High school wrestling: State's best will battle in first UHSAA super state wrestling tournament

It is still strange to see Gunnison scheduled to have three more wrestlers in the field than the 5A champs, and four more than 4A juggernaut Mountain Crest. And Mountain Crest’s rival, Box Elder, like Payson, also is missing in action with zero participants.

Overall, 27 of a possible 80 state champions are taking part. Three weights (120, 138 and 182) have three state champions (of a possible five) entered, while weights 132 and 160 won’t have any.

Wrestling is slated to start at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The championship finals will be at 6 p.m. The top eight finishers will receive medals.

Brian E. Preece is a freelance sports writer who has been published by the Deseret News and others. He also was the head coach for Provo HS from 1994-2006 and was the NWCA Coach of the Year for Utah in 2006.