RANGELY | Tytus Coombs entered the 2019 state tournament with yet another tough draw, wrestling No. 3 seed Tyler Collins from Wray who was last year’s consolation champ in the 132-pound bracket. Coombs got into an upper body match and fell by pin. Collins went on to advance to the finals and ended up the state runner-up.
Every wrestler automatically advances into the second day of the state tournament as only one round is wrestled Thursday.
“This gave Tytus a good opportunity to go back to the room to clear his mind and regroup,” said head coach JC Chumacero. “He entered the Pepsi Center with an attitude Saturday and was not going to be denied a win.”
Coombs defeated Sanford senior Gavyn Smith by pin in the beginning of the third period. The backside path for a state medal turned into a repeat of the regional tournament as his next match was against Ignacio senior Skieler Grooms.
“Grooms had beat us the weekend before at the regional tournament which is what put us into fourth place,” Chumacero said. “This turned into another great battle between two great competitors but Coombs was not going to be denied his advancement into Saturday’s competition defeating Grooms 6-3. These two gained great respect for each other over the season as this was their fifth time meeting up and it was great to see the respect for each other after the match.”
Coombs entered Saturday morning with his head held high as half of the tournament’s competition had been eliminated from the tournament. The match that would have put Rangely into the medal rounds was against sophomore Traycer Hall. Coombs started the match firing on all cylinders earning an early takedown going up 2-0. The match continued to play into the Panthers’ favor as Coombs won the coin toss which they deferred, giving the choice to Hall. As expected Hall picked the bottom position as he had points to make up.
“Coombs wrestled very smart and only gave up an escape putting the match with us still up 2-1 going into the third period. Coombs picked the bottom position in hopes to increase our lead. With about one minute left in the third, Tytus scored an escape putting the match in our favor 3-1. With only 12 seconds left in the match Hall was not ready to give up and shot what we call in the wrestling world, a ‘beautiful double leg’ taking us to the mat and immediately putting us to our back,” coach Chumacero said. That move scored the final winning points to end the match 6-3.
“This was such a heart-breaking loss for Coombs, but also a learning experience. It doesn’t take long after entering the Pepsi Center tunnels to see that there are many young men going through the same thing as the tunnel is filled with tears of kids who got beat out of the state tournament. Wrestling is unique in the fact that its just you and your opponent going to battle and when you lose all that weight is on your shoulders,” Chumacero said. “Tytus wrestled a very good season and was just seconds away from his first state medal. I know he will use this as fuel to drive him into an even more successful season next year.”
Coach Chumacero thanked his team for “sticking by my side once again”—Braxton Moore (106), Anthony Garner (132), Tytus Coombs (138), Zane Varner (145), Justin Rusher (152), Brent Cantrell (160), Dontea Pearce (170), Del Garner (182), Dalton Dembowski (195) and Byron Mackay (285)—and would also like to thank all the parents for their support and his two assistant coaches Logan Osborne and Claude Rose. “I am excited for another season next year!”
Special to the Herald Times
