This week's "Dual of the Week" is #3 Maple Mountain vs. #11 Uintah. Both of these teams are powerhouses and ranked in the top 5 within 4A. Uintah is moving up to 4A from 3A and will look to make their mark early in the year by pulling the upset over Maple Mountain. This dual will be streamed live via trackcast and we will post the direct link to watch the dual as soon as it becomes available. The dual is on Thursday the 3rd at 7pm.  We have broken this dual down weight by weight and it looks like a good one!!

*individual rankings listed below reflect 4A individual rankings

*team rankings reflect all class rankings

106: Quenton Mortimer (MM - Fr.) vs. Cub Deets (Uintah - Fr.)

• This will be a great battle of two freshman. Last year Deets got the best of Mortimer so Mortimer will be looking to even the score.
• Advantage: Uintah

113: Cole Patterson (MM - So.) vs. Randy Merkley (Uintah - Fr.)

• Merkley placed 2nd in 1a-3a Junior High state last year and Patterson placed 2nd at Northern state and 4th at Super State. The advantage goes to Patterson on this one but it could go either way.
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

120: Jake Roberts (MM - So.) vs. Kemry Smuin (Uintah - Jr.)

• Smuin is a returning state placer that was one match away from placing last year. Roberts is returning to the mat after many years away. 
• Advantage: Uintah

126: #1 Tanner Cox (MM - Sr.) vs. Brandon Slaugh (Uintah - Fr.) or #6 Wyatt Sharp (Uintah - Jr.)

• Cox is the heavy favorite here as he is a 2x state champion. Maple Mountain will be looking for bonus points here.
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

132: #2 Bruce Campbell (MM - Sr.) vs. #1 Kedric Coonis (Uintah - Sr.)

• Just like 126 pounds, we have a heavy favorite in Coonis from Uintah. Coonis was a state champ as a sophomore and placed 2nd last year. Campbell is a returning state placer as well and will look to slow Coonis down.
• Advantage: Uintah

138: #1 Taylor LaMont (MM - Sr.) vs. #6 Andres Toro (Uintah - Sr.)

• One of the best in the country, Taylor LaMont will be looking to get his senior season started off right. The Golden Eagles will need big points. Toro placed 5th at state last year.
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

145: #4 Tristan Hellstrom (MM - Jr.) vs. Tim Suwyn (Uintah - Sr.)

• Both wrestlers were one round away from placing at state last year and could be a good one this year.
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

152: #1 Brandyn Van Tassell (MM - So.) vs. Laramie Brough (Uintah - Jr.)

• Brough was a state qualifier two years ago, Van Tassell placed 3rd last year at state as a freshman. 
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

160: Parker Kay (MM - Jr.) vs. #3 Tucker Tomlinson (Uintah - Jr.) or Logan Mellor (Uintah)

• Tomlinson placed 3rd at state last year and will be the favorite here if he's the guy for Uintah. Kay placed 2nd at the JV State. 
• Advantage: Uintah

170: Kolby Smith (MM - Sr.) vs. Tanner Moon (Uintah - So.)

• Kolby Smith is a returning state qualifier and he will be taking on a Youth Super State Champion in Tanner Moon. This will be one of the pivotal matches of the dual but we will give the edge to the senior.
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

182: #2 Cory Rokovitz (MM - Sr.) vs. Tucker Bartels (Uintah - So.)

• Cory placed 5th at state while Bartels did not qualify last year. 
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

195: Mikey Peterson vs. Brysen Laris (Uintah - Sr.)

• Laris will be the favorite here as he was 1 point away from placing last year at state.
• Advantage: Uintah

220: #3 Korbon Tibbals (MM - Sr.) vs. Mario Zapata (Uintah - Sr.)

• Zapata is making a huge jump in weight coming up from 160lbs. Tibbals placed 3rd at state at 195lbs. 
• Advantage: Maple Mountain

285: Brad King (MM) vs. #5 Jarrod Runnels (Uintah - Jr.)

• Runnels made the round of 8 but could not get in the placing rounds last year. King is a move in from Idaho but did not wrestle last year. 
• Advantage: Uintah

Key matches: Below are the three matches we feel are key in deciding the outcome of the dual. 

• 113: Cole Patterson vs. Randy Merkley 
• 145: Tristan Hellstrom vs. Tim Suwyn
• 170: Kolby Smith vs. Tanner Moon

Overall summary/keys to victory: We have Uintah favored in 6 of the 14 matches and Maple Mountain favored in 8 of the matches. For Uintah to win they will need to turn the tides on at least one of the three key matches (113, 145 & 170). They also need to get some bonus points from their big boys. Maple Mountain will need to win the ones they are favored in. If they do drop one they are favored in they will need to rely on their big hitters (LaMont, Cox & Van Tassell) to get some extra points.