Dual loss, but 3 solid victories

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
Loss at Grandview.
AURORA – While the quantity of Mullen wrestling is growing and gaining experience as it reloads, the quality seems to be excelling at a more rapid rate.
Indeed, the Mustangs were rolled in a dual meet 66-17 by Class 5A Grandview on Thursday, but remember that the Wolves are ranked No. 2 as a team in the big-school group by On The Mat and eight team members are also rated in weight classes.
But while Grandview won 11 of the 14 matches, the Mustangs’ Noah Linares, John Sumner and Angelo Damian earned impressive victories and admittedly are peeking toward the postseason.
Linares won by technical fall at 113 pounds, and Sumner (145) and Damian (Hwt.) each earned second-period pins. Plus, Mustangs head coach John Howes cited the work of others who are learning on the job, notably that making a mistake on this level usually spells defeat.
“Yeah, they did well,” Howes said. “And Mark (Troni, 113) is getting there and Max (Gonzales, 106) is getting there … we’re getting there and they’re slowly trusting what we’re telling them. The improvement with them all year, week-to-week, has been fun to watch.’’
The bouts began at 132, so Sumner, a junior, was up first and pinned the Wolves’ Matt Frye in 2 minutes, 51 seconds.
There’s history between the two – Sumner said he had wrestled Frye three times in middle school and lost every time. By pin.
“It felt good,” said Sumner, now 30-6. “I’m just going to keep working hard.”
Sumner also mentioned “chasing a state title,” as did Damian, who also won by pin in 2:51 on a power move against Grandview’s Joaquin Barron.
Ever tactical in his approach as a 270-pounder, Damian said Barron “went to toss me. I dropped my hips and fell right into him. It was nice, a good position.”
At 25-8, Damian added that he’s “chasing the podium (placing at state). I missed last year (with a shoulder injury in football), had to miss the whole season. But I went to camps and did a lot of strength training and am just trying to get back.”
Linares (21-3) won by technical fall, 17-0, at the buzzer as he was as thorough as he was methodical. He has moved up to fourth in his weight class, according to On The Mat, and had been looking forward to this level in grade school. And he was prepared.
“I knew it was going to be this way,” he said. “I put in the time and work, and it’s paying off.”
Sumner is rated sixth at 145 and Damian is No. 8 among 3A’s big boys.
Even with the state tournament drawing near, the Mustangs will have plenty of competition to improve and stay sharp. They will host Jefferson on Friday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m. A day later, they will participate in the Platte Valley Duals in Kersey, first bouts at 8 a.m.
 
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