OREM — Going into the season, the Viewmont wrestling team had one goal in mind: prove that the Vikings were back on top.

Thursday night at the UCCU Center, they did just that.

Parker Frasure finished an undefeated season with a 106-pound championship, and the Vikings cruised to their first state title since 2010 in the Class 5A state wrestling tournament at Utah Valley University.

“It has been a couple of years, but we talked about goals. Our number one goal was to win a state championship,” said Frasure, a sophomore. “I know that it made us work harder, knowing that we needed to complete that goal. It was really big and really fun.”

Wasatch finished second, followed by Maple Mountain, Box Elder and Skyridge.

Frasure struggled during his freshman year, making an early exit from the state tournament in his first season as a varsity wrestler.

After his tourney debut, coaches, parents and teammates prompted him toward “next year.” It was well-intentioned — but it was hard to be patient, knowing that he let a season slip away.

He made sure not to let up on his sophomore year.

“That was really hard mentally to hear it every time,” said Frasure, who finished 33-0. “But I know I worked hard this year and last year, and this year was going to be a good year.”

In his championship bout against Wasatch junior Preston Blotter, Frasure jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two periods. He added a takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the match, and though Blotter nearly escaped in the final seconds, the Viewmont sophomore held on for the shut out.

The Vikings clinched their eighth state title in school history, and first since winning three in a row from 2008-10.

Viewmont placed wrestlers in eight state final matches to help pull away, while Wasatch had finalists in seven finalists.

In the end, the Vikings' 298-225.5 lead before the championship bouts began was too much to overcome.

History was also made in the 5A ranks when Box Elder 145-pounder Brock Hardy won his fourth state title.

“It’s great. I’ve dreamt about it, and it still feels a little like a dream,” said Hardy, who will wrestle at Nebraska after a two-year mission for the LDS Church. “But I’m grateful it’s here.”

Hardy messed around for over a minute of his final with Timpanogos' H. Knudsen. But early in the second period, he found the pin to lift the Bees to a fourth-place finish.

“I know Ripp was excited, and this was really big for him. It was great,” said Hardy, referring to his head coach who will retire at the end of the season. “I’m grateful that I got this, but it hasn’t really hit me yet.”

A legend calls it a career

Box Elder wrestling coach Mike Ripplinger retired after 34 years of coaching service. Ripplinger won six state titles, 13 state runner-up finishes and 25 region championships.

The legendary Utah coaching figure produced 58 individual state champions, capping it with Hardy's fourth-straight title.

“He's like our second dad,” Hardy said of the coach. “One thing about "Rip" is that he wants the best in you, whether in wrestling or life. That’s what is so awesome about Rip.”

Of the school’s eight total state championships, all but two came with Ripplinger as the coach. The Bees won three-straight championships from 1999-2001, then added two more in 2005 and 2011.

5A state wrestling final results

106 — Parker Frasure, Vm, d. Preston Blotter, Was, 6-0

113 — Mitchel Slack, Was, p. Jayden Adamson, Sky, 5:52

120 — Garrett Ricks, BE, d. Karson Rees, Vm, 12-2

126 — Sammy Heywood, Was, d. Cole Patterson, MMtn, 18-8

132 — Stockton O’Brien, Was, d. Jeremy Evans, Vm, 10-6

138 — Zak Kohler, Was, d. Shion Abe, Vm, 8-7

145 — Brock Hardy, BE, . Holland Knudsen, Timp, 3:24

152 — Brayden Stevens, Brtn, p. Brad Findlay, CC, 1:37

160 — Isaac Wilcox, Oly, d. Porter Chamberlain, Was, 31-15

170 — Collin Smith, Vm, d. Zackary Johnson, MMtn, 11-9

182 — Brandyn Van Tassell, MMtn, p. Tyson Besieger, Vm, 1:40

195 — DJ Cohen, Was, Taylor Money, Vm, 7-4

220 — Kade Carlson, CC, d. Ryan Gunn, BE, 5-3

285 — Andrew Bargeron, Vm, d. Jonathan Johnson, High, 2-1

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