It only took 10 seconds for Dylon Walker to turn a disadvantage into a win Saturday night to remain unbeaten on the season after claiming four more wins and the 189-pound division title at the Rocket Invitational.
The El Dorado senior was able to get a reversal against Mulvane’s Dylan Hagerman at the start of the third period and then got the pin at 4:10 of the match to win the division.
Walker had beaten Hagerman in two close tough matches earlier in the season, but the Wildcat had seen an opening and was able to take advantage of the situation.
“I’ve usually been using my single-leg (takedown) and I noticed my double-leg worked better against him, so I started using that,” Walker said. “It worked. I just had to let everybody know that it wasn’t going to be a close one anymore; but I’ll see him again at regionals.”
El Dorado coach Derick McCreary said it was good that Walker had seen the situation and was able to earn the victory, his 25th of the season with no losses.
“(Hagerman) is a good kid who put himself in that position and Dylon was able to take advantage of it and get the call,” McCreary said.
El Dorado senior Lucas Cortez finished second in the 160-pound match to Labette County’s John Hambleton 7-0. Cortez had a chance early to put pressure on Hambleton, a 2009 state champion, but he wasn’t able to keep his opponent controlled after throwing him to the mat.
“If I had been able to keep control (after the throw down), then it may have been a different story,” Cortez said.
McCreary said it was a good showing for Cortez, who suffered only his second loss of the season in the match.
“It was a returning state champion who beat him,” McCreary said. “(Lucas) will return to wrestle another day and we’ll see (Hambleton) at the regionals.”
El Dorado had only one other wrestler place in the tournament with Kyle Macy finishing fourth in the 103-pound division. The Wildcats scored 81 points and finished 10th in the tournament.
“We really did wrestle well and we won a couple of matches on the backside we needed to,” McCreary said. “The places don’t show it, but this is one of the top tournaments and to finish in the top 10 is good.”
Derby won the team title with 158 points, followed by Valley Center (143), Andale (126.5), Andover Central (117) and Arkansas City (112).
The Wildcats’ next action will be Thursday night with their final home dual of the season against Augusta. The dual will start at 6:30 p.m.
