State wrestling tourneys this week

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
Monticello, San Juan, and Whitehorse high schools will send a combined 33 wrestlers to the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield this weekend for 1A and 2A Utah state tournaments.
The tournaments will run Friday and Saturday, February 11-12 and local teams are hoping to bring state championships back to San Juan County.
The San Juan Broncos qualified an impressive 16 athletes for the 2A tourney, including divisional champ Callen Burke, who will compete at 215 pounds. Burke takes a 17-4 record to Richfield.
Others seeking a San Juan state title this weekend are Taylor Black (285 pounds, 31-11 record), Chance Hoggard (285, 16-3), Zach Palmer (175, 17-13), Tayden Mark (165, 13-9), Tyler Bayles (165, 16-24), Trace Bennett (157, 16-12), Tyler Winn (157, 8-7), Landon Black (150, 22-10), Logan Keith (144, 16-15), JD Palmer (138, 24-22), Nick Joe (126, 15-11), Lynnox Benn (126, 16-21), Treshon Billie (120, 5-14), Taren Bayles (113, 15-15), and Deklan Helquist (113, 18-12).
The division-champion Monticello Buckaroos qualified 14 wrestlers for the 1A state tournament. The Bucks are led by individual division champs Thomas Fuller (165 pounds, 7-3 record), Javlin Robison (138, 33-6), and Treydon Harris (106, 23-11).
Others competing to bring home state titles to Monticello include Camren Carpenter (285, 5-17), Oakley Adams (190, 24-9), Jarum Robison (175, 9-25), Tavon Black (165, 12-23), Logan Draper (157, 25-7), Tyler Thayn (150, 22-13), Cameron Bailey (144, 19-12), Tyson Wheeler (132, 14-12), Josh Wheeler (132, 19-8), Chandler Henderson (126, 14-10), and Zach Thayn (126, 17-12)
Three Whitehorse Raiders are headed to state for the first time in their careers. Junior Marcus Denny will wrestle at 215 pounds and takes a solid 15-4 record into the tourney.
Junior Preston Hathale will compete at 285 pounds with six wins and ten losses on the year. And sophomore Lucas Collins will also wrestle at 285. He’s 2-13 this season.