Two Bronco wrestlers compete in All-Star Duals, team sweeps Cortez duals, takes 3rd in Salina

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The past week for the San Juan High School wrestling team began with a special honor. On Tuesday, January 9 Chad Yellow and Taylor Black wrestled in the annual Ross Brunson Utah All-Star tournament at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Though both Broncos suffered losses by fall to their opponents at the event, they battled hard and represented their school and community with honor.
Yellow was defeated by Emery’s Monty Christensen at 113 pounds and Black fell to Wasatch’s Austin McNaughtan at 285 pounds.
The Broncos reunited for a trip to Cortez, CO where they won duals over Durango 42-30 and Montezuma-Cortez 54-21.
Deklan Helquist, Parker Snyder, JD Palmer, and Jared Burke were all 2-0 for San Juan. Snyder earned both of his wins by fall, Helquist got one by fall and one by 7-0 decision, and Burke had one win by fall.
Chad Yellow, Taylor Black, and Porter Keith were all 1-0 at the event and Black’s win was by fall. Everyone else was 1-1 with Staley Dandy, Kai Fox, and Trace Bennett all earning a win by fall. Miken Keith won by sudden victory 11-9.
The Broncos concluded the busy past week with a trip to Salina for the North Sevier Invitational Friday and Saturday, January 12-13.
They scored an impressive 155.5 points, but that was only good enough for third place. Millard and North Sevier tied for first place with 160 points each.
Chad Yellow, Parker Snyder, and JD Palmer led the team with individual championships. Yellow picked up two wins by fall, one by 22-7 technical fall, and one by 7-3 decision. He was also voted Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Snyder earned two wins by fall and one by 12-2 major decision. And Palmer got a win by fall, one by 12-3 major decision, and one by 5-0 decision.
Taylor Black came home fourth for the Broncos, winning three matches by fall. Deklan Helquist earned a fifth-place finish with two wins by fall.
Grady Lacy and Jared Burke both finished in seventh for San Juan with Lacy earning two wins by fall and one by 11-10 decision. Burke also had two wins by fall and one by 11-7 decision.
Miken Keith and Lynnox Benn rounded out the placing wrestlers for the Broncos in eighth place each. Benn got one win by fall and a 15-2 major decision while both of Keith’s wins were by decision.
Other San Juan wrestlers battling hard in Salina included Staley Dandy, Koyer Johnson, Ryus Blackhorse, Taren Bayles, Kai Fox, Chance Laws, and Rigley LaGiglia.
It’s another busy week for the Broncos this week. They’ll compete against several local teams in Monticello on Wednesday, January 17. That one starts at 6 p.m. and will stream live on StreamUtah.Live.
This Friday and Saturday, January 19-20 San Juan will be in Page, AZ for the annual Sand Devil Classic. Next Tuesday, January 24 the Broncos are hosting Grand County in a home dual. Then they’ll host the 2A Divisional Tournament on Saturday, January 27.