The headline matches and wrestlers deservedly are put on the center mat. And that choice isn't always easy because there are so many incredible wrestlers in our state which will provide some very entertaining matches. But here's some that might either be on the north or south mats that you might not want to miss!

Let's start with the boys on the South mat.

At 106 pounds two freshman wrestlers with glossy records are set to meet. Perry Fowler of Syracuse is 23-0 and he will square off against Ethan Sharp of Uintah, who is 26-2 overall. Uintah, of course, has a steep tradition and the Sharp family is a big part of that. And Syracuse youth wrestling is turning out some talented studs (e.g. Mason Carlson) and Fowler is definitely going to make some noise at the 6A level. It will be interesting to see the future of both of these grapplers, who might be overshadowed a bit by other fabulous freshman like Westlake's Israel Bjorge or Davis High's Austin Ellis. 

With some reshuffling of matches going on, this match might end up on the center mat, but Layton's Noah Bull, a sophomore, and Mountain Crest junior Lincoln Lofthouse are set to do battle.  Lofthouse is a returning 4A state champion while Bull placed third in 6A. The name Lofthouse should give any opposing wrestler chills down their spine, and this Mountain Crest legacy family has produced champion after champion. Meanwhile, Bull might be one of the most improved wrestlers in 2023-24, and he was pretty darn good already. He has placed at the Reno TOC and just recently at Doc Buchanan. So if this match isn't moved to the center, don't forget to give it a look.

At 150 pounds, two excellent wrestlers will do battle on the South mat when Beaver's Gage Raddon meets Uintah's Brody Rhodes. (And keep an eye out for Sadie Rhodes in the girls competition, an undefeated wrestler that is very fun to watch!). The older Rhodes, a junior, is legit and barely lost to Union superstar Tucker Roybal in the finals of the Tournament of Champions in Vernal this past weekend. Rhodes made his mark last year placing second in 5A while Raddon placed third in 2A but absolutely no shame losing to Millard's Sam Rasmussen in the semifinals. Both wrestlers are juniors and have picked it up notch this season, and this could be a rough and tough tumble enjoyable for the fans!

Now let's look at three girl bouts on the North mat that demand your attention.

At 100 pounds, Davis High's Kristina Kent, a junior, has been a stellar performer going 55-1 in her first two years and has an undefeated campaign going on so far. She is seeking her third state title. But going against her will be Uintah's Kenna McCauley, a sophomore that is 26-4. McCauley definitely has a tough room to workout in with the likes of Sadie Rhodes and Chanley Green, among others. Can this prepare for her the likes of Kent, who simply doesn't lose?

The battle between Herriman's Katie Law vs. Skyridge's Madison Sherman at 155 pounds could be a preview of the 6A title, though Sherman recently wrestled at 145 at the Best of the West. Sherman is a sophomore who placed second in the state last year, while Law placed third. Both have really upped their games so far this year. In fact, Law is undefeated at 23-0. These two are also incredibly athletic, so I expect a lot of action and a lot of points.

At 190 pounds, two Utah County wrestlers will square off in Maple Mountain's Aurelia Ramos and Salem Hills' Jocelyn Hepler.  Both took state last year, Ramos at 170 and Hepler at 190.  In 2022 both took second though Hepler was wrestling at ALA. Ramos went undefeated last year and hasn't tasted a defeat in a long time. But again, expect these two to meet again in February for all the marbles. 

I know there will be other great matches on these exterior mats. So keep your head on a swivel and enjoy some of the best competition the Beehive State can provide in prep wrestling!