GARLAND - By Jarett Theurer – Jan. 8, 2020
Cross-county wrestling titans, both known for having traditionally tough wrestling programs, clashed on the mat Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at Bear River High when the Box Elder Bees traveled to Garland.
This year the Bees took home a close win, 33-30, over the Bears.
“You can always expect a really good, close match,” said Bear River head wrestling coach Jeff Smart.
Tuesday night’s duel lived up to those expectations with a gym packed with fans from both sides of the county. Box Elder put early points on the board but the Bears fought back late in the meet.
Senior Bear River wrestler Maverik Skinner (170) pinned Box Elder’s Thomas Petersen. Easton Winward (160) and junior Cael Wilcox (145) each posted first-round pins for the Bears. Winward beat Jakob Frehner and Wilcox defeated Box Elder’s Brenton Nelson.
Also earning a win for the Bears that night was Kamryn Rees (138) beating Quinton Knight 8-7. Paxton Smith (195) defeated his opponent from Box Elder, Carson Lancaster, 6-4. Bear River’s Zach Phillips (220) beat Lincoln Torrey 5-3.
Saving the most anticipated match of the night for last, Bear River’s Trenton Ward, a state runner up in 4A last year, took on some familiar competition on the wrestling mat, his uncle Colton Ward from Box Elder. In the 106-pound match Trenton Ward came out victorious 5-1.
After 14 well-fought matches, each deserving of their own story, the Bears fell just short in this annual non-region meet. Not to be unrecognized, the junior varsity wrestlers from Bear River beat Box Elder 54-18.
“We enjoy the competition and it’s awesome to have a good team like Box Elder want to come and duel with us,” Smart said. “This is just a prequel and a warmup for divisionals and state.”
“We are going to do everything we can to get our guys ready for divisionals and state,” Smart added.
Bear River returns to the mat on Jan. 9, at Mountain Crest High, to take on the reigning 4A state champions from 2019, and their biggest competition at the region level.
That meet will be livestreamed by BR Live starting at 7 p.m. You can find that exciting matchup here:
https://www.brlivestream.com/wrestling or on the link below.