Through the first day of the 5A state wrestling tournament, Spanish Fork and Box Elder are in a virtual dead heat in the chase for the state title.
Spanish Fork built a narrow 132 to 125 lead over Box Elder after Friday’s competition at UVU. Spanish Fork advanced 11 wrestlers into Saturday’s semifinals, which get underway at 10:30 a.m., while Box Elder qualified eight wrestlers into the semifinals.
Wasatch sits in third place with 109.5 points, while Salem Hills is in fourth with 64 points.
Three-time 5A state champion Uintah is now competing in 4A this year, which opens the door for a new champ this season.
Spanish Fork has been led all season by two-time defending state champ Karson Shelley, who won his first round and quarterfinal match on Friday with pins, improving his record to 51-2 on the season. He’s on a collision course with another defending state champ, Salem Hills’ Breyton Banks, assuming the two win their 120-pound semifinal matches on Saturday.
Just like Shelley, Woods Cross’ Cash Henderson is also chasing a 5A 3-peat at 215 pounds, where he’ll face Viewmont’s Mack Youngberg in the semifinals.
The other wrestler in pursuit of a repeat as Wasatch’s Henry Hanssen at 157 pounds.
Salem Hill’s Sam Morrill competes against Olympus’ Timothy Bytheway in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Northridge’s Dawson Auger is declared the winner in his match against Bountiful’s Brody Rydalch in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Viewmont High Coach Karson Rees and his brother Spencer Rees celebrate Spencer’s win in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Olympus’ Timothy Bytheway competes against Salem Hill’s Sam Morrill in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Northridge’s Dawson Auger, top, wrestles Bountiful’s Brody Rydalch in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Viewmont High Coach Karson Rees and his brother Spencer Rees celebrate Spencer’s win in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Salem Hills High School fans cheer on Sam Morrill in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Hunter’s Siope Havea wrestles Box Elder’s Caleb Cefalo in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Box Elder’s Caleb Cefalo winces while wrestling injured against Hunter’s Siope Havea in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Northridge’s Dawson Auger, right, wrestles Bountiful’s Brody Rydalch in the 5A Wrestling State Championships at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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5A boys state tournament
At UVU
Team scores after Day 1
- Spanish Fork, 132
- Box Elder, 125
- Wasatch, 109.5
- Salem Hills, 64
- Viewmont, 54
- Kearns, 52
- Springville, 42
- Hunter, 39
Saturday’s semifinals
106
- Teagan Leavitt, Spanish Fork vs. Kevin Mayo, Salem Hills
- Conley Evans, Box Elder vs. Connor Simons, Spanish Fork
113
- Caleb Jackson, Maple Mountain vs. Mason Bingham, Box Elder
- Kaleb Blackner, Roy vs. Brody Bogelsberg, Spanish Fork
120
- Karson Shelley, Spanish Fork vs. Ryder Christensen, Wasatch
- Johnny Orr, Alta vs. Breyton Banks, Salem Hills
126
- Alex Lindquist, Viewmont vs. Bostyn Tucker, Box Elder
- Benjamin Kohler, Wasatch vs. Kyler Spencer, Spanish Fork
132
- Cahill Simons, Spanish Fork vs. Max Richins, Wasatch
- Cooper Limb, Hillcrest vs. Dawson Auger, Northridge
138
- Porter Olson, Spanish Fork vs. Jonah Ware, Wasatch
- Daxton Bonner, Wasatch vs. Tate Ripplinger, Viewmont
144
- Spencer Rees, Viewmont vs. Sam Morrill, Salem Hills
- Jackson Ricks, Box Elder vs. Blake Buckway, Box Elder
150
- Junior Wetzel, Spanish Fork vs. Gatlin Call, Spanish Fork
- Davin Fedler, Springville vs. Tayson Wylie, Box Elder
157
- Deegan Hardy, Box Elder vs. Thatcher Casperson, Salem Hills
- Henry Hanssen, Wasatch vs. Tucker Keller, Northridge
165
- Alex Koyle, Spanish Fork vs. Zachary Jones, West Jordan
- Wyatt Hanssen, Wasatch vs. Jayce Wandell, Cedar Valley
175
- Kaden Moore, Salem Hills vs. Kenyon Paea, Hunter
- Brandon Murray, Box Elder vs. Kody Whited, Cedar Valley
190
- Hyrum King, Spanish Fork vs. Andre Leota, Olympus
- Tevita Valeti, Springville vs. Isaac Liechty, Bountiful
215
- Cash Henderson, Woods Cross vs. Mack Youngberg, Viewmont
- Garrett Christensen, Wasatch vs. Lione Hola, Kearns
285
- Raymond Tongolei, Kearns vs. Austin McNaughtan, Wasatch
- Skyler Armenta, Cyprus vs. Siope Havea, Hunter
