Sumner wins; Damian in consos
1sy day of state wrestling.
John Sumner was stirred as opposed to shaken.
Of course, he was motivated in his first trip to the Pepsi Center for the Colorado wrestling championships, but he also had his emotions under control.
So his pin of Isaiah Tigert of Grand Valley in 1 minute, 11 seconds at Class 3A’s 145 pounds in preliminaries on Thursday was methodical, purposeful and not unexpected.
“Yeah, I was a little bit nervous,” the Mustangs junior said, “and I had to get out there and get it done before anything bad could happen.
“And I was the favorite to win that one, so I thought I may as well do it quick.”
Now 42-7, Sumner worked a two-point takedown in the opening seconds, gave up an escape, then rolled with Tigert to put him on his back for the fall.
“He started off the way we asked him,” Mustangs head coach John Howes said. “We asked him to set the pace right away and take care of business. It was a good first match and we need him to just slow down a little bit.”
Sumner said winning on Thursday “made me feel comfortable and I can wrestle like I can.”
Having missed regional rounds a year ago because of a heart problem, Sumner sent Tigert to the consolations. He will take on Jake Hamilton (34-8) of Colorado Springs Christian, another junior, in Friday morning’s quarterfinals.
“I’m excited to go out there and do my best,” Sumner said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Elsewhere, Mullen senior Angelo Damian was pinned in 5:03 at 285. He fell to top-seeded Logan Thompson of Alamosa. Damian is 36-12 and will meet Holy Family’s Jacob Barry (5-13), a freshman, in the consolations.
Friday’s quarterfinals will begin at 9 a.m., followed by first-round consolations. Second-round consolations will begin at 5 p.m. and semifinals, usually the top rounds of the event, will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by another round of consolations.
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