San Juan wrestlers spend week on the road, Bronco grabs Quinn Keith Award
by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School wrestling team traveled to Monticello on Wednesday, January 18 for the last matches that will take place in San Juan County this season.
According to assistant coach Shane Musselman, several Bronco varsity wrestlers were taking the week off to prepare for their divisional tournament, allowing some young wrestlers to get some mat time against their rivals.
San Juan wrestled in 12 matches at the dual, winning three. At 126 pounds Deklan Helquist defeated Landon Shumway in a tight 8-7 decision. At 144 pounds Logan Keith won with a sudden victory 8-6 over Tyson Wheeler. And JD Palmer defeated Chandler Henderson by fall at 150 pounds.
Grady Lacy and Koyer Johnson both suffered losses to Treydon Harris. Treshon Billie lost to Landon Shumway. Rigley LaGiglia was defeated by Ronnie Harris.
Nicholas Joe and Peter Hoopes suffered losses to Joshua Wheeler. And Chance Laws lost to Zac Thayn and Tyson Wheeler.
The Broncos closed out the week at the annual Sand Devil Classic in Page, AZ Friday and Saturday, January 20-21. Coach Musselman said the event is the toughest tournament San Juan attends each year.
“Great wrestlers out of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado attend,” He stated. “Many of our young wrestlers received some valuable mat time and a bit of a lesson,” detailed Musselman.
Several Bronco varsity wrestlers were in attendance also. Callen Burke went 4-0 to finish in first place and was the tournament’s most valuable wrestler. All four of his wins were by fall.
JD Palmer won five matches and lost just one to finish third for the Broncos. Two of his wins were by fall, one by 16-point technical fall, one a 7-5 sudden victory, and one by 2-0 decision.
Lynnox Benn finished fifth for San Juan with a 3-2 record at the event. One of his wins was by fall, one by 8-2 decision, and one by 7-6 decision.
And Logan Keith got sixth place with five wins and three losses. Three of his wins were by fall and one by 11-0 major decision.
In addition, Logan Keith won the Quinn Keith “comeback kid” Award at the event. The award is presented to the wrestler who loses their first match but battles back through the bracket to place.
Quinn Keith was killed in 2004 while serving the U.S. in the War on Terror. He was originally from Blanding and attended San Juan High School for two years before graduating from Page High School.
Not only did Logan Keith win the award – a very difficult task in a 32-man bracket – but he’s also a distant relative of Quinn Keith. “This is one of my all-time favorite wrestling awards,” Coach Musselman said. “Proud of you Logan!”
Other Bronco wrestlers performed well at the San Devil Classic, despite not placing. Taylor Black and Porter Keith collected two wins by fall apiece. Grady Lacy and Treshon Billie got one win by fall each.
San Juan closed out their regular season in Moab on Wednesday, January 25, too late for our press deadline. They head to Millard for the 2A Divisional Tournament this Friday, January 27.