) from Payson, Nathaniel Holt (140) from Provo, Cam George (135) from Bountiful, and Aaron Pou'Ha (275) from Cyprus.
Holt was voted the outstanding wrestler for the lower weight division.
Box Elder has 10 wrestlers from this year's team returning and should once again be very competitive next season.