OREM -- It ended with him getting pinned, but Morgan's Matt Gallen made an impressive run through this weekend's Rocky Mountain Rumble at Utah Valley University.
The Trojan senior went from not placing in the event last years to advancing to the finals, where defending champion Andrew McCulley of Rock Springs (Wyo.) pinned Gallen in the 152 final.
PREP WRESTLING
"He got caught (by McCulley) but that's wrestling," said Morgan coach Payne. "This was a great confidence booster for Matt -- he's come a long way and he represented Morgan well this weekend.
Gallen registered a pin and two major decisions on Friday, then posted a 7-3 decision over Dylan Miller of Deer Park.(Wa.) and a 5-1 victory over Wasatch's Teddy Hackford to advance to the finals. He did have a 2-1 lead over McCulley in the second period before McCulley made his move.
"He locked me up and there was nothing I could do -- he's freakin' tough," Mallen said. "I'm honored to take second. The quarterfinal match was my best."
Morgan's Colton Walker finished fourth, dropping an 8-5 decision to Rami Haddadin of Brighton in the 103 consolation. The Trojans finished 18th in the team standings.
2-A champion Millard won the tournament despite not having any individual champions. 4-A champs Payson was second, followed by Delta.
Walker and Brett Naylor advanced to the second day with impressive runs Friday.
Naylor (125 pouns) registered three pins, including a quick 56-second win of Wasatch's Jake Fassold that advanced the Davis junior to the quarterfinals.
Walker had a first-round bye in the 1o3 class, then pinned Taylorsville's Jordan Pieper and posted a technical fall over Pleasant Grove's Bronson Young. He'll face Brandon George of Maple Mountain in today's opener.
Morgan's Eduardo Patino is alive in the 125 consolation bracket after winning his first two matches and also dropping his third-round appearance.
Taylor Drennan of Morgan had a pair of pins to start the day before getting pinned himself in the third round by Rock Springs (Wyo.) wrestler Zac Haney. Drennan won his first consolation match over Delta's Stu Olomaali.
Mustangs claim Richardson title
At Brigham City, the Mountain Crest Mustangs and Box Elder Bees offered a preview of tournaments ahead at Saturday's Richardson Memorial.
Mountain Crest tallied 254,5 points to edge host Box Elder (232.5) and Wyoming power Star Valley (209.5).
The action was so good that Viewmont and Weber, the top 5-A teams in the state finished fourth and fifth. Layton was eighth, with Fremont ninth.
Individual results were not available at press time.
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