CHS Wrestlers ready for big challenge at State Tournament

By Sun Advocate

Improving Dinos look to display hard work, determination and effort that has helped team rebuild over last three years
With the 3A State Wrestling Tournament on the horizon this weekend in Orem, Carbon High Head Wrestling Coach Steve Woodhouse knows his team has come a long way over the past few seasons.
With each passing season, the Dinos have seen the hard work and dedication in practice and in duels throughout the season pay off in full.
At the 3A Southern Region wrestling meet in Richfield last week, the Dinos were able to qualify 12 wrestlers who will participate in the 3A State Tournament this weekend.
That’s a long ways away from just two years ago when the team qualified just two wrestlers from their team for state. Last season that number increased to six wrestlers.
“I think that it just shows that we’re moving in the right direction as a team,” said Woodhouse.
To help further the team’s desire to compete and succeed at the highest level, the team wore warm-up shirts this season with the saying “Go earn it”.
“Everyone on the team has bought into that mind set,” Woodhouse explained. “They know that it takes hard work and dedication to the sport to succeed.”
Carbon High wrestlers who qualified for the 3A State Tournament included Bradley Judd and Kayden Lee (both at 106 lbs), Casey Shiner (120), Bradlee Chatterton (132), Jacky Byrge (138), Taylon Abeyta (152), Nathan Velasquez (160), Clayton Rhoades (170), Kyler Wood (182), Dallyn Mower (195), Wyatt Jeffs (220) and Jasper Thayn (285).
Woodhouse had the team rest early in the week to help heal up some nagging injuries that have been bothering many of the wrestlers.
But, with the big stage of the 3A State Tournament nearly upon them, Woodhouse said he expects the 12 competitors to represent Carbon High very well.
“This is what they’ve worked hard for all year long,” he said. “With the State Tournament, it’s a whole new tournament now. Anything can happen at state.”