For the past several seasons, the Viewmont wrestling program has been one of the top in the state. With consistently strong showings in tournaments, including state meets, the expectations are always high for the Vikings. 

This season is no different, and Viewmont hasn’t disappointed. 

Under head coach Luke Gibbs, the Vikings have had some success in the early part of the 2023–24 campaign. The Vikings hosted the Viewmont Invitational, Dec. 16, 17. 

With a gathering of 21 schools from across the state and region, Viewmont performed admirably against tough competition from various classifications. The Vikings placed sixth in the invitational, earning 117 points. Viewmont trailed only Bear River, Box Elder, Riverton, Evanston (Wyoming) and Corner Canyon, all deep and talented squads. 

Several wrestlers came up big at the tournament. 

Cale Christensen, Viewmont (157 weight class) “shoots” on Green Canyon’s Tyler Payne. Photos by Roger V. Tuttle

Tate Ripplinger took first in the 138-pound class. Coming in with a 16-4 record, he won by fall over Landon Child of Northridge, pinning him in 3:53. Ripplinger advanced to the final with a victory by fall in 1:19 in the quarterfinals and a 4-3 win in the semifinals. He also defeated Hunter Crocker of Box Elder by fall in 2:27 in the last match before the finals. 

Spencer Rees, a 144-pound wrestler took second in the invitational. He garnered 22 points for his team by getting the final match. He defeated a competitor from Evanston 3-1 in the semifinals but lost to Bear River’s Caleb Korth by fall in 5:27 for the right to take first place. 

In the 120-pound class, Viewmont’s Collin Roberts lost in the finals to Ryker Smethurst of Mountain Crest. Leo Wright, at 126 pounds, also lost in the finals, coming up short 7-3. However, he did pick up a consolation-round win by fall, defeating Daxton Nelson of Mountain Crest. Alex Lindquist, a 132-pound competitor, lost 12-6 in the championship. He won two consolation-round wins, defeating Daxton Reese of Green Canyon, 7-0, and Bostyn Tucker of Box Elder, 4-0. 

Will Millet took fifth in the invitational at 175 pounds, while 215-pound wrestler Kaleb Djambov was sixth. In the 215-pound group, Mack Youngberg earned 15 points for the Vikings by finishing in fifth place. He won multiple matches on the day, including three by fall.