SALINA — Heavyweight matches at the state level are often decided by the slimmest of margins. That was the case Friday afternoon in the State Championship’s first round bout between Iola’s Colton Toney and Abilene’s Sam Burt.
Burt held a 1-0 lead — after picking up an escape with 26 seconds to go in the second period — heading into the third period.
Toney chose the down position to begin the third.
“I’ve been practicing a lot on bottom and I was hoping I could get that one point to tie it up,” Toney said. “I felt pretty confident.”
Burt was able to ride the Mustang senior tough and keep him down for the first minute of the third period and with 54 seconds left, Toney had to take a chance at an escape.
The Abilene senior with a 33-6 record was ready and countered Toney’s move and put him on his back. Seconds later, the official’s hand slapped the mat to signal the pin.
Toney advanced to a win-or-go-home match on Friday night against Baldwin senior Harley Stewart, who lost by a first period to Circle’s Austin King. Results from Toney’s consolation match were unavailable by press time.
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“I just want to wrestle to the best of my ability. I know I should do well if I wrestle my best,” Toney said.
Toney drops opening round
