138 POUND PRESEASON RANKINGS

138 pounds is a tough one, there is a lot of this kid beat this kid and that kid beat that kid so I am sure many will disagree but in the end what matters is what happens comes December, January and ultimately February so good luck to all the upcoming 138 pounders and enjoy!

I don't think anyone can argue who the #1 ranked wrestler at 138 pounds is; Taylor LaMont from Maple Mountain. Some may argue he won't be at 138 pounds but no matter what weight he is until he loses he is the top guy. Taylor has made the USA World Team two years in a row in Greco Roman and has a 2013 Freestyle National Title to go along with that. He came 2nd at the Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa and is a 2x Utah State Champion. It will be fun to watch his Junior campaign and if anyone can knock off the 23rd ranked pound for pound Junior in the country.

Jaron Jensen from Herriman grabs the #2 spot. Jaron ended up third place at the State Tournament last year losing to senior Jaydon Rogers. He placed 8th at the 2013 Cadet Freestyle Nationals and 3rd at the Cadet Greco Nationals. This year he suffered an injury and was forced to pull out of the Nationals. Jaron will be the top guy in 5A this year. Greg Lamb comes in at #3. Greg had a solid season and if Taylor is not at 138lbs then Greg is the favorite for the 4A title. Greg has placed 2nd at the High School Super State Tournament 2x in a row now and will look to get over that hump and win the championship this year.

The #4 ranked wrestler is a freshman John Manning. John wrestled Brock Hardy to a close 7-5 decision at the Junior High All-Star match this past year. John wrestles a bunch of out of state tournaments so it is difficult to gauge but with his National success I would imagine that turning into in state success too. John placed 2nd at the Tulsa Nationals this past year in the same weight as another Utah freshman, Cole Moody who did not place.  John beat the 4th place High School finisher from Kansas Kameron Frame (Frame beat Trevor Lowe 5-0) this past year. In 2013 John beat state champion Matt Lee 8-4 at the RMN as well as placed ahead of Ryan Hansen and Jayden Pentz in that same bracket. The stats are there to give him the #4 (maybe higher) ranking but he will need to prove he can beat the upper classmen week in and week out to move up. #5 is from Fremont, Dallin Denton. The senior has grown over the off season and will challege Jaron Jensen for the State Championship. Dallin has wrestled all off season with the hopes of reeling in that state title his senior year.

Box Elder's Kyle Smith takes the #6 spot after his third place finish in the 4A 126 pound weight class last year. Smith lost a close one to freshman Kyle Larsen in the semifinals but bounced back to defeat Jaden Mayers and Lukas Erickson to place third. #7 goes to 2013 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner and another freshman from Bingham Cole Moody. Moody has had a phenomenal youth career, let's see if that can transfer over to a phenomenal High School career. Moody did lose to Musselman in the off season but did beat him during season so we gave Moody the nod over Musselman, although these two could flip flop very easy. 

Our third freshman in the top 10 goes to Zac Musselman from Monticello. Maybe I am giving our freshman a little too much credit since they haven't wrestled an official High School match but these three freshman in the top 10 are for real and I don't think it will take long  before everyone agrees. Zac Musselman has beaten numerous high school state placers including Ryan Hansen this off season. 

Ryan Winger takes the #9 spot from Viewmont. Ryan Winger beat Van Tassell at the Viewmont Tournament along with Matt Lee and Musselman this off season. Winger had a great run at Fargo going 3-2 so he is definitely coming into his own

Sophomore Jaxon Van Tassell turned a bunch of heads last season placing 2nd at state in the 4A division. Jaxon beat a tough Jake Hopkins in the semifinals before falling to LaMont in the finals and for his high state placing will take the 10th and final spot in the 138 pound weight class. 
 

1. Taylor LaMont (Junior) - Maple Mountain
2. Jaron Jensen (Junior) - Herriman
3. Greg Lamb (Senior) - Corner Canyon
4. John Manning (Freshman) - Juan Diego
5. Dallin Denton (Senior) - Fremont
6. Kyle Smith (Senior) - Box Elder
7. Cole Moody (Freshman) - Bingham
8. Zac Musselman (Freshman) - Monticello
9. Ryan Winger (Junior) - Viewmont
10. Jaxon Van Tassell (Sophomore) - Salem Hills