Wasatch High’s Regan Heywood competes against Northridge’s Danica Bell in the 5A State Championships at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Wasatch and Salem Hills were the top two teams in the girls wrestling divisional meets last week, and both of them backed up that success with a strong showing on Wednesday during Day 1 of the 5A state tournament at UVU.
Wasatch sits in first place heading into Thursday (final day) with 134 points, with Salem Hills within striking distance with 114 points. Northridge (113 points) and Cedar Valley (112) are in the hunt as well.
Salem Hills advanced the most wrestlers into the semifinals, with nine set to compete when the meet resumes at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The final begin at 4:45 p.m.
Wasatch advanced eight into the semifinals, with Cedar Valley qualifying seven and Northridge six.
Four returning state champs in 5A from a year ago all advanced to the semifinals: Hillcrest’s Eva Zimmerman (100), Hillcrest’s Eliza Zimmerman (115), Maple Mountain’s Aurellia Ramos (190) and Jocelyn Hepler (190).
In the biggest upset of the meet, Cedar Valley senior Madison Mayes beat Springville three-time state champ Hotaia Valeti in the 170-pound quarterfinal match as she denied the Red Devil senior a chance for a fourth straight individual title.
5A girls state tournament
At UVU
Team scores after Day 1
Wasatch, 134Salem Hills, 114Northridge, 113Cedar Valley, 112Hillcrest, 67Springville, 61Maple Mountain, 46Bonneville, 35
Thursday’s semifinals
100
Rhiannon Towers, Olympus vs. Katie Zimmerman, HillcrestAddie Brindley, Salem Hills vs. Antonia Ingabire, Hillcrest
105
Eva Zimmerman, Hillcrest vs. Jennifer Jones, NorthridgeCaroline Pastrana, Cyprus vs. Maisey Blaser, Wasatch
110
Ariana Stott, Cedar Valley vs. Makayla Carrick, Salem HillsStephani Taufa, Taylorsville vs. Stephani Schmolke, Cedar Valley
115
Marabell Brown, Wasatch vs. Casandra Pastrana, CyprusElla Gillian, Bountiful vs. Eliza Zimmerman, Hillcrest
120
Palias Anderson, Wasatch vs. Lilly Lake, Maple MountainKelseigh Banks, Salem Hills vs. Azia Kendall, Northridge
125
Emily Pasilias Northridge vs. Ellie Jensen, Maple MountainPaisley Nelson, Salem Hills vs. Hailey Holton, Northridge
130
Mikalah Whitehouse, Northridge vs. Amberly Howe, WasatchBraylin Jones, Salem Hills vs. Alexandra Gates, Cedar Valley
135
Daeja Sundquist, Olympus vs. Regan Heywood, WasatchSage Ross, Spanish Fork vs. Annalee Wright, Cedar Valley
140
Rhya Balmforth, Cedar Valley vs. Amelie Ledesma, Salem HillsNehemiah Cook, Highland vs. Alexis Kirkland, Bonneville
145
Brinlee Mcarthur, Cedar Valley vs. Leticia Garcia, KearnsAvery Winterton, Salem Hills vs. Corinne Letchford, Wasatch
155
Hannah Bowler, Bonneville vs. Jessica Miller, Salem HillsHayley Harris, Springville vs. Tyler Richter, Wasatch
170
Madilyn Schuck, Alta vs. Kate Bird, WasatchMadison Mayes, Cedar Valley vs. Jasmine Katoa, West
190
Ava Semchuck, Alta vs. Jocelyn Hepler, Salem HillsAurellia Ramos, Maple Mountain vs. Malia Meyer, Taylorsville
235
Elena Kamai, West vs. Ilaisaan Taufa, BrightonKalyn Wade, Northridge vs. Rylyn Denney, Cedar Valley