DENVER – Live by the pin, die by the pin.
Durango High School’s Daniel Gustavson found that out Friday at the state wrestling tournament in Denver.
He pinned Golden’s Noah Lennox with 12 seconds remaining in the second period of their 220-pound quarterfinal match after picking up a pin in his first match Thursday.
That put him into the semifinals against Pueblo Central’s Evan Lancelot, who was 39-2 entering the match.
Gustavson took a 2-0 lead on an early takedown but trailed 5-2 after one period.
Lancelot pinned him with 1 minute, 6 seconds remaining in the second period.
“Daniel came out and competed against that kid, and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” DHS head coach John Gurule said.
Gustavson will await results from Saturday’s consolation brackets to determine his opponent.
“I’m going to go out there and wrestle my hardest, put it all on the mat,” said Gustavson, son of Catherine and Dan Gustavson. “After this, there’s not really much else I can do.”
Matthew Lavengood had a tough day Friday. He lost his quarterfinal match and first consolation bracket match to end his state tournament run at 120 pounds. Windsor’s Jon Lewis beat him 4-2 in the quarterfinals, then Lavengood fell 6-4 to Vista Peak’s Jesus Casillas.
Lavengood led the match 4-3 after the second period but couldn’t score in the third, which cost him the match.
“Matthew’s in one of the toughest weight brackets I can think of,” Gurule said. “The experience he’s gaining here in every match will only help him in the future.”
Patrick Cunnion looked like he would share a similar fate.
Pueblo East’s Phillip Benavidez pinned him with 54 seconds left in the first period of their 182-pound quarterfinal match.
Cunnion faced David Eusea of Thompson Valley in the consolation second round. He trailed 2-1 after the second period and found himself on the bottom. Cunnion had a chance to escape and tie the match at two, but he instead pulled a reversal for the victory.
“I knew I had to just keep pushing through it. Pain is only temporary,” said Cunnion, son of Kelly and Peter Cunnion. “I just wanted to beat him, and I was willing to do whatever it takes.”
Hunter Hall’s stay in the state tournament ended after a 9-2 loss to Cheyenne Mountain’s Mitch White in the consolation first round.
Hall made three escapes in the match to score his points.
The consolation third round will begin at noon Saturday.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
Class 4A
DENVER – Semifinal results Friday from the CHSAA Class 4A Wrestling State Championships at the Pepsi Center.
Team Scores: Broomfield 112.5; Pueblo County 96; Thompson Valley 88; Windsor 75; Pueblo South 74; Discovery Canyon 72.5; Mead 43; Air Academy 40; Pueblo Central 39; Berthoud 37; Pueblo East 37; Erie 31; Pueblo Centennial 30; Ft. Morgan 29; Montezuma-Cortez 29; Palisade 29; Lewis-Palmer 27; Mesa Ridge 27; Mountain View 26; Delta 22; Elizabeth 22; Longmont 21.5; Durango 20; Falcon 19; Montrose 18; Rifle 16; Glenwood Springs 14; Canyon City 13; Golden 13; Weld Central 11; Conifer 10; Pueblo West 10; Steamboat Springs 9; Widefield 9; Greeley Central 8; Mullen 8; Niwot 8; Roosevelt 8; Sand Creek 7; Palmer Ridge 6; Woodland Park 6; Mitchell 5; Cheyenne Mountain 4; Silver Creek 4; Eagle Valley 3; Valor Christian 3; Vista Ridge 3; Northridge 2; Vista Peak 2; Wheat Ridge 2; Summit 1.
220: Evan Lancelot, Pueblo Central, fall Daniel Gustavson, Durango, 2:54; Toby McBride, Fort Morgan, major decision Demitrius Miller, Pueblo Centennial, 15-4.
Associated Press
