The Carbon High wrestling team competed in two show downs this past week. The first of which was held at Carbon High Thursday against Panguitch, a 1-A school with six returning state placers.
The Carbon Dinos struggled a bit early on in the competition by losing two of the first three matches at the meet.
After the rocky start, the Dinos bounced back to shut out the Panguitch Bobcats 62-6.
The outstanding battle for the meet came from Derek Howa who wrestled at 130 pounds. Howa came from behind to pin Lonnie Milgate, a second place state champion last season.
After the match up at home, the Dinos hit the road to travel to Vernal to compete in the Tournament of Champions. At the tournament, 28 teams from Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming competed for top honors at the championship tournament.
Carbon fared well at the meet by placing 11th overall. Three individual wrestlers also placed for Carbon at the tournament.
Zac Burdick who started the tournament with a bye in the first round, finished in fifth place at the 103 pound category.
In Burdick’s second round match, he won by a 9-2 decision against Kyle Klus of West High. Burdick then lost to Nick Manalis of Green River, Wyo.
With the loss to Manalis, Burdick was then placed in the consolation bracket where he battled to take fifth place.
Dino Cameron Dansie captured a second place victory in the 135 pound category.
The first round started for Dansie with a victory over Cory Staley by the decision of 12-0. Dansie then moved on to pin Giovanni Crossland of Preston, Ida. in under four minutes.
Dansie once again pinned his opponent in the third round. Tyler Thompson of Payson was pinned by Dansie in one minute and 14 seconds, boosting Dansie to the semi finals.
In the semi finals match, Dansie faced Carter Downing, an outstanding wrestler at the Rocky Mountain tournament, and an undefeated wrestler. Dansie defeated Downing, of Evanston Wyo. by a 11-7 decision. The victory boosted Dansie to the finals where he battled Thomas Huntington of Green River, Wyo.
Huntington, a Wyoming state champion, defeated Dansie 6-4, thus dropping Dansie to a second place finish.
Shea Timothy, who according to coach Dave Smith, “has been on fire lately for Carbon” had a great day.
Timothy started the tournament against Kelly McQueen of North Summit High. Timothy pinned McQueen in three minutes, thus advancing to the second round.
In the second round, Timothy pinned Darryl Keaton of Grandview, Colo. in under two minutes.
Next, Timothy achieved a technical pin against Shawn Platt of Evanston, Wyo. by a score of 18-2.
In the semi finals round, Timothy defeated Jake Abbott of Delta. Abbott, who is currently ranked number one in the 3-A division, fell to Timothy by the score of 7-1.
In the final round, Timothy faced Nevada state champion and Tournament of Champions winner Calvin Closson. In this match, Timothy defeated Closson by the score of 7-2. The win boosted Timothy to a first place victory in the 145 pound category.
Along with the first place victory, Timothy is also ranked as high as fourth in some polls.
Along with the three athletes who placed for Carbon, the team finished strong at the Vernal tournament.
“The wrestlers had good performances, and many showed improvements,”explained Smith. “Most of the wrestlers won at least two matches at the tournament.”
The Dinos will now be at home against second ranked North Sanpete Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
Also this week, Carbon will travel to St. George for the Utah State Duel Tournament Jan. 18-19 where the team intends to expand their winning streak and prepare for region competition in the future.
Carbon wrestlers win at tournament of champs
