She was oh-so-close to becoming only the second female in the country to claim a state title. Still, Uintah's Candace Workman made history as she won her first three matches to advance to the 103-pound 3A final. She couldn't quite get over the hump as she lost to Delta's Chasen Tolbert in the championship match, but it was still an incredible ride to a runner-up finish.

"I knew I could do it," said Workman, "and I hope that by my getting here it can inspire all the other girls out there that want to wrestle to know that they can do it if they put the work in and try their best."

Workman was not just a female trying to wrestle. She proved that she is a wrestler trying to win.

"Candace is a technically sound wrestler," said Uintah coach Greg Stensgard. "She might not be as strong as some of her competitors, but she makes up for it in her savvy and knowledge of how to win those close matches."

Backing up her coach's words, Workman won each of her quarterfinal and semifinal matches by one point and gained the respect of her fellow competitors.

"She was a very good wrestler," said semifinal opponent Dallas Gale of Cedar. "I really forgot that she was a female. It didn't matter at all because she knew what she was doing."

Only a junior, Workman finished the year with a 36-10 record, a Region 10 individual title, a second-place at state, and the knowledge that next year she will try to make history once again.

Inspiration to us all

Wayne's Jerico Jackson was born without his right arm from just below his elbow, but that didn't stop the 103-pound sophomore from claiming an individual state championship. He won a dramatic 12-10 decision in the finals and brought perhaps the night's loudest cheers from a capacity crowd at the McKay Events Center on the final night of competition. Still, Jackson doesn't see what the big deal was.

"Coach doesn't treat me any differently, and I wouldn't have it any other way," said Jackson. "He still teaches me the same techniques and what I need to do to be successful. I don't really think I wrestle any different than anyone else on the team."

Perhaps the only difference is his success. He joined teammates Jeffery Stephenson and Tyson Hunt as the Badgers' individual winners as the team placed third in the 1A competition.

Continued domination

When looking at the team competitions, it is hard not to notice how little has changed. Viewmont won its fourth title in five years. Mountain Crest claimed its third consecutive crown. Wasatch earned No. 6 in a row and eight out of nine. Millard grabbed its third straight and seventh of eight. The only newcomer was Duchesne's first title in 27 years. But upon closer inspection. There was plenty of drama to each of the title chases.