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OREM — Pleasant Grove wrestler Ben Anderson loves being in the spotlight.
So when Herriman's Jaron Jensen dived deep in the first period of a featured match at Tuesday's 2016 Simplii All-Star Dual, the Viking grappler could've panicked.
But he didn't, scrambling away and forcing a 2-1 edge after the first period.
From there, he knew he had a win.
Anderson held off Jensen 3-2 in one of three featured matches of the night at Utah Valley's UCCU Center.
"It was close at first, but I figured I needed to get the takedown first," Anderson said. "I was working for the takedown, then he shot on me, and there was no way I was going to let him get it. I scrambled out of it, and then after he didn't get the takedown, that's when I knew I beat him mentally."
Anderson nearly grabbed a takedown twice more, but Jensen slithered out around the circle to force a restart.
In the end, the Viking veteran set his frustrations aside and held on for his second-straight All-Star win.
"It definitely was frustrating. I hate hugging the outside, but I had to keep control of it," Anderson said. "I just focused on myself, and didn't get too aggressive. That'll lead to mistakes. I was defensive, but offensive at the same time."
Featured Wrestlers
Jed Loveless, Payson, d. Logan Jensen, Herriman, 4-0; Ben Anderson, Pleasant Grove, d. Jaron Jensen, Herriman, 3-2; Taylor LaMont, Maple Mountain, p. Cameron Hunsaker, American Fork, 3:22.
Team scores
Class 4A 41; Class 5A 34; Class 2A 33; Wildcard 33; Class 3A 21; Class 1A: 12
In the team standings, Class 4A won the event featuring 90 wrestlers with a total score of 41 points. Class 5A finished second with 34 points, edging out Class 2A's 33.
In the first of the featured matches of the night, Jensen's brother, Logan Jensen, lost to Payson's Jed Loveless, 4-0.
The senior from Payson improved to 23-3 on the year, scoring the only point through the first two periods on a third-minute escape before earning a 5-second near-fall in the final 10 seconds for the final margin.
In the other featured match, Maple Mountain's Taylor LaMont dominated future Utah Valley teammate Cameron Hunsaker of American Fork, jumping out to a 7-0 lead midway through the second period before finishing off a fall with 38 seconds left before the third round.
The three-time defending state champion moved quickly and efficiently, holding the takedown midway through the first period before finishing the match.
Capping the night in front of a near-home crowd of a hundred traveling Pleasant Grove fans, though, was special for Anderson, who will try to lead the Vikings to their sixth-straight 5A state title in February.
"It's cool to be in the spotlight," Anderson said. "There were a bunch of guys up there, and coming into the spotlight match, it was awesome to win that and represent my school."
Individual results
106 — Dillon Torgerson, N. Sevier, d. Dalton Stuzman, Layton, 7-5; Cole Zorn, PG d. Gentry Warner, Juab, 7-2; Garrett Ricks, Box Elder, p. Jonah Shoppe, Panguitch, 1:34
113 — Brady Poulsen, Delta d. Trevor Cluff, Wasatch, 3-2; David VanTassell, Duchesne, d. Brady Knight, Tooele, 3-2; Kegan Leatherow, Fremont, d. Gabe Terry, Mt. View, 6-0
120 — Jaxon Cole, N. Summit, d. Braiden Parker, Wasatch, 11-4; Brandon Meikel, Kearns, d. Tanner Benedict, Layton, 4-0; Kody Hafen, Snow Canyon, d. Hunter Thacker, Altamont, 6-0.
126 — Brayden Stevens, Brighton, d. McKoy Christiansen, Emery, 9-1; Tanner Cox, Maple Mtn., d. Holden Richards, Bear River, 13-2; Caleb Rasmussen, Millard, d. Kolton Owens, Panguitch, 6-5.
132 — Matt Lee, S. Summit, p. Cedric Coonis, Uintah, 3:40; Austin Trapp, Piute, d. Shion Abe, Viewmont, 5-0; Raynger Keckler, Logan, d. Corbin Smith, Wasatch, 9-7.
138 — Isaac Wilcox, Olympus, d. Baylor Green, Davis, 8-6; McKay Foy, Altamont, d. McKoy Richards, Union, 9-7; Kyle Evans, Beaver, d. Zac Musselman, Monticello, 2-0.
145 — Payton Stott, Millard, p. Mason Mangelson, Juab, 3:42; Ryan Winger, Viewmont, p. Shandon Bradford, Monticello, 5:56; Brock Hardy, Box Elder, d. Taten Ringel, N. Summit, 17-2.
152 — Davis Reynaud, Brighton, d. Liam Williams, Desert Hills, 3-1; Jason Hatch, Delta, p. Steven Skewes, Duchesne, 2:32; Brandyn Van Tassell, MMtn, d. Jakob Discher, Wasatch, 5-3.
160 — Kyle Larsen, Salem Hills, p. Kellen Mooney, Panguitch, 1:56; Tucker Tomlinson, Uintah, d. Eric Gourd, Canyon View, 18-3; Cole Moody, Bingham, d. Ashton Dieli, Emery, 11-4.
170 — Ben Bolingbroke, Clearfield, p. Tyler Bagy, Panguitch, 2:45; Ritchie Heywood, Wasatch, p. Tyce Raddon, Beaver, 3:30; Koy Wilkinson, Pleasant Grove, d. Owen Pentz, Morgan, 8-6.
182 — Chayce Loveless, Parson, p. Shaydon Summarell, Duchesne, 1:55; Rand Pentz, N. Summit d. Garrett Hoyt, Weber, 5-1; Conner Kirkland, Roy, d. Ashton Seely, Juab, 4-3.
195 — Cody Miles, Altamont, p. Mike Milliner, Bonneville, 3:39; Wyatt Koelling, Davis, p. McKade Cox, Gunnison, 3:58; Jordan Watson, Bear River, d. Parker Jensen, Skyline, 11-5.
220 — Wyatt Ekblad, Morgan, p. Easton Roundy, S. Sevier, 0:37; Brandon Closson, Pleasant Grove, p. Tava'e Pei, Wayne, 3:34; Wade French, Herriman, d. Shaun Stockwell, Corner Canyon, 7-1.
285 — Desmond Wise, Snow Canyon, p. Parker Knudsen, Monticello, 3:50; Ben Bos, Wasatch, p. Bryan Sakurada, Roy, 2:56; Camden Hess, Davis, d. Brett Walker, Delta, 7-4.
