4A state boys wrestling: 4-timer Alexander helps Uintah pin down 28th team title

OREM — In the final state championship match of his senior season, Michael Alexander found himself in a rare position: on his back.

The three-time defending state champion from Uintah was threatened in the first period of his 126-pound title bout against Stansbury's Benjamin Ploehn, who had him seconds away from a fall.

It's not how you start, but how you finish.

Alexander reversed course quickly, pinning Ploehn in 1 minute, 31 seconds to wrap up his fourth consecutive state title Wednesday night and guide Uintah to back-to-back 4A team championships — and the fifth-straight overall — Wednesday night at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University.

"We're always told, nobody cares if you end up on your back; you've got to keep grinding," Alexander said. "I got put on my back. But who cares? Just keep coming, no matter what.

"This team means more to me than any state title can ever mean to me. I'll go to work for them, and I know they'll got work for me."

Alexander's individual title didn't decide the team championship, but it was an illustrative bonus as Uintah cruised to 362 points — nearly double second-place Timpanogos (191) for the Utes' fifth-straight state championship and 28th in school history.

In addition to Alexander's fourth individual title, Ethan Sharpe won a third championship at 120 pounds and Brody Rhoades collected his third title at 144 for the rolling Utes. Maddax Hacking (113), Rykan Hacking (132) and Parker Streight (157) also added to Uintah's haul.

"This isn't something that is easily done," Alexander said of his fourth title, as well as the Utes' repeat championship. "But with the help of a great support group and a great community, it makes it a little easier."

Mountain View finished third with 171 points, followed by Ridgeline (121.6) and Payson (111.5).

4A boys wrestling state tournament

Top 10 teams

1. Uintah, 362
2. Timpanogos, 191
3. Mountain View, 171
4. Ridgeline, 121.5
5. Payson, 111.5
6. Hurricane, 99.5
7. Bear River, 85
8. Snow Canyon, 85
9. Stansbury, 64.5
10. West Field, 62

Individual results

• 106 — 1. Cash Christensen, Murray. 2. Joshua Garcia, Uintah. 3. Travis Angus, Uintah. 4. Brycen Durkin, Murray. 5. Jhett Steele, Payson. 6. Forfeit.
• Championship — Christensen, Murray, d. Garcia, Uintah, 4-1.
• 113 — 1. Maddax Hacking, Uintah. 2. Joseph Holbrook, Ridgeline. 3. Daxton Jolley, Payson. 4. Ben Belliston, Timpanogos. 5. Jaxon Morgan, Bear River. 6. Asher Suwyn, Hurricane.
• Championship — Hacking, Uintah, d. Holbrook, Ridgeline, 8-4.
• 120 — 1. Ethan Sharp, Uintah. 2. Jonah Shaw, Payson. 3. Peyton Hogan, Uintah. 4. James Rollins, Mountain Crest. 5. Kruz Allred, Ridgeline. 6. Simon Boyer, Timpanogos.
• Championship — Sharp, Uintah, d. Shaw, Payson, 17-7.
• 126 — 1. Michael Alexander, Uintah. 2. Benjamin Ploehn, Stansbury. 3. Brigham Cookson, Mountain View. 4. Daxston Bingham, Bear River. 5. Diesel Knudsen, West Field. 6. Easton Darley, Green Canyon.
• Championship — Alexander, Uintah, p. Ploehn, Stansbury, 1:31.
• 132 — 1. Rykan Hacking, Uintah. 2. Glade Harman, Mountain View. 3. Kael Theobald, Payson. 4. Trevor Angus, Uintah. 5. Kooper Keenan, Crimson Cliffs. 6. Michael Lewis, Stansbury.
• Championship — Hacking, Uintah, d. Harman, Mountain View, 10-6.
• 138 — 1. Kaden Guymon, Snow Canyon. 2. Connor Knudsen, Timpanogos. 3. Gage McMickell, Uintah. 4. Lorenzo Call, Stansbury. 5. Tracen Backus, Payson. 6. Kayson Leak, Sky View.
• Championship — Guymon, Snow Canyon, d. Knudsen, Timpanogos, 5-3.
• 144 — 1. Brody Rhoades, Uintah. 2. Isaac Dickinson, Hurricane. 3. Mack Rutledge, Ridgeline. 4. Preston Lang, Snow Canyon. 5. Ryker Maestas, Payson. 6. Payton Redd, Logan.
• Championship — Rhoades, Uintah, d. Dickinson, Hurricane, 13-1.
• 150 — 1. Jason Worthley, West Field. 2. Myka Love, Jordan. 3. Stetson Bingham, Mountain Crest. 4. Zack McCann, Timpanogos. 5. Brady McCurdy, Uintah. 6. Chance Blevins, Mountain View.
• Championship — Worthley, West Field, d. Love, Jordan, TF 19-3.
• 157 — 1. Parker Streight, Uintah. 2. Cason Smith, Snow Canyon. 3. Sam Rassi, Ridgeline. 4. Brice Hawkins, Hurricane. 5. Keaton Smith, Beaver River. 6. Josue Pineda, Tooele.
• Championship — Streight, Uintah, d. Smith, Snow Canyon, 3-1.
• 165 — 1. Fisher Jolley, Timpanogos. 2. Mason Grow, Mountain View. 3. Keaton Terry, Crimson Cliffs. 4. Talon Stevens, Uintah. 5. Vincent Fertig, Beaver River. 6. Clark Weakley, Snow Canyon.
• Championship — Jolley, Timpanogos, d. Grow, Mountain View, 10-8.
• 175 — 1. Xander Carlson, Timpanogos. 2. Hyrum Stafford, Mountain View. 3. Chase McCurdy, Uintah. 4. Patrick Miller, Hurricane. 5. Jacob Proctor, Tooele. 6. Kannon Ufford, Uintah.
• Championship — Carlson, Timpanogos, d. Stafford, Mountain View, 7-6.
• 190 — 1. Seth Montierth, Ridgeline. 2. Landon Shumway, Mountain View. 3. Micah Wilcox, Timpanogos. 4. Lukas Turner, Uintah. 5. Max Anderson, Bear River. 6. Carter Egbert, Mountain Crest.
• Championship — Montierth, Ridgeline, d. Shumway, Mountain View, 6-3.
• 215 — 1. Isaac McGee, Mountain View. 2. Titan Wright, Hurricane. 3. Cutler Rowley, Cedar. 4. Dallin Bowman, Timpanogos. 5. Spencer Mitchell, Green Canyon. 6. Xander Stokes, Sky View.
• Championship — McGee, Mountain View, p. Wright, Hurricane, 1:44.
• 285 — 1. Caleb Patton, Pine View. 2. Caden Young, Uintah. 3. Sam Tanner, Green Canyon. 4. Jesse King, Timpanogos. 5. Preston Smith, Sky View. 6. Matthew Blackwell, Murray.
• Championship — Patton, Pine View, d. Young, Uintah, 2-1.

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