DENVER – Matthew Lavengood has looked forward to wrestling for a state championship since he was a little kid.
The reality of Saturday’s Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A wrestling finals didn’t paint as rosy of a picture for the Durango High School senior.
He lost 5-2 to Thompson Valley’s Vlad Kaakov in the state title match at 120 pounds to end his high school career.
“It’s rough. I’ve wanted that (state title) since I was a little kid,” said Lavengood, son of Steve and Tamra Lavengood.
Lavengood took the lead in the first period with a takedown and controlled Kazakov for most of that period, nearly earning an additional three points with a near-fall. Kazakov stormed back in the second period with an escape and reversal to take a 3-2 lead. He took Lavengood down one more time in the third period to clinch the championship.
“In that last scramble, it was my fault for him getting the two. It wasn’t really anything that he did,” Lavengood said. “It felt pretty even, but he capitalized on the errors I made.”
Lavengood overcame an ankle injury early in the year that kept him out of several tournaments. It was taped up at the league championships a few weeks ago.
The loss doesn’t end Lavengood’s wrestling career, though. He wants to wrestle in college but isn’t sure where.
“It takes a lot off of (the edge),” Lavengood said of wrestling in college. “It takes a lot off the edge off knowing I’ve got four more years.”
Durango’s other senior still alive Saturday, Patrick Cunnion, finished fourth for the second consecutive year. He lost 6-3 to Pueblo County’s Donovan Rincon in the third-place match at 182 pounds.
Cunnion trailed 2-1 after one period and 5-3 after two.
“I think there were some areas I could have done some smarter things,” said Cunnion, son of Kelly and Peter Cunnion. “Maybe tried some more effective and better moves when I was on top. I kept trying the same move over and over and over.”
Cunnion found vindication in the consolation semifinals. He matched up with Thompson Valley’s Patton Graff, who pinned Cunnion in the opening round Thursday. Revenge waited until there were seven seconds left, When Cunnion pinned Graff to advance.
“I wanted to go out there and kick his butt,” Cunnion said. “I still didn’t think he was a better wrestler than me. He straight-up caught me in the first round. Sometimes that happens in wrestling. I wanted to go out there and show him what I was made of.”
The loss doesn’t end Cunnion’s wrestling career, either. He’ll compete next season at Western State University in Gunnison.
“For me, it wasn’t too nerve-wrecking. I just wanted to leave it all on the mat for my high school career,” Cunnion said. “This isn’t the last you’ll hear of me.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
DHS: How they fared
Matthew Lavengood, Sr., 120 pounds (29-3): Lost to Thad Kazakov, Thompson Valley, 5-2. Finished: 2nd.
Patrick Cunnion, Sr., 182 pounds (29-3): Pinned Jonathan Hernandez, Mountain Vista, (5:53); lost to Donovan Rincon, Pueblo County, 6-3. Finished: 4th.
