Extreme Wrestling’s Gavin Ayotte has been named Utah Wrestler of the week, Extreme coach Quin Dickson said. It was a great week for Ayotte, who besides being recognized by Wrestling Utah, took first at the Beehive Brawl in Richfield.

As a team, Extreme placed fifth in the tournament of roughly 900 wrestlers, including teams from Utah, Wyoming, Coloorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

“Many of our kids were one win away from placing,” Dickson said. “They are showing a lot of heart and guts. We have won many matches on just never giving up and plain heart.”

Logan Holmes placed first in the 6-and-under division, and his teammates Jaren Spiers and Hayden Haase took third and fourth.

“Logan Holmes was a beast, never letting up on his kids, never giving them a chance to relax,” Dickson said. “He’s like a little energizer bunny, he keeps going and going.”

Dillon Dick and William Price were second and third in the 8-and-under division.

Ayotte took first in the 10-and-under division, and Robert Edwards took fourth.

“Gavin wrestled tough,” Dickson said. “He was in control of all his matches. He was in the zone for sure. He had that ‘eye of the tiger’ look before every match.”

In the 12-and-under division, Extreme’s Cub Deets took third and Tucker Tomlinson was fourth. Kedric Coonis dominated the 15-and-under division except for one match that went to overtime, taking first. Brock Bowden was fourth in 15-and-under.

Thanks to standouts like Ayotte and Coonis, Extreme Wrestling is moving up in the national and state team rankings on www.trackwrestling.com. Extreme is now ranked third in Utah, and 33rd in the nation. Team Legacy from Salt Lake City is No. 1 in Utah and third nationally.

The previous week Extreme traveled to Syracuse for the Clash of the Titans tournament, bringing only 13 wrestlers.

Bowden, Laramie Brough, and Alek Shope had great weekends, according to Dickson. Ayotte also had a strong tournament.

“Gavin was on fire,” Dickson said. “Out of four matches, he had three of the kids crying

because he never quits and keeps pouring it on.”

On Thursday, United States Olympic hopeful Justin Ruiz put on a clinic in Roosevelt for wrestlers from Extreme Wrestling, as well as wrestlers from all over the Basin.

“I think the clinic went great,” Ruiz said. “They’re good kids. They work hard and pay attention.”

Ruiz will be conducting another clinic for Extreme Wrestling in March, with more of a focus on freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling techniques.

The next two weeks are huge for Extreme Wrestling; this Friday and Saturday the team will be at the 4A-5A state tournament at Alta High School. The next week is Super State, a competition for all wrestlers in Utah in grades pre-K through nine.

Dickson said new wrestlers are still joining the team every week.

“A few have said ‘it’s not for me,’” Dickson said laughing, “and that’s fine, they’re not under contract. Every week we’re getting brand-new kids that have never wrestled before. We’re still taking all comers.”