If you're a high school wrestling aficionado, you know the Doc Buchanan Invitational hosted by Clovis High School is no small potatoes. This year, it was a battleground featuring a field of over 40 nationally ranked wrestlers, according to FloWrestling. And guess what? Utah wrestlers got after it and exceeded expectations with 10 podium finishes, if I'm not off the mark – a record-breaking performance for the Beehive State.
Talk about gatecrashing the party! Seeded ninth, Trevyn Gates threw the Doc B bracket on its head in addition to some of his opponents. While working his way to the finals, the PG senior took out not one, but two nationally ranked opponents in his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts. If he wasn’t before, Gates is for sure on the national radar now, and rightly so.
Cash Henderson is no stranger to the podium at top tier events, and Doc B was just another stage for him to shine. Seeded third at 218 pounds, Henderson battled his way to the semifinals, engaging in a gritty showdown with the eventual champ that didn’t swing his way. Undeterred, the Cornell-bound senior rallied on the backside, claiming back-to-back wins for a well-deserved third place.
Lancer sophomore Noah Bull, who has quietly put together one of the best season’s out of anyone in the state, continued his impressive run. Following a notable placement at the Reno TOC, he showcased his relentless pace at Doc B, storming into the semis and ultimately securing fourth place. Remember, he's just a sophomore in a weight where he’s scrapping with upperclassmen more often than not.
In the same weight class as Henderson, Cayaen Smith competed well and joined his Utah counterpart on the podium. After reaching the semi-finals, he fell to the top seed but rebounded in the consolation bracket, wrapping up the tournament with a victory and securing fifth place. Now a two-time Doc B placer, Smith's consistency cements his status among Utah's top-tier wrestlers.
Austin Paris, akin to Noah Bull, etched a Doc B podium finish to the resume for this season alongside an RTOC podium finish. Paris exhibited resilience throughout, wrestling from behind at times but still landing a respectable fourth-place finish. With top-notch scrambling skills, he's a puzzle for anyone.
Before we dive into Doc B, let's acknowledge Geronimo Rivera's big win earlier in the week against the nation's 6th ranked wrestler, when Layton had a dual against Gilroy.
Rivera was a Doc B placer last season and is a two-time state champion, blazed into the semi finals and fell to the top seed. That loss sent him down the consolations path, and he closed out his tournament with a win, claiming fifth place to add another Doc B medal to the Rivera family mantle.
Mason Carlson, seeded 14th at 123 pounds, embraced his underdog status. The Titan sophomore surged into the semis with pins over the 3rd and 6th seeds. In the semis, he dropped a three point decision to the eventual champion to go into consolation where he finished with a commendable sixth place.
After missing his entire sophomore season due to injury, Layne Kleimann is making up for lost time as a junior. He secured a seventh-place finish at Doc B. Label him an "action wrestler" – never a dull moment when Kleimann's on the mat. He can now add a Doc B placement to the resume to go along with RTOC and Fargo hardware.
Worthley defied his seed, taking down the 5th seed in the round of 16. Despite a quarterfinal setback against a D1 commit, he battled through the blood round, ultimately finishing in eighth. Worthley's grit and heart make him one to watch.
Freshman upstart Austin Ellis lived up to the hype at Doc B. Seeded 12th, the Fargo double All-American notched an eighth-place finish at 129 pounds. Ellis's debut season for the Darts has been one to watch with more big tests for him on the horizon.
Utah's presence on the podium is undeniable, but let's tip our hats to those who competed well but missed the placing rounds – Lander Bosh, Tanner Telford, Mana Fager, Banks Love, Landen Shurtleff, Jace Lemons, Tege Kelley, among others.
In the grand scheme, it was a stellar weekend for Utah, turning heads at an event that draws national attention