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Orem • The world has changed dramatically since 2008, yet several things have remained constant throughout the past seven years: Death, taxes and Delta wrestling. The Rabbits have captured a state championship every year since 2008 — boosting their total to a state-record 33 championships last season, the most for any one team in any one sport.

However, all things eventually conclude. Is this the year Delta's reign of supremacy expires? The Rabbits are clinging to a marginal 1.5-point lead over South Summit after the first day of the Class 3A, 2A and 1A wrestling tournament at the UCCU Center on Friday. Delta finished with 118.5 total points, the Wildcats posted a team score of 117.

The Wildcats want to put an end to the dominance. One spectator's hotspot WiFi was aptly named "Beat Delta!!!!" This generation of Rabbits are intent on not being the class responsible for ending the dynasty.

"It would mean a lot to our team," said South Summit's Matt Lee. "We practice twice a day. We're working to be the best. ... We've wanted that our whole lives, and we're so close."

The Wildcats actually won the Class 2A championship in 2011 while Delta was participating in the 3A classification. The Rabbits have earned the past two titles in 2A since reclassification, but South Summit has already beat them in other tournaments this season.

Lee, who is gunning for his fourth individual title in the 126-pound division, said the current South Summit coaching staff wrestled on that 2011 team and brought their rings to practice to motivate the players.

"Every match counts," Lee said. "Even if you've lost and you're on the backside coming through, battle back and take third and help the team out. That's why we're going to beat Delta — coming back and taking third [in the consolation bracket]."

Lee, who also plays football, understands the heartbreak of finishing second. The Wildcats lost to Beaver in the Class 2A football championship with an undefeated record.

"Coming off of that loss, I haven't felt that low in a while," Lee said. "That loss kind of humbled me a lot. I don't want to feel like that again, so that's definitely a motivation."

Delta's Jason Hatch, who is vying to repeat as an individual champion in the 152-pound weight class, understands the significance of reputation. He expressed how he felt the entire state wants the Rabbits to lose — a pressure that serves both as an advantage and disadvantage heading into Saturday's finals, which are scheduled for approximately 5:10 p.m. at the UCCU Center.

"It's hard," Hatch said. "You have a lot of pressure because you're from Delta, but it helps because you know you have to do good. Everybody wants to beat us, so we'll see how it goes."

With the slim lead, Hatch said he's "nervous because it's state," but is still confident the Rabbits will increase the streak to eight.

"I have faith in our team that they'll do as good as they can and we'll end up taking state again," Hatch said. "...I think [South Summit has] some good wrestlers who will make it to the finals, but as a team, it depends on who really wants to win as a team. I think more it's more of an individual thing with them."

Delta and South Summit weren't the only teams tangled in a brawl. Bear River and Juab left exhaust in the faces of the rest of the 3A classification, with the Bears claiming lead after tallying 110 points. The Wasps are second, with 95 points.

Altamont and Duchesne, which won the title last season, expectedly jumped out to an early lead in 1A classification after the semifinal round.. The Eagles positioned themselves with the overnight lead by accumulating 163 points, pulling away late. The Longhorns finished with 117.5 points.