The high school girls wrestling season is past its halfway point, with region titles and divisional tournaments on the horizon. Here’s a brief look at Northern Utah girls wrestlers and teams.

Note: Weight-class information is sourced from Trackwrestling.com.

REGION 1

As far as the team race in Region 1 goes, Syracuse and Davis are off to the best starts and look like the teams to beat. The Titans won last year’s title and are 3-0 in region duals so far against Weber, Farmington and Fremont. Davis has dual match wins against Fremont and Layton.

Several of last year’s state champions and placers in the region returned and are expected to contend again at the state tournament next month.

Kristina Kent (Davis, 100-pound class, sophomore) and Marlie Rigby (Layton, 110/115, junior) are the region’s two returning state champions.

Paizlie Andre (Syracuse, 105), Emily Ball (Syracuse, 110), Tatum Stanger (Layton, 110/115), Sabrina Jensen (Syracuse, 115), Aleena Navarrete (Weber, 120), Valentina Martinez (Davis, 125), Haley Diaz (Layton, 145), Ellyana Shaner (Weber, 170), and Jessica Hacking (Farmington, 170) are all returning state placers in the region.

More wrestlers who’ve been having good seasons include Payton Gines (Syracuse, 100), Erin Fuller (Layton, 125), Brooke Fuller (Layton, 125), Amyrlin McDonald (Weber, 140), Daeja Sundquist (Syracuse, 140), Ashlyn Packer (Syracuse, 170) and Tatyana Mejia (Layton, 170).

Girls wrestling is still gaining steam as a recently sanctioned sport and as such, participation varies by school. The deepest teams do better in the team competitions, hence, Westlake and Copper Hills are two favorites for the 6A state tournament next month.

The annual All-Star Duals take place on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Utah Valley University for both girls and boys. The 6A divisional tournaments, which determine seeding placement for the state tournaments, are hosted this year by Skyridge and Corner Canyon High from Feb. 3-4.

REGION 5

Northridge won the region championship last year and is once again the team to beat this season.

Cecibeth Santos (senior, 115), Mikalah Whitehouse (junior, 130), Hailey Holton (junior, 125), Alisa Misselhorn (junior, 135), Breanna Clanton ( senior, 140) and Emma Aviles (junior, 235) are the Knights’ returning state placers from a year ago.

Clanton took second place in her weight class at the Layton Invitational, Misselhorn took third, Santos and Aviles each took fifth and Santos was also fifth at the Farmington Christmas Clash.

In a world where Northridge was still in Region 1 instead of Region 5, the Knights would be one of the better Region 1 teams this year. They tied Davis in a dual match in November and have since beaten Weber.

Maple Mountain, Uintah and Springville comprise the 5A state-title favorites. Northridge finished third as a team last year, three points behind Uintah, and helped by a back-to-back state title at 235 from Karla Padilla-Zepeda, who has since graduated.

The 5A divisional tournaments will be hosted by Stansbury and Tooele High from Feb. 3-4.

AREA NOTES

Ogden’s Tomi Rogers (235) won last year’s state title in the combined 3A/2A/1A state tournament. Brighton Summers (110) was third in the 115-pound weight class. Both are expected to compete for state championships in their respective classes.

Bear River’s team finished second at the 4A state championship last year behind region foe Mountain Crest. Both teams could be the top two, in some order, again next month and will be the main contenders for the Region 11 title, too.

The Bears had 21 wrestlers place at state last year and five won titles. Three title-winners, Sadie Hardy (senior, 100), Bella Gunderson (junior, 115) and Rhees Hatch (sophomore, 155), are back and wrestling well this year along with Abigail Trayhorn (145), Sydnee Nielson (190), Bretlee Potter (235), Livia Meeds (110, 115) and Samara Ward (120).

Morgan High will host both 3A divisional girls wrestling tournaments (Feb. 1) as well as the 3A ‘B’ Divisional tournament for boys wrestling (Feb. 3-4). Ben Lomond High will host the 3A ‘A’ Divisional boys tournament from Feb. 3-4.

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