Eads Wrestlers Compete At State
February 28, 2003
It was another exciting three days at the Pepsi Center in Denver as all classes, 2A-5A, competed in the 2003 state wrestling tournament. This Colorado High School Activities Association event draws more attendance than any other CHSAA sponsored event. Eads wrestlers, Cody Cordova and Kelly Lindholm, were among the top 16 wrestlers to make it to state in their weight divisions.
Cordova was fired up for his first match against Dirks from Holyoke. Wrestling like he has wrestled all year and racking up points in the first period, the score after 1 was Cordova 9-1. Determination and ability combined for a pin for the win in 2:16. Friday morning was another story. Cordova could not get past Gates from Soroco losing 11-6. The match was closer than the final score indicated. Cordova got the first takedown and was in control for awhile before Gates answered back with 2 points. Points were traded back and forth and the score was tied in the 3rd at 6, Gates got a reversal making it 8-6. Cordova knew he had to have some points but Gates was ready for his move and put Cordova on his back. Not working towards a pin and just holding Cordova there, there was little Cordova could do to make up the points sending him into the consolation bracket. Knowing one more loss and he was out, Cordova wrestled a tough match Friday night against Stinson from Fowler. Tied after regulation both wrestlers started on their feet in overtime. Cordova almost had the takedown towards the end of the one-minute period but time ran out and the match went into double overtime. Cordova took bottom knowing he would have to score in 30 seconds. Wasting no time, Cordova was determined to escape. He stood up, peeled Stinson’s hands from his waist and turned to face him for the 2OT victory 3-2. As all wrestlers know, this kind of match can take a toll physically and mentally and Cordova would need to be at his best if he were going to defeat his next opponent, Lohman from Gilpin County, the defending state champ at 152 lbs. Tired and sore, Cordova took Lohman into overtime with the score tied at 1. Cordova had the take down but was called off the mat. Then Lohman came back and got the takedown and Cordova lost 3-1, one match away from placing at State.
For Lindholm, it was a weekend of ones as 3 of the 4 matches he wrestled were decided by a one-point difference and he was also one win away from placing. In his first ever appearance at state, Lindholm was paired with Trujillo from Antonito. After leading most of the match 1-0, Lindholm gave up an escape tying the score at 1. Trujillo got the take down with little time left. Lindholm had enough time for an escape but could not score again as the match ended in a 3-2 loss for Lindholm. In control for most of the match Friday morning, against Curtis from Dolores County, it took Lindholm some time before he finally pulled far enough ahead in the 3rd period for some "breathing room". Winning 10-1 would move him to his next match Friday night against Panabaker from
Wiggins. Lindholm and Panabaker had met once before this year with Lindholm getting the win 7-6 so another tough match was in store. With less than 10 seconds to go in the first period, Lindholm got the first takedown for 2 points. Panabaker chose down in the 2nd period and got the reversal for 2. The scored remained 2-2 throughout the 3rd period as this time Lindholm started down but could not score. Neither wrestler could get the takedown in overtime so with the score still tied at 2-2 the match went into double overtime. Lindholm chose down and had 30 seconds to escape. With 19 seconds left, Lindholm tried a string of moves which Panabaker was ready for and held him until the wrestlers went off the mat with 2 seconds left. What can you do in 2 seconds? Coach Tinnes had the answer for Lindholm, something Panabaker wasn’t ready for, something he had not seen from Lindholm before. When the whistle blew, Lindholm did the Granby roll and broke Panabaker’s hold for the very exciting 3-2 win. As with Cordova, Lindholm came back Saturday morning tired and sore but ready to wrestle Ortner from Holyoke. With no score in the first period, Lindholm chose down in the second. He escaped and after 2 the score was Lindholm 1-0. Ortner chose down to start the 3rd and reversed putting him on top 2-1. Ortner matched Lindholm move for move and Lindholm could not score losing a close one, 2-1.
Congratulations go to Cordova and Lindholm for a very good tournament finishing in the top 8 in the state. Coach Tinnes looks forward to next season as all 6 wrestlers return for another year. juniors Cody Cordova and Shawn Kraft, sophomores, Josh Fry and Kelly Lindholm, freshmen, Brandon Cordova and Hunter Uhland will be on the mat for Eads along with a few new faces.