PHS Wrestling Coach Jeb Clark Says “No Doubt, We Are In The Toughest Region In The State”

Jeb Clark, Payson High Wrestling Coach, in his office in November 2015.  Photo and story originally published in the November 25, 2015 print edition of The Payson Chronicle.

“We are excited,” says Payson High Wrestling Coach Jeb Clark about the 2015-16 season set to begin for the Lions on December 3rd at Springville.  “We want this challenge of being part of a tough 4A region.  He adds that with Payson High School’s successes (in the last six years PHS has been first or second at State every time), including Championships the last two years (2014 and 2015).

The success of the program draws participants and crowds.  “We have 57 wrestlers this year, up from forty last year, “ he notes, adding that the crowds turning out from home wrestling matches have grown to the point where the upper balcony has to be opened up in the gym to accommodate everyone.

Among the state participants coming back for the Lions are Jed Loveless, a State Champion in 2014 and a finalist in 2015; Chase Loveless, a finalist last year as well as earning recognition as a sophomore all-American by finishing 7th at the Virginia Beach Nationals.  Payden Osborne was a finalist last year, too, and others with tournament experience are Dylan Bell, Wyatt Monroe, Austin Hone, and Tyler Manookin.

Coach Clark himself was a two-time State Champion for Spanish Fork in 2003 and 2004, and one of his current assistants, Garrett Elliott, was a State Champ for Spanish Fork in 2004.  Jeb went on to wrestle for Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and for UVU.

Derrick Campbell, who helped with the football program this year, wrestled in high school (in Washington), while several of the assistants this year are Payson High School State Champs.  Sam Ford is a two-time Assistant Coach of Year for Utah High School wrestling.  And along with being s state champion for PHS, he wrestled for BYU under Coach Alan Albright.  Assistant Coach Jared Ahlin is also a PHS State Champion while Zac Loveless is a three-time PHS state champ and a National Collegiate Champ (Northwestern College in Powell, Wyoming).

When asked what Region Eight team is going to be the toughest challenge, Coach Clark doesn’t hesitate to name Wasatch.  “Wasatch has good kids in very weight, and they are a deep team.  We will need lots of upsets to beat Wasatch.”

But Region Eight is filled with historically successful wrestling schools: Uintah, Maple Mountain, Salem Hills, Spanish Fork, and Springville.  And that’s exactly the group PHS wants to be with.