March 28, 2024

PCM's Cummings, Tool earn 2A fourth-place state medals

DES MOINES – When Prairie City-Monroe junior Wes Cummings filled out his goal sheet at the beginning of the wrestling season, his ultimate goal was to be in the top four when the season ended.

On Saturday morning, Cummings completed that goal.

Two PCM wrestlers hit the mats in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena, and both Mustangs captured Class 2A fourth-place medals.

Cummings at 160 and freshman Colby Tool at 138 opened the final consolation round with semifinal wins over ranked opponents. Each one came up short in their respective third-place match.

“The goal was top four. That’s what I got,” Cummings said. “I should have come out on top in that first match. I didn’t wrestle the way I wanted to wrestle in that last match, but it happens. I still got the goal I set.”

Second-ranked Cummings lost a heartbreaker in the closing seconds of his opening-round match against third-ranked Luke Hageman of Dyersville Beckman Catholic. He bounced back by pinning his way to the third-place match but fell short against fourth-ranked Tate Battani of Ballard.

Battani got control early and never looked back. Cummings trailed 4-2 after one, 8-4 after two and lost 11-5. Battani (46-8) won the match because of four near-fall points scored in the second period that put him up 8-2.

Tool, who is unranked, defeated eighth-ranked Matthew Doyle of Independence in his opening match Saturday. He was defeated in the third-place match by fourth-ranked Tanner Probasco of South Tama County.

Probasco (30-1) controlled the match, winning 9-1. He defeated Tool 6-4 in the district championship last week.

Cummings (50-4) began his day with a first-period pin against sixth-ranked Zach Williams of Osage. Cummings got an early takedown and then put Williams on his back with his next takedown.

“The year went by so fast. We all worked hard in the room and a lot of guys helped me get to this point,” Cummings said. “I am happy about where we ended up. I got to the place I wanted to finish at, too.”

Tool (36-10) defeated Doyle 1-0. Tool, who lost to Doyle 4-3 to open the tournament, rode out Doyle for two full minutes in the second period to preserve a scoreless match. In the third, he got an escape point that held up in the 1-0 win.

Tool denied Doyle’s attempt at a match-winning takedown late in the match.