High school wrestling: It's do-or-die in consolation bracket

OREM — While most of the attention is turned toward the center mats where the semifinals are taking place during the 3A state wrestling tournament, some of the most intense and hard-fought action is unfolding on the outside mats, where athletes are battling to stay alive on the consolation side of the brackets.

While the semifinals take place, the round for the one-loss wrestlers is at its most intense. Win and it means a medal and a podium finish. Lose, and the tournament is over.

"I think it is a lot tougher to wrestle in the consolation," said Union's Cassidy Farnsworth, who won in a double-overtime marathon that assured him of placing in the top six. "If you are in the semis, at least you know you get to keep wrestling. Here, if you lose, that's it, you're finished and you don't medal."

For some, this is where they expected to be, so to advance is a great accomplishment.

"I am only a freshman, so my whole goal coming into the tournament was to get up on that podium," said round winner Dakota Holmes of Uintah. "I knew that if I win that one match, I would reach my goal. It was a pretty intense feeling, but now, knowing I did it is pretty amazing."

Another thing that can be difficult on the outside mats is a feeling of being all alone, such as Justus Minardi of Park City, who is the lone Miner still wrestling.

"In a way it is kind of nice because I can just focus on what I need to do and not be running around worrying what my teammates are doing," Minardi said. "IT would be nice to have some more support, but at the same time, I get my coaches' full attention."

It is the opposite feeling for all the Delta wrestlers as the Rabbits continue their march toward the team title. Delta leads with 283 points. Wasatch is in second at 200.5. Uintah (140.50, Logan (122), Cedar (98) and Hurricane (95) round out the top six.

Action continues today for 3A at 10 a.m. with the consolation bracket. The finals are scheduled for 3:15 p.m. in the McKay Events Center on the campus of Utah Valley University.

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