Reader comments
Wasatch has another big wrestling day

Anonymous | 2:37 p.m. May 19, 2008

I wonder if Cole and Blake would still have this opportunity if they'd stayed at their old schools. Wasatch gave them a great chance to realize their dreams.

sobmij | 2:59 p.m. May 19, 2008

There are a lot of other athletes who have wrestled in Utah the past few years that are signing at DI schools. I think you should look over the past 4-5 years and see who has signed at DI schools and that might give you a better perspective I think you need to focus on all them Amy not just the few and don't get me going on Title XI I have heard you many times on Saturday mornings on the radio. It is totally absurd.Give the rest of them some credit.

RE: Sobmij | 9:28 p.m. May 19, 2008

Deseret News does a poor job of recognizing ANY prep athletes continuing their athletic careers in college. The only recognition goes to players from those select schools.

Comments continue below

re: sobmij | 9:53 p.m. May 19, 2008

I got the impression reading the article that it's as much about the amazing accomplishment of a school sending four wrestlers to big time DI schools as it is about the individuals themselves.

You're right, Utah has a lot of great wrestlers. But I think this is more a story about this particular school and its great day.

Anonymous | 10:57 p.m. May 19, 2008

Great Job Ethan and all the other Wasatch wrestlers... You are amazing and deserve this more than anybody!

bluemoon | 11:47 p.m. May 19, 2008

Anon, I second that!!! Ethan you always get the job done in your own quiet way. That is admirable. Way to go....you are amazing.

andersons | 10:48 a.m. May 20, 2008

Way to go wasps!! You all worked so hard to get where you are! Thank you Steve for doing such a great job coaching and Thank you to the family's of these boys for making it possible for these young men to follow their dreams! And thank you Deseret News for taking the time to recognize everyone involved its nice to see positive news!! congrats again boys!

Uh Oh | 12:06 p.m. May 21, 2008

A little controversy. Did Blake Mangum move to Heber because of wrestling? That would be recruiting and a violation of the UHSAA rules.

How about Cole Shafer? Did he grow up in Heber? If so, how did he get the 5A MVW last year? Where did he wrestle last year? How come he transfered to Wasatch? Was there a need at that weight?
Is this the reason Wasatch has had so much success lately?

local | 1:45 p.m. May 21, 2008

I think "Uh Oh' brings up a good point- although the wrestling program has had success over the years, it has benefited from a number of "move-ins" over that time span. I don't know if they could have had as much success with "home grown" kids. Anybody out there agree or disagree?

wasp fan | 2:10 p.m. May 21, 2008

As far as move-ins go, wrestling has benefited the most over the years, but so has boys basketball. In fact, if you look at the two years they won the state championships and finished second- only the Mahoeny kid-currently at Weber State and a couple of other "local" kids were impact players, but the rest were all move ins.

Big Fan | 6:52 p.m. May 21, 2008

Wow is it great that there is a school where kids can get the coaching and exposure to put that number of kids into D1 programs. Kudos to Shafer and Mangum parents for recognizing opportunities, and having the dedication to pick up and move to give their kids that kind of opportunity!

Those coaches and fans at Brighton and Lone Peak that cry about losing these two studs should look at their programs and wonder what they can do to improve their programs so that kids of this caliber want to stay, rather than rely on UHSAA rules to keep kids where they don't want to be.

Big Fan 2 | 7:31 p.m. May 21, 2008

Coles the man

re: local | 10:06 p.m. May 21, 2008

you will find out this year, hopefully about 10 kids move in because if they don't we won't win very many duels this year maybe 2 or 3 if we are lucky! If we do win State again it will be homegrown like you quote! Kinda weak this year and next but after in 2010 look for another run of State Championships like 3 or 4 of them younger kids are lookin good in the neighborhood!

Wrestling Fan | 8:20 a.m. May 22, 2008

Amy thanks for spot lighting wrestlers moving on to the next level. If the wrestling community would stop fighting amongst itself and appreciate positive articles like this maybe more would be written. SOB if you would like other wrestlers highlighted, maybe you should contact the paper and let them know what is happening in your area, with your wrestlers. They are not "all knowing" and I think a nice article could be written about the Utah boys who have signed with UVSC this year.
Shafer, Mangum, Salazar, and Smith are all awesome and that is what the article was saying. Not that other wrestlers in the state aren't awesome too. Let the papers know about your stars as well. Let wrestling shine and be positive about the sport. Stop tearing down and let's all build up! WRESTLE ON!

re: Uh Oh | 11:27 a.m. May 22, 2008

Cole Shafer did not grow up in Heber. He and his family moved there a year ago. He went to Brighton High School(5A), and was State Champion at 171 lbs in that division. He is a great kid and made great contributions to the Wasatch Team. Blake Mangum also made great contributions to the team. Enough has been said about their moves.
Congratulations to Wasatch and their six championships in a row! The reason they have been so successful is the coaching staff, school administration, and the community support.
How come Uh Oh didn't say anything about Skyler Porter or Shane Richins?

Fan of Big Fan | 11:49 a.m. May 22, 2008

That is the attitude that I like to see. Both wrestler's actually really followed the rules to the exact little bit. Their parents made a choice of what was best for their son's in all aspects of education and family and did in no way circumvent the rules. It is just interesting that everyone wanted to get these two, when there were several others that were not following the rules in the state and never were brought up. All I know is that Mangum is one of the hardest workers in high school and was rewarded with and All American finish at Senior Nationals and shafer was dominant this year. Both will do well in the Big 12 and should see great success in the future. Go Sooners and Cyclones and great article emphasizing how Steve Sanderson is the best coach in the west.

Anonymous | 3:24 p.m. May 22, 2008

What happened at ASU is a crushing blow to the wrestling arena. I am so pissed off that state universities cut wrestling programs to promote sports that women are not interested in just to generate title 9 equality.

Anonymous | 12:42 a.m. May 23, 2008

I thought Cole S was wrestling at a J.C.in Iowa.

Anonymous | 7:49 p.m. May 24, 2008

I heard the same, he is wretling at a junior college in Iowa for 1 year.

Anonymous 2 | 10:26 p.m. May 26, 2008

It would be smart for him to wrestle at a JC. He would get more matches and have a positive experience.

Anonymous | 3:19 p.m. June 14, 2008

Cole and Blake would've done perfectly fine if they had stayed at their old schools. Thye're amazing wrestlers and would've been noticed especially since they were 5A.

agree w/big fan | 3:21 p.m. June 14, 2008

Shafer was given an oppertunity and took it. There was no recruiting involved just saw a chance for better things...

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