Olympus wrestlers eager for state championships

With their regular season in the books, the Olympus wrestlers are gearing up for the final tournament of the year. The Titans competed in the Region 7 championships Feb. 3-4 and will be at the 4A state tournament Feb. 15-16 at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Olympus finished out the season schedule with an impressive win over Hillcrest Jan. 19, beating the Huskies 48-18.

“Our first couple of matches we had issues getting into the swing of things, but we picked it up and ended up pinning most of our matches,” coach Theros Johnson said. “It was definitely a step up for us. The boys have opened up, come to believe in themselves and started to execute their training.”

The season began rocky for the Titans, whose team faced several forfeit matches due to a shortened lineup, as two of its state qualifying wrestlers went through knee and shoulder surgeries. Their slots were filled by younger wrestlers, sophomore Porter Treaner (120 lbs.) and freshman Quintinn Anderson (126 lbs.), who stepped up to fill the gaps despite their inexperience at the high school level.

“They had to take their lumps,” Johnson said. “The first year a wrestler competes at this level can be tough—a real bruiser.”

Although the Hillcrest win was only the team’s third victory of the season, Olympus was poised to be a contender at the region and state tournaments.

“We scheduled a tough preseason schedule,” Johnson said. “We hit the best tournaments and wrestled the toughest 4A and 5A teams. We invited the pain, and we’re hoping that it will pay off at the playoffs.”

Some of the big names that the Titans are counting on to come through at state are seniors Trevor Ringwood, who wrestles at 195 lbs., and Brandon McBride, at 170 lbs.

“Ringwood is ranked fourth in state right now,” Johnson said. “He dropped to a lower weight and is wrestling tough. We expect him to place at state. McBride is a three-time state champion and 4A all star who is currently undefeated,” he said. “I don’t think he has even been taken down this year. He is looking to capture his fourth title at state.”

“I’m proud of all the guys,” Johnson said. “I think we’re turning things on. Now it’s all about getting ready for state.”