BEAR RIVER HIGH - By Mark Hirschi, Headliner Sports Writer, January 14, 2023
One of Utah’s toughest and most prestigious high school boys’ wrestling tournaments of the season, the Richardson Memorial, often showcases the best of the best wrestlers in the state. The 2023 tournament was no exception.
The Bear River High boys’ wrestling team didn’t have to travel far for the tournament in Brigham City held at Box Elder High School, January 6-7. Competing at the traditionally difficult tournament, the Bears finished in 8th place overall as a team with just one wrestler reaching the finals on Saturday.
That outstanding wrestler was senior Max Miller.
Once in the finals at the Richardson Memorial, Miller finished in style by getting the fall over his opponent, Quinn Bedell from Corner Canyon High, in the second period to be crowned champion in the 132-pound weight class.
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Several other Bear River wrestlers also found the podium at the Richardson Memorial including:
4th place - Kwade Kosoff (190)
5th place – Daxton Bingham (120)
5th place – Ty Hawkes (132)
6th place – Keaton Smith (126)
6th place – Skyler Yeates (175)
6th place – Max Anderson (215)
Other Bears competing on the varsity side at the tournament included:
(106) – Jaxon Morgan, 0-2
(106) – Brandon Thorsted, 2-2
(138) – Chet Kunzler, 1-2
(144) – Caleb Korth, 1-2
(150) – Braegger Richards, 1-2
(157) – Kyle Detwiler, 2-2
(165) – Vincent Fertig, 1-2
The junior varsity squad from Bear River also finished in 8th place as a team. Placing for the Bears on the JV team during the Richardson Memorial were:
2nd place – Jared Jones (175)
3rd place – Dustyn Deakin (126)
4th place – Gunner Christensen (138)
5th place – Payden Rupp (113)
5th place – Jaron Nelson (150)
6th place – Tanner Doucette (175)
6th place – Owen Hess (190)
Then it came time for the Bears to host region rivals Mountain Crest High on January 12. Bear River struggled to keep up with their competition throughout the night ultimately falling to the Mustangs, 50-18.
Earning the win against Mountain Crest that night included:
(132) – Max Miller (Dec 5-3)
(138) – Chet Kunzler (Fall 1:06)
(144) – Caleb Korth (Fall 3:38)
(150) – Braegger Richards (Dec 7-0)
Didn’t get a chance to watch the Bears take on Mountain Crest as it happened? No worries, Bear River Live has you covered! Watch their coverage of the dual on the links below.
The Bear River boys’ region wrestling season officially opened in dominating fashion when they traveled to Logan High School on January 5, to take on the Grizzlies. They started the night with junior varsity and extras where there was plenty of great wrestling to be had as the Bears came out on top in almost all of those matches.
The varsity squad continued that momentum defeating Logan High, 66-10. Varsity wrestling began at 165 pounds where Fertig won by fall. Next up at 175, Yeates won by forfeit and following that Kosoff (190) won in a close match against one of Logan High’s toughest wrestlers, 7-6.
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Anderson (215) won by fall and then Logan High got their first points in the dual winning via forfeit at 285. At 106, Morgan won by fall and Rupp (113) ran into one of Logan High’s best wrestlers and lost by tech fall. The Bears continued their dominance as Bingham (120), Smith (126) and Hawkes (132) all won by fall.
Miller wrestled in the match of the night facing Logan High’s Cooper Redd at 132. In a back-and-forth battle, Miller was able to come out on top avoiding a late takedown attempt by Redd. The frustration of losing that match cost Logan High a team point bringing their score back down to 10.
Following Miller’s exciting match, Kunzler (144) won by fall with Korth (150) and Detwiler (157) both getting the win by forfeit.
Rewatch Bear River take on Logan courtesy of Bear River Live on the links below.
Next up for the Bear River High boys’ wrestling team is yet another tough weekend of competition this time in Riverton as the Bears compete in The Rockwell Rumble January 13-14.
The Bears won’t return to the mat until January 25, when they host Region 11’s Ridgeline High. Watch Bear River Live’s live-streaming coverage of varsity matches starting at 7 p.m. on the link below.
Photos by Melanie Smith
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