Wrestlers hit the mat under new head coach Kelly Wilson

When the boys’ wrestling season opened on November 6, new head coach Kelly Wilson began a new era of Morgan Wrestling. Wilson, a 1983 Morgan High graduate and son of Bob Wilson, who coached Morgan’s 1962 team to their only boys’ team wrestling state championship, brings years of coaching experience to the team.  

To assist him on the mat, Wilson has assembled a cadre of assistant coaches with years of wrestling experience as well.  Three assistant coaches will carry over from former Coach Dustin Rock’s staff: Jarret Jorgensen, Ed Kinsey, and Christopher Payne. New assistants this season will include Russ Campbell, Rodney Haslam, Jayden Pentz, Owen Pentz, Waylen Pentz, Clay Thompson, and Adam Toone.

“We are privileged to have so many talented coaches in the room,” Wilson explained in an interview. “We have enough coaches to make sure we are able to help every kid. The kids don’t just sit or hide.  We are able to help them all individually.”

The Trojans, who have placed second as a team at state for the past three years, lost eight wrestlers to graduation. All eight seniors were state qualifiers who qualified for state last year along with 17 underclassmen. 

Returning state placers for the Trojans will be senior Zak Sargent and junior Drew Korth, both of whom wrestled in the championship matches last year and took second. Sophomore Luke Woolsey placed 4th last year and is looking to improve his position this season. Senior Treyson Rich and junior Ryler Jorgensen are both looking to better their fifth-place finishes at State last year.

Upperclassmen state qualifiers from 2022 (SQ 2022) to watch this year are junior Krew Galbraith and seniors Ezra Cadena, Lane Henderson, and Lance Toone.

The team has nine seniors wrestling: Sargent, Rich, Cadena, Henderson, Toone, Tavin Allen, Hayden Gines, Thayden Gines, and Korbin Kilgore.

Representing the junior class are Galbraith, Jorgensen, Korth, Krew Carter, Nathan Dotson, Maverick Guymon (2022 SQ), Hyrum McConkie,  Carter Meibos, and Sim Wardell.

Thirteen sophomores will roster for the team: Chase Allen, Brisen Anderson, Joseph Belinski (2022 SQ), Skyler Crowther (2022 SQ), Max Holtry (2022 SQ), Tyson Pace (2022 SQ), Dilyn Pentz (2022 SQ), Tagg Rich, Brigham Thackeray, Dawson Thompson, Gabe Toone (2022 SQ), Carter Wardell (2022 SQ) and Woolsey.

Six new freshmen will round out the team. Huntley Gale, Kwayde Meibos, Jaxton Morell, Dylan Petersen, Charlie Watt, and Daniel Watt.

Wilson plans to continue the strong Morgan tradition of building top-quality wrestlers and young men of character.  In an interview shortly after he was hired, Wilson explained, “I’m not focused on wins and losses. I want to help develop young men. Sportsmanship is not an option.  It’s an expectation.  In my book, good sportsmanship is huge. As a wrestler, you need to represent the name on your back and the name of your school well.”

Wilson agreed that the biggest challenge this season, as always, is to keep everyone healthy. “We will be filling all of the weights, and we are packed from 138 pounds to 175. Our lower weights will be a challenge to be two deep, and we could use another heavyweight.”

In the region, Morgan will face familiar foes with the addition of Union and will have tough competition from South Summit to maintain their Region 13 Title. Wilson predicts that Morgan and South Summit will compete “neck and neck” in the region, but “we won’t take anyone lightly.”  

In 3A Classification, Juab begins the Preseason Power Poll in first place after winning the state championship for the past seven years in a row, since 2017. Morgan, who has placed second for the past three years, earned the second spot and South Summit is ranked third.  λ