| Caleb Williams wrestles three time national champion Derek Huff of Colorado. |
For the last few months little wrestlers from the Carbon area have been beating up on opponents from all over the country at various wrestling meets in Utah and Colorado.
On Feb. 18 and 19 the first Utah Freestyle and Greco/Roman tournament of the year was held at Lone Peak High School. Seven members of the Carbon Raptors club participated, while four more of their teammates traveled to Moab that same weekend to compete in a folkstyle tournament. Every single boy that wrestled placed in the meets.
In the Moab meet Nathan Velasquez and Kenny Wood placed first, Nico Valasquez placed second and Conner Fausett placed fourth.
In the Lone Peak Greco/Roman wrestling both Caleb Williams and Bryce Jackman placed first.
In the Lone Peak freestyle wrestling Johnny O’Hearon, Williams and Jackman placed first. Other placers included Kyler Key, Jason Avery, T.J. O’Hearon, and Brett Avery.
On Feb. 26 12 boys went to another tournament in Manti. All of them brought home medals.
Two of the boys, Nathan Valasquez and Conner Fausett have just been wrestling two months, but they brought home gold from the competition.
Other first places in folkstyle wrestling at this meet were Johnny O’Hearon, Kenden Huff and Jackman.
Second and third place finishers included T.J. O’Hearon, Nico Valasquez, Kyler Key, Jayden Horrocks and Tyler Procarione.
Fourth place finishers were Christian Johnson and Lane Neese.
In recent weeks youth wrestling is even in more full swing as some of the kids went to national competitions.
Williams traveled to Kansas City to compete in the Liberty Nationals. There were 1300 wrestlers at the tournament, with 28 in his classification. Williams ended up being the champion of his classification and very nearly won the outstanding wrestler award.
Williams and Jackman also traveled to Craig, Colo. last weekend. Both wrestlers placed first with Jackman winning the outstanding wrestler award at that tournament.
Then Williams traveled on to Fruita, Colo. where he again was the champion, and also the outstanding wrestler, winning his second tournament in the same weekend
Several other wrestlers traveled to Heber City to another tournament. There in the folkstyle Nathan Valasquez and Johnny O’Hearon were first. Procarione, Patrick Streyand and Kenny Wood were second. Booker Erickson was third and Key finished fourth
In the Freestyle tournament Johnny O’Herron placed first, Aaron Steffanoff was second, Colton Martinez, Jay Workman and Procarione were third, Lance Neese and Huff were fourth.
Now the big show comes to Price. This Friday and Saturday Raptors will host the Carbon Classic.
Friday night will feature folkstyle wrestling and weigh in will take place between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling will take place. Weigh in will take place between 6:30 and 8 a.m.
The meet will be held at Carbon High.