Vikings — Viewmont or P.G. — likely to win 5A

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OREM — For the better part of the last decade the 5A classification has had a monopoly in the wrestling scene.

No, not the "pass-go-collect-two hundred-dollars" classic board game, but rather year after year the dominance of two programs has spectators tirelessly wondering if, yet again, either Pleasant Grove or Viewmont will rise another banner in the rafters.

Prior to the final horn on the first day of the 5A state tournament at Utah Valley University Wednesday night, it became obvious that the Vikings in blue or maroon will sail away with the hardware in 2012.

Who would have guessed?

It marks the eighth time out of the previous nine years that one of the two programs will secure the state championship after Pleasant Grove won its 13th title last season.

The southern Vikings have the upper hand this time around, too. Pleasant Grove hasa narrow 121.5-110 lead over Viewmont heading into the last day of the tourney.

"We wrestled tough, we had a really good last round," said P.G.'s Korbin Levin. "We lost a couple close matches which we shouldn't have. It's not over yet, which we'd like it to be, but it's close. It's going to be a barnburner all the way until tomorrow night — hopefully we can get it again."

Levin, considered the No. 1 rated wrestler in the 120-pound division statewide, advanced to the quarterfinals with two pins despite battling flu-like ailments.

"I had a little bit of a sickness early on that kind of affected me," Levin said. "I got some medication from some doctors and figured it out. Hopefully I'll get feeling better tonight, I have a tough match tomorrow morning."

Levin will square off against Viewmont's Austin Johnson in what is shaping up as one of the premier second-day matches with huge implications.

Alta (89), Fremont (70), Kearns (63.5), Weber (48.5), Layton (47), Jordan (45), Syracuse (41) and Bingham (37.5) rounded out the top 10 in the field of 24 schools.

"We just know that every match is important, pins are crucial," said Viewmont junior Jake Bednar when asked what was needed to upend the defending champs. "It's going to be tough if we want to win the state championship, but I think coach has prepared us good enough for it."

The second day of action begins at noon today at Utah Valley with both the championship and consolation semifinals getting under way.