The Emery High Spartans and the Carbon Dinos battled to a 42-42 wrestling deadlock before the Christmas break. As the crowd shouted out ideas as to how to break the tie, someone suggested that the two coaches battle for the win. Kirk Christiansen of Emery and Steve Woodhouse responded and showed up ready to go. Woodhouse removed his tie and loosened his top button to clearly have a clothing disadvantage as Kirk was in a more comfortable shirt. The two battled for 30 seconds from the starting position to the delight of the crowd and the teams. Unfortunately neither could score on the other and the match ended in a draw but the fans were happy.
Each team forfeited two matches. Emery’s Logan Ewell won 106 and McKoy Christiansen won 120 while Carbon’s Clayton Rhodes won 160 and Nash Nicholsen won 182.
Cole Stoddard of Emery pinned Andrew Sanchez of Carbon at the 1:03 mark of the first period to get the first on-the-mat win for either team. Justin Jennings of Emery at 126 pounds pinned Robbie Matkin at 1:22 mark of the second period. David Bird of Emery then pinned Brad Chatterton, Carbon’s only returning state tournament qualifier from last season, at 132 pounds at the :21 mark of the second period.
Chance Thompson of Emery and Anthony Balone then battled in the 138 pound class into the third period in a high scoring match before Balone got Carbon’s first on mat win with a pin at the 1:00 mark. Ryan Cox, a state qualifier last season for the Spartans, pinned Jesse Collins in the second period after leading 11-3. This was in the 145 pound class.
In the 152 class, state qualifier from last season Matt Mecham pinned Kyler Wood with three seconds left in the first period. Emery led at this point 36-12. Emery only won once more unfortunately for the Spartans.
Taylen Abeyta of Carbon pinned Steven Ledger in the 170 pound class at the :58 mark of the first period. At 195 pounds, Rylan Bringhurst pinned Slayde Childs in the first round for Carbon. Bringhurst was wrestling up from his normal 170 weight. Zach West of Emery gave Emery their last win as he pinned Dallin Mower in the 220 weight class. Mower, normally a 195 pound wrestler, and West fought a spirited duel until West got the first round pin. Dakota Nichols with only two losses for the season then defeated Duncan Thomas in the 285 pound class with a pin to forge the tie.
Emery v. Carbon in wrestling ends in draw
"Cole Stoddard and his opponent Andrew Sanchez."