Page wrestler records his 33rd pin at state
Navajo Times | Adron Gardner
Mohave Thunderbird Mailik Clark, left, and Page Sand Devil Dakota Richardson grapple during the Arizona Division III state wrestling tournament in Prescott Valley, Ariz., Saturday.
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz.
At the Arizona Division III state wrestling meet, Page junior Dakota Richardson recorded three consecutive pins to start the competition.
That earned him a spot in the finals of the 285-pound weight class as his longest match lasted 40 seconds long.
In his final match of the season, the junior saw his record fall to 36-5 as the tournament’s top seed Cris Sanchez pinned Richardson in the opening quarter.
My whole mindset was good,” Richardson said. “When I first started I was attacking hard.
With Sanchez being bigger on top, Richardson’s strategy was to attack his legs. He was successful in taking down the Amphitheater behemoth on his first attempt but on his second one Richardson got off balance and went down to his knee.
“He threw a perfect move on me and he got me on his back,” Richardson said.
Despite losing the championship match Page coach Kyran Keisling said Richardson gave it his best shot and throughout the season he saw some major improvements.
“Dakota is a very gifted athlete,” Keisling said. “He has got very good balance and speed. He’s learned how to keep his composure in big matches. He learned how to do that during the season and it rewarded him to make the finals at state.”
Keisling said he has to do some research on whether Richardson set the all-time school record of 33 pins.
“That’s pretty outstanding to rack up 33 pins in one season,” Keisling said. “I am pretty sure that’s the record but I have to check to make double sure.”
Keisling said he’s expecting big things from Richardson next season.
“I can’t wait to unleash him next year,” he said. “He has a few things to clean up in his technique. I have no doubt that he is going to dedicate himself to get better this summer in the offseason to get stronger and faster.”
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