San Juan wrestlers earn fourth in Page, get set to host 2A Divisional

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School wrestling team concluded a busy past week with a very productive trip to Page, AZ for the annual Sand Devil Classic on Friday and Saturday, January 19-20.
The Broncos scored 172 points to finish fourth in the sizable field of 24 teams. Canyon View won the team championship with 280.5 points.
Numerous San Juan wrestlers put on outstanding performances at the event. Chad Yellow led the way with an individual championship at 113 pounds, going 3-0 on the weekend. He tallied two wins by fall and one by technical fall.
Deklan Helquist, Parker Snyder, and JD Palmer all brought home second-place medals for the Broncos. They all went 3-1 with two wins by fall apiece. Helquist and Palmer registered technical falls and Snyder’s third win was in a 14-7 decision.
Logan Keith earned a third-place finish for San Juan with an impressive 5-1 record on the weekend. He earned two wins by fall, one by tech fall, one by 10-0 major decision, and one by a tight 1-0 decision.
Grady Lacy came home fifth for the Broncos with a 2-2 record. Both of his wins were by fall. Miken Keith placed sixth with two wins by fall and three losses.
Taren Bayles and Porter Keith both went 2-2 on the weekend. Both of Keith’s wins were by fall. Bayles had a win by fall and one by 7-6 decision.
Hunter Keith, Lynnox Benn, Chance Laws, and Thomas Hardin all were 1-2 with all of their wins by fall. Ryus Blackhorse and Wyatt Keith both wrestled hard for the Broncos.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, January 17, San Juan paid a visit to Monticello to compete in what turned out to be a huge exhibition event with Grand County, Monument Valley, Whitehorse, Dolores, and the host Buckaroos all in attendance.
Results are incomplete, but the Broncos’ matches with Monticello were recorded. At 165 pounds JD Palmer beat Thomas Fullmer by fall. Jared Burke won by fall over Jarum Robison at 215 pounds.
Trace Bennett beat Tavon Black in a 10-3 decision at 175 pounds. And at 150 pounds Chance Laws lost to Chandler Henderson by fall.
The San Juan wrestlers will conclude their regular season this week and head into the postseason. On Wednesday, January 24 they host Grand County, Whitehorse, and Monument Valley in a quad. The team will honor its seniors and wrestling begins at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, January 27 the Broncos will host the 2A Division B Tournament beginning at 10 a.m.
It will be the final home event of San Juan Head Coach Steve Simpson’s career. He is set to retire after nine years of coaching wrestling at San Juan High School.
Catch both of those events live on StreamUtah.Live.