Haddadin in top form for Brighton wrestling
Rami Haddadin knows what is expected of him – and that means trouble for opponents.
The Brighton High senior, who captured the 112-pound state championship last season, is back to solidify his status as one of the top amateur wrestlers in the state.
Haddadin has already gone a perfect 6-0 in dual meets and has earned his share of accolades on the tournament circuit this season. He placed second in the 18-under division at 120 pounds in the Monster Match Nationals in Denver, and won the 126-pound division at the Layton Invitational.
Meanwhile, the Bengals were 2-5 in dual meets, defeating Preston, Idaho, 36-24 and Northridge 39-24, while losing to Jordan 45-31, Copper Hills 51-21, Box Elder 42-27, Bear River 51-15 and Alta 64-17. Brighton finished 10th overall at the 5A championships last year behind titlist Pleasant Grove. Haddadin was one of two Bengal state champions along with 135-pounder Nick Runyan.
In dual meet action, Haddadin, who placed second in state at 103 pounds as a sophomore, earned pinfall victories over Northridge (1:00), Bear River (3:00), Box Elder (3:00) and Preston (5:00), along with decisions over Alta (15-0) and Jordan (13-0).
Scott Seiter (113 pounds), Luke Davis (120), Zach Jackson (152), Suloway Vainuku (170), Andrew Ferguson (182) and Sterling Sleight (220) have also shown potential for Brighton.
Other than Haddadin, Vainuku has been the most successful Bengal in dual meet competition, posting a 5-2 record. Vainuku gained a forfeit victory over Preston, pinned opponents from Box Elder (1:00), Northridge (1:00) and Alta (1:08), and defeated his Bear River opponent 10-5.
Davis pinned his opponents from Northridge (3:00), Jordan (3:00) and Copper Hills (3:30) and earned a 10-5 decision over Box Elder, while Ferguson won each of his four matches by pinfall – Alta (1:00), Copper Hills (1:15), Preston (3:00) and Box Elder (5:00).
Seiter, Jackson and Sleight each have three victories in dual meets. Seiter pinned opponents from Copper Hills (0:37) and Box Elder (3:00) and defeated Northridge 4-1 and Jackson won by forfeit over Jordan and defeated Bear River and Copper Hills opponents each by 4-3 scores. Sleight pinned his opponent from Northridge (5:00), defeated Jordan 6-1 and earned a forfeit win.
Elsewhere, Steve Ipsen (145) and Dakota Dodds (195) each won two dual meet matches. Ipsen pinned his Jordan opponent (1:00) and defeated Bear River 13-9, while Dodds earned pinfall victories over Preston (1:00) and Jordan (5:00).
John McAllister (132) and Mitch Nazer (160) each won by forfeit over Northridge while Blake Walker (138) pinned his Preston opponent (3:00). Vince Gygi (106), Garrett Rawson (126), Erik Ishimatsu (132) and Chris Oliverson (195) each lost their only contested match.
Sleight also placed second in the 18-under division at 220 pounds at the Monster Match Nationals, while Brighton finished 16th at the Layton Invitational and 19th at the Viewmont Invitational.
