Former Hunter wrestler upbeat despite setback

Josh Larsen was "robbed." Or, at least, a little shocked at how things went down.

About 30 seconds remained in his bout with an Ohio wrestler, and Larsen and his opponent were deadlocked on the scoreboard. With about two seconds left, Larsen, a recent graduate of Hunter High School, turned into his man and hooked him chest to chest. The Ohio grappler fell out of bounds as a result of Larsen's move.

Two points for the escape, Larsen thought. The kind of dramatic victory athletes dream of.

Nope, the official didn't award the points, to Larsen's shock and dismay. Larsen went on to lose the bout in sudden-death double overtime, and in the process shattered his shot at eighth place in the national tournament and All-American honors.

"Every time I've been awarded an escape point," said Larsen, who assumed the rules he was used to in Utah didn't apply at the East Coast tournament. "I had my heart set on placing All-American."

For Larsen, Utah's only representative in the national tournament last month, the way he lost his third and final bout left him with a bittersweet taste. Actually, "more bitter than sweet," the 215-pounder said. But nonetheless, the tournament, which was held at a Sheraton Hotel convention center in Mertyl Bean, S.C., last month, was a good primer for the soon-to-be collegiate wrestler.

"It was a very hard pill to swallow," said Larsen, who has agreed to wrestle for Utah Valley in Orem. "However, it was great experience."

Great experience because the caliber of competition was close to as good as it gets, Larsen said. He won his first match against a grappler from Oregon who finished in second place at the same tournament last year, and the Ohio native who beat him in his third dual was one of the top finishers this time around.

Larsen said the skill level at the tourney was close to what a wrestler would find at the annual Fargo, N.D., tournament, which is thought to be one of the most competitive in the nation. Larsen also experienced a bit of what he may find as a collegiate wrestler: opponents who are stronger and faster than those he faced as a prepster.

"It's a lot quicker pace," said Larsen, who placed sixth in the 215-pound class at the state tourney his senior year. "You have to set up a lot more for your shots and attacks."