Bucks are fourth at state

by Anna Fredericks
The Monticello Buckaroo wrestling team completed their season at the Utah State Wrestling Tournament over the weekend. 
The team brought home eight individual medals and finished in fourth place as a team, behind champion Duchesne, Altamont and Panguitch.
Sophomore Zac Musselman earned his second state championship, defeating Matthew Taylor of Duchesne 6-2 in the finals. Musselman dominated in the early rounds, winning by fall in the first period in both early round matches on his way to the finals.
Junior Parker Knudsen earned his first state championship medal, defeating Morgan Smith of Duchesne by fall in the first period of the finals.  Knudsen had a perfect weekend, pinning all three opponents on his way to the title.
Buckaroo Juniors Shandon Bradford and Paul DeAnda both earned the chance to wrestle on the center mat for a Championship, and each earned well deserved second place medals.  
Bradford wrestled tough throughout the tournament, winning by fall in each of the first two rounds. Despite his hard work in the finals, he came up short of the victory in a heartbreaker 4-3 against Stockton Moat of Duchesne.  
DeAnda had exciting wins, 8-3 and 10-4, in the early rounds to make his way to the finals, where he fought hard but was defeated by Steven Skewes of Duchesne by fall.
In the consolation championships, freshmen Steven Robinson and Matt Beh fought hard in tough matches to earn third place medals at their first state tournament. 
Robinson had an exciting 4-3 win in the first round, before a loss to the eventual state champion sent him to the consolation bracket. Robinson fought back, winning by fall to earn his spot in the finals, where he defeated his opponent 3-1.
Beh had a big 11-4 win in the first round before a loss in the second round. In the consolation bracket, he earned a quick win by fall to secure a spot in the finals, where he defeated his opponent 6-4 in an exciting final match.
Brayson Wilcox and Tyler Draper each brought home fourth place medals from the tournament.
Wilcox earned a first round win by fall but was defeated in the semifinals by the eventual champion from Altamont. Wilcox came back strong with a 15-0 technical fall win to earn a spot in the medal round, but was defeated in the finals.
Draper earned an exciting 7-5 overtime win to advance to the medal round where he was defeated.
Sophomore Thomas Anderson earned an exciting 6-5 win in the first round, but two losses ended his tournament just one match short of a medal.
Buckaroos Clayton Westcott, Kayden Draper, Gage Wilcox, Wyatt Fuller, Colton Lewis, Spencer Squires, Taconic Warren, Justin Cecil, Bryson Henderson, Nathan Moore and Seamis Barrell wrestled hard for the Buckaroos but did not place at the tournament.
The Buckaroos graduate only one senior this year and will look for this young squad to be a contender in the coming years. 

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