JARED LLOYD, Daily Herald

OREM — Does having won a state wrestling championship make it easier or harder when trying to duplicate the feat the next season?

That’s a question that both Davis wrestler Kristina Kent and Weber wrestler Aleena Navarrete faced heading into Thursday’s 2024 state girls wrestling finals at Utah Valley University’s UCCU center in Orem.

Both Kent and Navarrete won championships in their respective divisions last year with Kent going for her third consecutive championship.

But the two talented athletes both see the challenge of repeating as a benefit, not a difficulty.

“I love the pressure,” Kent said. “I believe I’m very lucky to have it. So I love it.”

JARED LLOYD, Daily Herald

Navarrete has a similar perspective. She said she felt it was harder the first time.

“The first time you work so hard that it’s like OK, now you’ve got that pressure,” Navarrete said. “You want to go get it again but the pressure is off now. It’s worth everything. Yes, I’ve got a target on my back this year. Girls were coming for me because they wanted to beat a state champ.”

As much as the other wrestlers may have wanted to knock off the champs, Navarrette and Kent refused to let that happen.

Kent started the night in the 100-pound title match by pinning Fremont’s Kinley Brandley in the second period to continue her run of success.

“I just had a lot of fun wrestling her,” Kent said. “She’s an awesome athlete.”

JARED LLOYD, Daily Herald

She said it helps her improve.

“It’s just very motivating and exciting,” Kent said.

Kent finished the year undefeated (34-0), as did Navarrete (40-0). The Warrior star won by fall over Layton’s Marlie Rigby midway through the first period.

“I was ready to go and went in with a positive mindset,” Navarrete said. “Something that is big for me is not being too cocky. It’s important to stay calm and trust in my hard work. But you have to know you can be good out there.”

She said that getting the pin was a fantastic feeling.

“It was such a good feeling,” she said. “At that moment it’s so nice knowing the match is over and you don’t have to go the full three rounds. It really does feel great.”

Both Kent and Navarrette are underclassmen, so they are focused on adding another championship to their collections in 2025.

“It takes hard work,” Navarrete said. “My mindset is I am the hardest worker in the room and I will continue to be the hardest worker in the room.”

Kent said she just wants to see her own growth.

“I’m going to put in the work to get better and better,” the Dart wrestler said.

Kent and Navarrete were two of many Northern Utah wrestlers who enjoyed success in the finals Thursday.

In the 6A ranks, Payton Gines of Syracuse defeated Macie Anderson of Herriman to win the 105-pound title, while Brynlee Sorensen of Layton pinned Pleasant Grove’s Hallie Hansen to secure the 115-pound crown.

The other 6A champion was Fremont’s Kaitlyn Worthley, who won a 12-6 decision over Nadia Thomas of Skyridge in the 130-pound finals.

In Class 5A, Mikalah Whitehouse of Northridge pinned Braylin Jones of Salem Hills in the 130-pound championship, while Bonneville’s Alexis Kirkland won a 7-3 decision over Rhya Balmforth of Cedar Valley.

Bonneville also got a champion in the 155-pound match as Hannah Bowler pinned Hayley Harris of Springville.

None of the area 6A or 5A schools had enough depth to compete for the team championship.

In 6A, Syracuse finished fourth, while Davis came in sixth, as Copper Hills won the title. Northridge came in fourth in Class 5A as Wasatch won the championship.

The best team showing came from Bear River in 4A as the Bears hung tough and finished second behind Mountain Crest.

“This is the fourth time we’ve taken second to Mountain Crest and rightfully so,” Bear River head coach Jason Bingham said. “They are tough. But our girls came in and they fought for every point. It was a close race for second with Uintah all the way through and I’m so proud that they took it upon themselves to take care of each other. They’re awesome and great competitors.”

The Bears had two state champs: Rachel Epling pinned Addison Hills of Green Canyon at 120 pounds and Eve Allsup won a 7-2 decision over Alize Acosta of Stansbury.

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