High school wrestling: Maple Mountain takes down foes for Region 8 title

SPRINGVILLE — Six down, one to go.

Maple Mountain's wrestling team created seven goals for itself entering the season, and it checked No. 6 off that list Saturday night by claiming the Region 8 championship at Springville High School.

The final goal on that list is a 4A state championship, and the Golden Eagles will be right in the hunt with Box Elder and Mountain Crest when the state meet gets under way in two weeks.

"I'm really excited 'cause the kids have worked really hard to perform the way that they did this weekend. Our goal from the beginning was to peak at the right time, and I really think we're taking the right steps to do that," said Maple Mountain coach Justin Judkins.

The Region 8 title was never in question for Maple Mountain, which racked up 524.5 points, easily eclipsing second-place Salem Hills (284.5) and third-place Mountain View (224.5).

Maple Mountain finished with nine individual titles and qualified 25 wrestlers to the state championship meet. It was one more than coach Judkins hoped for.

Maple Mountain had 13 wrestlers advance to Saturday's championship round, which included head-to-head title matches at 120, 126 and 160 pounds. In two of the three, the Golden Eagles' junior varsity wrestler beat the varsity wrestler.

Clayton Dean upset Trent Kelly with a second-period pin at 120 pounds, while Logan Kinross edged Josh Searle with a 7-6 decision at 160 pounds.

Maple Mountain's two defending state champions, Britain Carter and Grant LaMont, took care of business in very easy fashion. Carter beat Provo's Braden Griffin 16-0 at 113 pounds while LaMont beat Springville's Josh Campbell 20-1 at 138 pounds.

"I just take it as a step in the right direction so I can go into state and be seeded well, so that I can take state 'cause that's my ultimate goal," said Carter.

Maple Mountain's other five region champions were Marshall Curtis at 106 pounds, Austin Rowley at 126 pounds, Jesse Carlisle at 145 pounds, Kimball Bastian at 152 pounds and Jordan Argyle at 170 pounds.

"It's awesome that we have such a stacked team, and we have the ability and the talent to be able to take state possible. I'm just hoping all goes well and we take state as a team, too," said Carter.

Maple Mountain's only loss in the finals was at 132 pounds. In arguably the best match of the night, Provo freshman Brayden Hinckley overcame a four-point, third-period deficit to fellow freshman Cameron Killian en route to the 10-8 overtime triumph.