“I DID IT. I REALLY DID IT.”
When the ref’s hand slapped down on the mat one minute and 47 seconds into his Class 2A 190-pound state title match at Ball Arena on Saturday night, everything that Wiggins senior Pepper Rusher had worked toward finally came to fruition.
Years of blood, sweat and tears ended in the ultimate prize: the state wrestling crown he’d been chasing all season long. Buena Vista’s Haden Camp, it turned out, wasn’t too much of a challenge.
Rusher drew from the energy in the crowd that nearly filled the 20,000-seat arena.
“The state title match was very nerve-wracking, but at the same time, when I heard my crowd start cheering for me before we slapped hands, it was like I felt invincible,” Rusher said. “That just kind of allowed me to go all out and get the job done without leaving a doubt.”
His season leading up to that moment certainly left very little room for it. Rusher entered the tournament with just four losses to his name and ended it with 39 victories. In years past, he had never finished better than third place at state.
“I want to say a huge thank you to all of the coaches and role models I have had over my career of sports — from my peewee coaches who started my love for the sport, up to my high school coaches who pushed me to finish, all of the support from Morgan County and my friends and fam who have been there since day one,” Rusher said.
“The feeling I got when the ref slapped his hand on the mat is a memory that will last a lifetime. The thoughts that ran through my head were, “I did it. I really did it.”
Brush grapplers place eight at state, team finishes third
Much like Wiggins, Brush saw a good amount of success itself in the 3A state competition. Sophomore Nick Dardanes earned runner-up status after Moffat County’s Kaden Hixson defeated him in a 10-8 sudden victory in the 126-pound title match. He finished his season 38-4. “I was really nervous but also excited at the same time,” Dardanes said. “It was a great experience to be a sophomore and make it to the finals. I think I have a great chance of doing better next year, coming back and actually winning the title.”
Austin Ley (157 pounds, 33-11) and Dominick Ontiveros (215, 4110) both nabbed fourth place in their respective weight classes.
Josue Mayorga (150, 29-11) battled his way to fifth place alongside T.J. Rivera (285, 17-7) as Tanner Ludgate (138, 29-13), Ritchie Bruno (165, 36-11) and Cole Curtis (175, 21-8) rounded out the effort for the Beetdiggers with sixth-place finishes.
The team placed third overall with 103.5 points.
“We have a very strong team, a very young team and I just feel like we’re going to do better next year and might be able to bring home a title,” Dardanes said.