San Juan wrestling team gives strong performance at 2A Duals

by Art Adair
Contributing Writer
The San Juan High School boys wrestling team traveled to Fillmore to compete in the 2A Duals Tournament at Millard High School this past Friday and Saturday, January 3-4.
The Broncos went into the tournament without the services of their varsity heavyweight Porter Keith and varsity 126-pounder Grady Lacy who are still both out with knee injuries.
They were also without the services of their 215-pounder Trai Bass. San Juan also had a few lineup shifts due to the new year and weight management plans.
On Friday, the Broncos faced off against Kanab in their first of five Division B duals on the day. They won the dual against the Cowboys 51-24, then followed with a 59-23 win over Duchesne.
The Broncos suffered a tough 42-28 loss to the JV All-Star Team, which consisted of Millard and Beaver wrestlers. But they bounced back to pound Parowan 65-14. The Broncos finished the opening day of the tournament against a very tough Beaver team, falling by a score of 53-27.
The San Juan varsity team went 3-2 in dual action on the day, placing them third behind Beaver and the JV All-Stars.
Saturday saw the Broncos cross-bracket with Division A teams. First up for San Juan was South Sevier and they handled the Rams easily 75-6.
In the second dual of the day the Broncos took on Enterprise, beating them 66-18. Then they came up against tournament host Millard and the Eagles quickly showed why they’re the top-ranked 2A team in a 72-6 final.
The only Bronco to taste victory against Millard was JD Palmer at 175 pounds. His win put him in elite company as the Eagles only lost five individual matches on the weekend in a dominating home effort.
To close the tournament San Juan suffered a 44-27 loss to the North Summit Braves. In the crossover placements, San Juan placed fourth behind Millard, Beaver, and North Summit.
Individually for the varsity squad at 106 pounds Liam Lacy went 8-1. The freshman showed he will be in the mix for the top of the podium come February.
At 113 pounds first-year wrestler Jack Kartchner picked up a big win in sudden victory overtime over South Sevier. He was 1-8 on the weekend. At 120 pounds Chad Yellow went 7-1 before forfeiting his final match due to injury.
At 126 Koyer Johnson went 4-5 as he wrestled for the varsity squad in place of the injured Grady Lacy. At 132 Staley Dandy went 5-4 on the weekend. At 138 Miken Keith went 7-2 but showed he belonged in the top of the weight class.
At 144 Chance Laws went 1-1 before having to medically default from the tournament. Hunter Keith was then brought over from the JV tournament and went 2-2 for the varsity squad. At 150 pounds Logan Keith went 7-2.
At 157 pounds Rigley La Giglia went 5-4 and at 165 Kai Fox went 2-4 before also medically forfeiting from the tournament. Jayce Raisor was called up from the JV tournament and wrestled tough in the final duals for the Broncos.
At 175 JD Palmer went undefeated for the Broncos, earning a perfect 9-0 record on the weekend and continuing his quest for a state championship.
At 190 Thomas Harden went 4-5, while at 215 El’ Myron Begay wrestled up weights for the shorthanded Broncos and went 4-5. Freshman Gauge Palmer filled in at heavyweight for the Broncos, going 1-4 and gaining valuable varsity time.
A few San Juan wrestlers were placed on other varsity squads for the weekend. Cameron Adair went 6-3 at 150 pounds for the North Sevier Wolves.
Jayce Raisor got valuable time wrestling for the Duchesne Eagles, going 1-5 before filling in for the injured Kai Fox. And Hunter Keith wrestled a couple matches for Duchesne before filling in for Chance Laws.
This week the team’s schedule won’t get any easier. They’ll hit the road on Thursday, January 9 for a dual with the Altamont Longhorns.
On Friday and Saturday, January 10-11 the boys and girls teams will join forces to compete in one of the premier and toughest tournaments in the state, the Tournament of Champions in Vernal, UT.
The boys tournament begins Friday at noon and the girls will start at 4 p.m. Both tournaments continue on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.