Region 1 could see a pair of 4-time champions

It is rare company indeed. Only 15 times in Utah high school wrestling has a grappler been a four-time champion. Fifteen times out of all the classifications and weight classes has a wrestler been able to win every match at the state tournament and walk away with a title four times.

How rare is it, then, that Region 1 has a very realistic shot to add two more names to that list in one year? Shay Warren of Weber and Sean Porter of Davis are both ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes and are returning three-time state champions.

"It is an amazing accomplishment," said Jake Swensen of North Sanpete after he became No. 15 on the list to do so. "It really caps off four hard years of work and giving everything you've got all the time."

Both wrestlers have an amazing amount of similarities besides going for a fourth title. They are both two-time participants in the All-Star Duals that take place each year at Utah Valley State College and feature only the best wrestlers at a particular weight class— both are expected to be named to the All-Star once again when the wrestlers are announced at the end of the month for the Jan. 9 event. And both have a family history involved with wrestling.

Jody Warren, Shay's father, and Alan Porter, Sean's father, are the wrestling coaches at Weber and Davis high schools. The two coaches were both accomplished wrestlers themselves and have passed the tradition and passion for the sport down to their children.

"I love it," said Porter of wrestling after a match last year. "You work so hard, and when you win, it is all worth it. When you lose, you get back to work and do a little more to try to fix whatever it was that went wrong. It is so rewarding that way."

It is not very often that either has to try to correct things, as a loss is a rare thing with these two champions. Not only are both technically amazing wrestlers, but both have the right mental approach and hard work necessary to go for a fourth crown.

"I try not to think about it," Warren said of the pressure of being a defending champion. "I really try to just go out and wrestle my best every single match and forget about the pressure."

Although the duo will not wrestle against each other because of their respective weight classes, both are expected to anchor solid teams. Here's how their teams and the rest of Region 1 stack up:

WEBER: The Warriors are stacked. After coming off a runner-up finish last season in which they lost out to Viewmont by only 10 points, the Warriors have plenty of returning wrestlers to be the favorites to not only win the region but the state title as well.