Busy Avelar puts Cimarron in contention

Most wrestlers have to win twice to advance to a state final match.

Cimarron-Memorial senior Adrian Avelar had to win three times Friday, drawing the lone pre-quarterfinal match at 120 pounds.

It hardly mattered.

Avelar made an escape with a minute remaining to hold on for a 5-4 decision over Centennial's Jesse Gamez in a semifinal at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament at Cox Pavilion.

"I was just trying to get out and wrestle good," Avelar said. "I had to get into the finals."

Green Valley stormed to the team lead with 110½ points, getting semifinal wins by Sean Cannon (106), Jared Brathor (113), Zack Perry (132), Donovan Peek (152) and Ryder Newman (160).

Cimarron was second with 80 points, followed by Palo Verde (45), Reed (45) and Liberty (40).

Avelar scored a takedown against Gamez in the final 30 seconds of the first period for a 2-0 lead, then added another takedown to go up 4-2 heading into the third period.

But after Avelar chose to start from the neutral position, Gamez rolled through Avelar's shot 30 seconds into the round to tie the match 4-4.

Avelar didn't panic, though, and exploded to his feet after a restart 10 seconds later for the decisive escape point.

"It was basically the same thing we've been practicing all year: attack from the bottom," Avelar said.

Avelar started the day with a 39-second pin over Basic's Nick Gomez, and stunned Curtis Lampert of Spanish Springs with a 4-0 quarterfinal decision.

"All week, I was preparing for Lampert," Avelar said. "I figured if I could get Lampert, the (path to the) finals would be easier. I was working hard for that. My friends sent me text messages, and all I was seeing were (Palo Verde's Jordan Hart) and Lampert. That was my motivation."

Cimarron coach Mike Garcia said: "(Avelar) is a phenomenal kid, and he's getting everything he deserves. He's worked hard, and he's earned it."

The Spartans also placed Chris Colwell (126), Bronson Ashjian (132) and Austin Sinyard (285) in the finals, which begin at 4 p.m. today for all three classifications. Wrestling resumes at 10 a.m.

"Every kid we've got is a high character kid. That means the world to coaches," Garcia said. "The camaraderie is great. They care about each other. If they could, they'd run out there (on the mat) and help each other."

Avelar's win helped spark pins by Colwell and Ashjian, as the three wrestlers were on the three-mat setup nearly in succession.

"It's really great. We feed off each other; that's our momentum," Avelar said.

Not all of Cimarron's wrestlers were as fortunate. Liberty's Jordan Joseph upset Spartans senior Austin Beaman in the 170 semifinals, coming from behind to record a pin in 4:51.

"This feeling is great; it's unbelievable," said Joseph, a senior transfer from Legacy. "This is everything I've worked for. I never even got to regionals before."

Beaman led 9-6 through two periods, but Joseph saw an opening for a head throw that put Beaman on his back.

Contact reporter Sean Walker at swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.