DENVER - Durango's C.J. Hamby and Ty Penning didn't waste any time in their opening matches at the Class 5A State Wrestling Championships on Thursday night.
Both pinned their opponents to power into the state quarterfinals today.
Hamby put his trademark guillotine hold on John Stockley of Fort Collins Poudre, pinning Stockley 1:20 into the first period of their 112-pound match.
Penning was nearly as quick.
He pinned Khiem Tran of Boulder Fairview just 11 seconds into the second period of their match at 119 pounds.
"This is my first time at this tournament, and I wanted to make a statement," Hamby said after his quick pin of Stockley. "I wanted to get a win."
Hamby, a junior, said that once he started a single-leg takedown, he felt like he could finish his opponent.
"Once I got him turned, I had it (guillotine hold) on tight," said Hamby, a DHS junior who improved to 29-12.
"I have a real tough kid (today). He's ranked No. 2 in the state," Hamby said of today's quarterfinal opponent, Mike Sikorski of Pine Creek. Sikorski improved to 44-2 with a first-round win over John Godin of Grandview on Thursday night.
"I'm really looking forward to that match," Hamby said.
Penning, wrestling in the 119-pound bracket, fell behind early in his match. But Penning took the lead with a second-period reversal before finishing his pin with 1:49 to go in the period.
"He (Tran) came out a lot tougher than I expected," Penning said. "It goes to show you, you can't underestimate anyone out here (at the state tournament)."
Penning said he got upset when Tran took the lead.
"I got pissed," Penning said. "Then I went back out there, and I felt pretty good after I turned him over."
He said he relied on his experience to come back and get the win, which improved his record to 34-2.
"As a sophomore, I got here (state), and I was terrified. I lost two (matches), and ... I was gone. Then last year, I won a couple of matches.
"Now, this is the year. I'm a senior, and I've got to turn it up."
He'll face Jeremy Luna of Fort Collins Rocky Mountain (30-11) in today's Class 5A quarterfinals. Luna decisioned Jeff Ibanez of Aurora Central 8-6.
If Penning wins again today, he'll wrestle in the state semifinals tonight - against either Anthony Guillen of Grand Junction ( 34-6) or Eric Wilson of Grandview (41-4).
Durango's Rudy Peterson lost his opening match at 103 pounds Thursday. He fell to Chris Bucceiri of Cherokee Trail 6-0. Peterson will wrestle today in the consolation bracket.
"That was his first match here ... kind of the deer-in-the-headlights for him," DHS head coach Doug Cuddie said.
"But he knows he can wrestle better. He'll come back (today), and he'll be more comfortable," Cuddie said.
Durango's Justin Whirlow came within mere seconds of forcing overtime in his late-night match against Scott Annis of Mountain Range High School.
Wrestling at 189 pounds, Whirlow and Annis were tied 0-0 after the first period.
Annis picked up three back points in the second period to take a 3-0 lead.
Whirlow tied the bout in the third match, netting three back points for a near pin with 48 seconds left in the match.
With :06 on the clock, Annis pulled away from Whirlow for an escape and a tense 4-3 victory.
Whirlow will head into the consolation bracket today, while Annis advances to the state quarterfinals.
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