McKoy Christiansen, a junior at Emery High School, breezed through his first three matches last weekend to make the championship round in the 120 pound weight class of the 2015 2-A Utah State Wrestling tournament at Utah Valley University. McKoy pinned his first man, Noah Lamon of North Summit, in 37 seconds. Lamon came into the meet with a 30-19 season record. Next up was Richard Cruz of Millard High and Cruz possessed a 39-12 season record. Cruz made it into the second round before he was pinned 45 seconds into the round. McKoy was now in the semi-finals and was facing Austin Perkins, also of Millard. Perkins’ season record was 38-23. Perkins lasted not as long as his teammate as he was pinned 37 seconds into the second round.
Christiansen is now going against Shawn Sorenson of North Sevier for the state title. Sorenson possesses a 60-12 season record. Sorenson got a first round takedown and then maintained control the rest of the period and led 2-0 after the first round. McKoy started down in the second round and came as close to losing as he has in a long time. Sorenson got Christiansen on his back and nearly pinned him, and it was close, before McKoy managed to get out of the hold.
Trailing 5-0, Christiansen got a reversal and then put his opponent in a near pin situation and got two points and trailed 5-4 after the second round. With the wrestlers starting the final period in the standing position, they fought off each other’s moves until finally McKoy was successful and took his man down and led 6-5. He then rode out the round and McKoy became Emery’s latest wrestling champion. McKoy ended the season with a 46-3 season record. Emery had other success stories at this tournament. Senior Matt Mecham and sophomore Ashton Dieli also made the semi-final round in the championship bracket. Mecham wrestles at 170 pounds and Dieli at 145 pounds. Both lost in this round but both came back through the consolation bracket and finished third in the state for the season. Mecham finished the season and his high school career with a 41-8 season record while Dieli finished his season with a 30-11 record. Emery qualified 13 wrestlers for the state tournament and 11 were able to wrestle in Orem. All but Mecham are under-classmen and the team should continue next season with improvement. As always, more wrestlers on this team would be a blessing.
Christiansen is state champ at 120 weight class
"McCoy Christiansen is the state champ in the 120 pound weight class."