Younger Jordan wrestling team finds ways to win duals, tournaments

In his 21st season as a wrestling coach, Chris Babinski looks to lead the Jordan Beetdiggers squad to another year with a strong showing at the region and state tournaments.

Last year, Jordan sent seven wrestlers to the 5A state championship and, with seniors taking fourth place at 189 pounds and third place at 145 pounds, the team took 12th place overall in the tournament.

Now with a younger team, Babinski is hoping to repeat that success this year, with the region tournament approaching, Feb. 2-3, at Brighton High School.

“This year we have a great team of wrestlers, from the top to the bottom,” Babinski said. “We have sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are all looking to place at region.”

Two juniors competing at opposite ends of weight classes, Kyler Machan (106 pounds) and Richard Larsen (285 pounds) are seen by Babinski as some of the leaders of the team this year.

“They are great and hard-working kids who put in a lot of time and effort on the mat,” Babinski said.

According to the Jan. 16 Utah Wrestling Coaches Association state rankings, Machan, who transferred from West Jordan, is ranked second among 5A wrestlers in the state for his weight class. On the season, he boasts only two losses and 14 wins, 11 of those by pins.

In the same ranking poll, sophomore Clay Moss is ranked fourth at 170 pounds, senior Hayden Babka is ranked sixth at 182 pounds and Larsen is ranked fifth amongst heavyweights.

As a team, the Beetdiggers have been able to win some decisive duals this season and currently sit at third place in the region.

The Beetdiggers first defeated Copper Hills on Dec. 8 by a score of 39-36. Jordan then went on to defeat Cottonwood, 68-9, in a Dec. 15 dual that saw the Beetdiggers win all but two of their matches.

Jordan also defeated Brighton, 41-27, in a Jan. 5 dual before falling to West Jordan on Jan. 11, 37-34. [RESULTS FROM WEEKEND’S BEETDIGGER DUALS HERE]

In tournament competition, Jordan has also performed well this season. Machan took second place at the L.I.T. Tournament in Roy, Dec. 2-3. As a team, Jordan won first place at both the Nov. 11 Quad Meet at Hunter High and the North Summit Tournament on Dec. 16. Jordan also took 16th place overall among 64 teams that competed in the Rocky Mountain Rumble, Jan. 13-14.

“We are definitely performing well and are in the hunt to do well at region,” Babinski said. “We prepare our wrestlers in practice; push them to their limits so that it is easier to perform on the mat in the actual meets.”

For those who qualify at the region meet, the 5A state wrestling meet is held Feb. 15-16 at Utah Valley University.