| 2/19/2007 9:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Senior 215-pound Spartan matman Mike Mazzucca is presented to the crowd after winning his 3A third-place match by a 4-2 decision against Jon Medley of Florence. Mazzucca points to his family in the stands after his victory. Photo by Denise Ronald |
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Mazzucca places third at state
by Denise Ronald
Mail Staff Writer
DENVER - A takedown and an escape during the final seconds of his last match Saturday earned Spartan senior wrestler Mike Mazzucca third place in the 3A 215-pound division of the 72nd annual state wrestling championships at the Pepsi Center.
Jon Medley of Florence was leading 2-0 after the first period. Mazzucca scored a point on an escape during the second period, but was not able to get a solid grip on Medley the first half of the final period.
Frustrated, Mazzucca took a neutral position after a time out. He lunged at Medley, was grabbed and made what looked like a two-point reversal.
The referee credited points for an escape and takedown just seconds before the end of the match, giving Mazzucca a 4-2 lead.
Spartan assistant coach Bruce Davidson said he believed Mazzucca should have gotten a reversal, which would have given him a 3-2 lead, but was happy to take the extra point.
Smiling, Mazzucca came off the floor at the end of the match, pointed to his family in the stands and gestured No. 1 with his finger.
The Spartan matman pinned Wilson Henry from Yuma at :03:59 in the first round and pinned Eric Hurd of Pagosa Springs at :01:49 in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Mazzucca was pinned by Nick Dreitz from Brush at :04:34 and dropped into the consolation bracket. Mazzucca battled hard, but could never get the upper hand against Dreitz.
During an interview before state, Mazzucca said he knew Dreitz, who came to the tournament with a 33-3 mark, was going to be the toughest wrestler he would face.
Down, but not defeated, Mazzucca was determined to take out Scott Redden of Gunnison in the consolation semifinals.
Mazzucca beat Redden on a 9-7 decision, advancing to the third/fourth-place match.
Although disappointed he didn't get to wrestle in the championship round, Mazzucca's coaches said they are pleased to have taken third.
Last year, he placed sixth, as a sophomore he was 2-2 and he went 0-2 as a freshman at state.
Wilkins places fifth
Teammate Scott Wilkins garnered fifth place in the 3A heavyweight division, winning by decision over Adam Waters of Brush.
As a first-year grappler last year, the Spartan senior finished sixth in his division.
Wilkins pinned Ossiel Vargas from Arrupe Jesuit in 15 seconds during his first match and then beat Waters by 11-5 decision in the quarterfinals.
Troy Appel from Lamar, a wrestler Wilkins has beaten twice this year, pinned the Salida matman with 30 seconds left in their semifinal match.
With the loss Wilkins was dropped into the consolation bracket where he faced Waters again.
After the tournament, Wilkins' coaches said he had a rough time staying focused this year and may have "let all the hype get to him."
Senior Richie Cahill and sophomore Rich Valerio each went 0-2 at the state tournament.
Valerio was pinned at :02:52 by Gabe Martinez from St. Mary's and knocked out of the tournament when Isiah Lucero from La Junta beat him on a 14-4 major decision.
Cahill was pinned at :01:27 by Roosevelt matman Nathan Heuer in round one and sent home when Robert Alba from Lamar pinned him.
Spartan coaches were hoping to make a better show at state this year, but are pleased two of their four state qualifiers placed.
Although Salida finished the season with only five wrestlers, four qualified for state and two placed.
During an interview earlier in the season, Smith said he is hoping to breathe new life into the faltering high school program with a strong group of wrestlers competing at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels.
In team action, Brush took top honors with 32.5 points. Second place Roosevelt tallied 27 points, Florence captured third with 26 and fourth went to Olathe with 24 points.
Both Salida and Buena Vista finished near the bottom of the pack with eight points. Buena Vista, which sent six wrestlers to state, had no placers this year.
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