Wrestling season underway at West Jordan high schools

With practice beginning Nov. 7 and the first matches on the 22^nd, West Jordan and Copper Hills wrestling teams only had two weeks to gear up and finalize their initial rosters. They have gotten to that point and are now a month into their 2011-12 seasons.

The Jaguars have many wrestlers returning this year who are expected to win a lot of matches, and continue along in the same way they have over the past few years under coach Gabe Vigil, a former Boise State champion.

The Grizzlies can only continue to move forward, not having a wrestler represent the team in the 2010 state tournament and having nobody place last season.

West Jordan had six wrestlers place in last season’s state tournament, one of whom won it all. Jacob Falk

now wrestles at Utah Valley University and coaches part time at West Jordan. Of the six placers from 2010-11, only two are returning to the mat for West Jordan.

Cody Paraso, who took third at 125 pounds in 2010-11 and third at 112 in 2009-10, is back and a force to be reckoned with, according to teammates and coaches. “He should win state,” first year West Jordan wrestler Andy Armstrong said.

Jacob Ponce, who placed sixth at 189 pounds last season, is back this year at 195. Ponce and Paraso, along with Jake Earl, 138 pounds, and Brayden Gibson, 170 pounds, are all likely to vie for top honors in Region 3and make an impression at the state tournament.

West Jordan assistant coach Patty Pearsonsaid the goal is to place as high as they can in the tournament.

According to Pearson, many of the team’s top grapplers stayed sharp throughout the year by wrestling freestyle and Greco-Roman, while not wrestling for West Jordan High School.

Last year, the Jaguars placed fourth as a team, just behind new region mate, Alta, who finished third. To keep their edge and to continue building skills which translate to wins on the mat, the kids have chosen voluntarily to run before school, so they have more time to prepare for their next foes by learning new moves, something they are used to.

Pearson reminded his team what they had practiced and can see what they need for next time in between matches at a recent tournament. While other kids horsed around, the Jaguars practiced. According to Armstrong, the team gets down to business the moment they walk into the room for practice or a match. “We’re a really good team; we start right at 3 p.m. doing pushups,” Armstrong said.

Copper Hills started the year at Orem on Nov. 22 and went into December, wrestling at the Titan Duals. West Jordan also started on the 22^nd and hit December running with two tournaments, one in Layton for varsity wrestlers and one at Alta for freshmen and sophomores.