Morgan wins 50th Richardson Memorial Tournament

Saturday, Jan. 7, the Morgan High wrestling team won the 50th Richardson Memorial Wrestling Tournament by two points over 6A Westlake. Behind three tournament champions and six other placers, the Trojans tallied 219 points to Westlake’s 217. Third place went to Mountain Crest (154) with Fremont (144) and Star Valley, Wyoming (138) rounding out the top five.

Coach Dustin Rock was very pleased with his entire team’s effort. “Everyone contributed and added to the team total that allowed us to win the team title,” said Rock. “We believe this is the first time that Morgan has won the Richardson. It’s a great accomplishment for this team.”

The Richardson Memorial Invitational Wrestling Tournament began 50 years ago in December 1973 in honor of Box Elder wrestling coach and educator Oscar Richardson. Richardson drowned in Willard Bay during the summer of 1973 as he was attempting to save the life of his 11-year-old daughter. Known for its tough competition, the tournament regularly features top athletes from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming who vie for the distinction of “Richardson Memorial Champion.” 

Trojan Richardson Memorial Champions were Luke Woolsey (113 pound), Drew Korth (126 pounds) and Rylee Creasey (190 pounds). Woolsey opened the tournament with two pins and won the semifinal by major decision, 12-2, over his competition from Layton. In the finals, Woolsey earned an 8-3 decision over Westlake’s Keagan Pitcher.

In Korth’s championship bout, he faced two-time 4A state champion Easton Evans. Korth prevailed over Evans by decision 14-8. He advanced to the finals on a tech fall, 17-0, in the second round, a pin in the quarterfinals and a major decision in the semi finals, 13-2 over Bear River. Korth was voted “Outstanding Wrestler for Lower Weights” by the coaches for his dominant performance Saturday.

Creasey pinned his way through the tournament to earn his title. In the opening match, he earned his pin in 4:09, his longest match of the way. In the quarters, he won by fall in 1:06, and in the semis, he pinned his opponent from Olympus in 3:02. In the championship bout, Creasey won by fall over Mountain Crest’s Sam Schroeder by fall (1:58).

Five Morgan wrestlers advanced to the consolation bracket finals. At 285 pounds, Cole Keele, who fell in the semifinal round, 3-2 in overtime to Box Elder, lost in the 3rd Place match by fall (:51) to claim fourth. Aydon Thomson, 215 pounds, also claimed fourth place with a 4-3 loss in the consolation finals to Murray. Thomson lost his first match in the semis to the 215 tournament champion.

Rylan Crowther (150) suffered his only loss of the tournament in the semifinals to Westlake’s Brayden Robison, a pin in the third period. In the consolation bracket he won the semis by decision 7-4 and the 3rd Place Match by decision as well, 10-3. 

Taite Toone (138) and Ryler Jorgensen (120) both wrestled seven matches to earn their third place medals. Toone opened with two pins but fell by a 6-3 decision to South Summit in the quarterfinals. Toone came back to win his next four matches by major decision (9-0), decision (8-2), fall (3:21) and fall (1:39). 

Jorgensen suffered a loss in the first round to Corner Canyon’s Liam Eller before winning his next six matches to claim the consolation championship. In the consolation semis, Jorgensen earned a tough overtime victory 8-6 over Bear River before pinning Westlake’s wrestler in 3:06 in the consolation finals match to claim third.

Zak Sargent earned fifth place at 157 pounds after falling in the semifinal round to South Summit by decision 11-9. Sargent earned a victory by fall in the 5th Place Match over Sky View.

With a two point win, every point was important, including those scored by wrestlers who didn’t place. In a true team effort, varsity wrestlers at almost every weight garnered points with wins at the tournament to add to the overall team total. At 106, Max Holtry added four team points and Maverick Guymon at 132 pounds contributed four as well. Donavin Gibson’s (144) win in consolation added four points to the team total and Krew Galbraith (165) tallied six with a victory in the championship round. 

Thursday, Jan. 5, Morgan participated in a tri-dual with Ogden and Ben Lomond. In the match up against Ogden, the Trojans beat the Tigers 30-0, winning all six bouts. Against the Ben Lomond squad, Morgan also emerged victorious, 72-3.

The Trojans traveled to the All-Star Duals on Tuesday to watch Morgan’s wrestlers, Drew Korth and Rylee Creasey, who were chosen at 2023 All-Stars. They faced off against Grantsville at home on Wednesday and will participate in the Rockwell Rumble Friday and Saturday. Tuesday, Jan. 17, Morgan will be at home to take on North Summit. Varsity will begin at 6:30 p.m. with JV matches commencing at 5 p.m.

Morgan-Ogden Results

126: Brisen Anderson (MHS) over Vander Geiger (OHS) (Dec 6-2); 132: Tyson Pace (MHS) over Moises Andaluz (OHS) (Fall 1:46); 138: Simoron Warderll (MHS) over August Luke Burton (OHS) (MD 11-0); 144: Skyler Crowther (MHS) over Avery Dalton (OHS) (TF 16-0 5:46); 190: Rylee Creasey (MHS) over Braxten Shobe (OHS) (Fall 2:19); 285: Cole Keele (MHS) over Alonso Ivan Chaves Solis (OHS) (Fall 3:56)

Morgan-Ben Lomond Results

106: Max Holtry (MHS) over Brendan Burkholder (BLHS) (Fall 1:28); 113: Luke Woolsey (MHS) over Memphis Bodily (BLHS) (Fall 1:08); 120: Dilyn Pentz (MHS) over Troy Mathews (BLHS) (SV-1 10-8); 126: Hayden Gines (MHS) over (BLHS) (For); 132: Maverick Guymon (MHS) over Jad Jensen (BLHS) (SV-1 10-8); 138: Taite Toone (MHS) over Aaron Aguilar (BLHS) (Fall 3:39); 144: Donavin Gibson (MHS) over Myles Webb (BLHS) (Fall 2:49); 150: Alex Ortiz (BLHS) over Joseph Belinski (MHS) (Dec 8-5); 157: Carter Meibos (MHS) over (BLHS) (For); 165: Krew Galbraith (MHS) over Daniel Salazar (BLHS) (Fall 1:06); 175: Lance Toone (MHS) over Haidyn Burdette (BLHS) (Fall 1:56); 190: Ezra Cadena (MHS) over Jonathan Sherman (BLHS) (Fall 1:41); 215: Treyson Rich (MHS) over (BLHS) (For); 285: Lane Henderson (MHS) over (BLHS) (For).