The Grand County High School wrestling team placed sixth out of 13 teams at the Battle at the Pound in Gunnison, which took place on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13 and 14.
Grand was anchored by a first-place performance in the 126-pound weight class by freshman Carson Sheets. Sheets had suffered his first two losses of his high school career at the 2A Duels a week earlier in Richfield, but avenged one of the losses, defeating Millard’s Slade Sheriff by a 5-1 decision in the second round. In all, Sheets wrestled six matches, winning them all, three by pinfall and three by decision.
“Carson wrestled really well,” Grand wrestling coach Dennis Wells said. “He beat the Millard kid that beat him last week so in the state rankings, he’s moved up to No. 2 at 126 pounds.”
Juniors Gage Hansen and Kayden Robertson and freshman Carson Whitney each took fourth in their weight classes. Hansen, wrestling at 220 pounds, defeated two opponents who defeated him a week before, including a pinfall victory over San Juan’s Druman Gomez. Hansen went 4-2 overall, with two pinfall and two decision wins.
Whitney went 4-3 wrestling at 106 pounds, winning two by pinfall, one by technical fall and one by forfeit; and Robertson went 5-4 at 132 pounds, with his wins coming by three pinfalls, a decision and a medical forfeit.
Also placing fourth for Grand was sophomore Brayden Cloud at 113 pounds (3-3, three wins via pinfall). Senior John Corbin placed fifth at 120 pounds, going 4-4 with three pinfalls and a forfeit.
Grand was shorthanded for the tournament, missing Dakota Johnson, Chris Thompson and Jared Smith. Wells said if the team hadn’t been missing those wrestlers, they likely would have taken fourth instead of sixth at the tournament.
Also competing for Grand, Trea Meyer placed sixth at 182 pounds, Jarom Shumway placed sixth at 195 pounds and Trent Elmore placed ninth at 145 pounds. In junior varsity competition, Kolby Bedke placed second in one of two 138-pound groups, while Stacy Randall placed sixth in the other. Tayson Wilson placed sixth at 160 pounds and Kyler Maxwell placed eighth at 132 pounds.
Grand was scheduled to wrestle San Juan in Blanding on Wednesday, Jan. 18, after beating them in back-to-back tournament duels.
“We should beat San Juan on Wednesday,” Wells said on Monday, Jan. 16. “We’re a stronger team than they are. But we’re going to their place and we’ll still be missing those guys until Friday (Jan. 20).”
The Red Devils should be relatively full strength when they compete again at the Rockwell Rumble at Utah Valley University on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20 and 21.
Wrestlers continue to improve as season progresses
“We should beat San Juan… We’re a stronger team than they are. But we’re going to their place and we’ll still be missing those guys until Friday.”
