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Cunnion corrals Mountaineers scholarship

DHS wrestler set to join Western State

A fourth-place finish at the state tournament fueled Patrick Cunnion’s desire to wrestle in college.

It helped him get an offer to do just that, too.

Cunnion, a senior at Durango High School, signed a National Letter of Intent last Wednesday with Western State Colorado University in Gunnison.

He can’t wait to get to the Division II school and wrestle in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

“It’s been my dream throughout the whole high school wrestling career to be a collegiate wrestler. Now that I finally have the opportunity and it’s happening, it’s still unreal,” said Cunnion, son of Kelly and Peter Cunnion. “Last year at state, I did a lot better than everyone thought I could. I didn’t expect to place fourth having never qualified before. Right when I placed at state I kind of realized “Why can’t I be a college wrestler?’”

The 182-pound wrestler called Western State a perfect fit. He can’t wait to get into the wrestling room led by head coach Miles Van Hee.

“They see the potential and the hard work I have. They have sold me on the coaching staff there, the whole environment and team,” Cunnion said.

Cunnion first started wrestling in the eighth grade when he moved to Durango from Houston.

“I instantly fell in love with the sport, and it’s been my main sport since then,” he said. “I’ve been putting in extra time and effort and really have a love for it.”

He credited current head coach John Gurule along with coaches Steve Lavengood, Brad Tarpley and former DHS head coach Doug Cuddy for helping him earn a scholarship. He also said wrestling partner Dakota Sutherland helped develop the mental side of his game.

“Right when I started working with him last year coming into the room, I knew Patrick was an especially talented kid,” said Gurule, who began coaching at DHS last season. “He had a lot of potential, and we had to kind of funnel his potential, and he was able to show it last year at the state tournament.

“He’s a hard-working individual, and he kept a very cool, relaxed demeanor the whole time at state.”

Cunnion will stay at 182 pounds this season and will aim for a state championship. First, he has to shake off a football injury.

“It’s definitely not fun having an injury at the beginning of the season, but luckily I won’t miss any competition,” he said. “It’s a bump I have to climb over. That’s what wrestling is all about: overcoming challenges and being the best you can.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com

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