Love claims state heavyweight title

This past weekend the Lovell Bulldogs headed down to Casper to wrap up their season at State Wrestling. Wrestling in the 2A Division, the team came in sixth with 110 points out of 23 2A teams. By the end of the third day, several wrestlers managed to come home with some hardware by placing within the top six of their 16-man brackets.

Senior James Love took no time making it into the finals of the heavyweight bracket by pinning all three of his opponents. Love faced off against Hulett’s Christian Reilly, the returning state champion Love had lost to the previous year by a 6-3 decision.

“Warming up for my finals match, I was thinking about how I lost to him last year in the finals,” explained Love. “Watching him now, I knew I could beat him.”

With the two facing off against each other for the very first time this season, Love was ready to wrestle smart and tough on the mat.

“I knew it was going to be a war of attrition,” Love said as he recalled preparing for his match against Reilly. 

In the first period Love and Reilly stayed upright with neither of them wanting to give up a takedown to the other. In the second period, Love took bottom and spent no time gaining an escape to set the score 1-0. The rest of the period was a fight for control of hand ties, where neither of them managed to score.

Going into the third, Reilly took bottom and managed to gain an escape over Love, tying the two up 1-1 until the clock expired. The match went into the first overtime, in which the referee called for a sudden death; the first person to score a takedown would win the match. However, the clock ran down to zero and the score still stood tied, sending Love and Reilly into the second overtime.

In the second overtime, Love gained choice by the flip of the referee’s coin and chose to take bottom to attempt an escape. Reilly managed to hold him down for the 30 issued seconds, but Love refused to give up any points. Going into the third overtime period, Reilly took bottom to attempt to get a point by an escape or reversal. However, Love was not going to let another state title slip through his fingers.

At the sound of the whistle, Love managed to grab hold of Reilly’s arm and slowly work him flat. As Reilly attempted to sit out and hit a switch, Love saw his opportunity to strike and pulled him back to his shoulders, gaining near-fall points using a chin whip.

“That final move was all instinct,” explained Love. “I had practiced that chin whip so much this season because it worked so well for me.”

Love’s final move gave him three near-fall points, ending the match with a 4-1 decision and crowning Love as a state champion.

“I didn’t actually know whether or not I had won, but as soon as I heard the crowd I knew I did,” Love said. “I felt happier than I’ve ever felt before. I have truly accomplished my lifelong goal.”

With Love avenging his loss from last year, head wrestling coach Ty Hecker stated, “James’ vision quest is now complete. Winning his finals match solidified him as the best heavyweight wrestler in any class of the entire state.” Love ended his senior season as a Ron Thon, regional and state champion with a record of 33-2, avenging both of his losses throughout the season.

“I would like to thank the people around me who got me here, especially coach Hecker,” Love said. “Ty and I had a vision quest, and we completed it. He has been a big inspiration in my life. I would also like to shout out coach Hull, coach Skye and my family for believing I could do it.”

Other Bulldogs

Senior Rosendo Garcia competed in the 215-pound weight class. Going into the semifinals after a 24-second pin, Garcia faced Oliver Gorsuch of Moorcroft.

“Garcia had a dog-fight match in the semis,” Hecker said. Down 8-2 by the third period, Garcia managed to gain a reversal and pin Gorsuch in the last 20 seconds of the match, sending him into the finals against Owen Barton of Kemmerer.

Garcia wrestled tough in his last match of the season, setting the score 1-1 by the third period.

“Garcia came up short in the final seconds of his match after going for a throw and slipping, giving up a takedown at the end,” explained Hecker, placing Garcia second in the 215-pound weight class. Hecker described Garcia’s high school wrestling career as phenomenal, explaining that Garcia has picked up three all-state wrestling certificates by making it to the finals three years in a row.

Sophomore Mason Christenson came in fourth at 132 pounds after being sent to the left side of the bracket after a tough match in the semifinals.

“Christenson showed a different side of himself at the end of the season,” Hecker said. “He had been more vocal and started to become a leader on the team, which also showed up on the mat.”

With Christenson taking fourth place at State as well as qualifying for all-conference the week before at Regionals as a sophomore, Hecker noted, “Christenson is a good kid and a very talented wrestler. I love having him on the team.” 

Kalell Gruell was the second Lovell sophomore to place fourth at State, competing in the 215-pound weight class. Losing to the state champion in the semifinals, Gruell was sent to the left side of the bracket. A tough match against Oliver Gorsuch of Moorcroft put him in fourth place at the state tournament. “This is Gruell’s first year in high school wrestling,” explained Hecker, “Fourth place is a very big accomplishment, and I am excited to see him back next year.” 

Dino Delacruz competed at State in the 106-pound weight division.

“Delacruz had a rough break at State this year,” Hecker said. “The state finals were wrestled in the semifinals, with Dino coming up short but managing to put the state champion on his back twice.”

Losing his match in the semifinals sent Delacruz to wrestle back on the left side of the bracket.

“Dino lost a heartbreaker after he accidentally pinned himself attempting a cradle,” Hecker said. The loss put Delacruz in for fifth place at State, and he won the finale on a medical forfeit.

“None of this takes away from what Dino has sacrificed this season,” Hecker said. “I could not be any more proud of him this season.”

Junior Danika Crumrine wrestled on the girls side of the tournament, competing at 135 pounds.

“Through the year of dealing with injury, Danika ended her season on a high note,” Hecker said. A tough
call early in the tournament sent Crumrine to the left side of the bracket, eventually leading her to place fifth overall.

“She may not have placed as high as she wanted, but she wrestled tough and with a lot of heart. Sometimes things just don’t go your way,” Hecker said. “But she has a lot to be proud of and knows that her career is not over. There is still work to be done.”

Senior Carson Asay also landed in fifth place in the 165-pound bracket, wrapping up his high school career.

“Asay wrestled very smart and aggressive matches, pinning almost all of his opponents in the third period,” Hecker noted, also pointing out that Asay’s willingness to keep going shows how great his work ethic and determination is to win close matches.

“I would say that Asay is the most improved wrestler on the team,” Hecker said.

“State didn’t go exactly how I planned,” Hecker concluded, “but I couldn’t be prouder of my team and what they went through. Sometimes life isn’t fair, but we pick ourselves up and keep moving forward.”

Which is exactly what the team plans to do as they await the start of the next season.