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Escamilla’s return to ‘shape’ bringing wins

ESCAMILLA’S RETURN TO ‘SHAPE’ BRINGING WINS

Francisco Escamilla learned – the hard way – that there’s a difference between being in shape and being in wrestling shape. Escamilla, Hutchinson High’s 220-pound senior, missed the pre-Christmas wrestling schedule after he suffered a concussion during football season. The headaches got worse, and Escamilla often suffered from light-headedness. Thus, Escamilla took time off and didn’t wrestle until Jan. 15 against Salina Central. That night, he lost in overtime, and Escamilla was visibly exhausted by the end of the third period. Two weeks later, Escamilla said he’s back in wrestling shape, and he’s also back to beating opponents. In a Thursday dual against Maize at the North Gym, Escamilla pinned Ashton Hanna midway through the second period, breaking a tie in the team score as Hutchinson won 41-29. When Escamilla wasn’t wrestling, he wasn’t exactly moping and watching television. He continued to work out. But as he learned, that wasn’t good enough when it comes to wrestling. “I definitely feel I’m in shape now,” Escamilla said. “As soon as I got back, it was hard. It was exhausting, that first match back. After two more matches, I think I got back in wrestling shape. You can do all the cardio in the world and think you’re in shape, but it doesn’t matter until you get on the mat.” Escamilla, a fourth-place state finisher at 220 pounds last year, quickly rebounded from the Salina Central loss and has won regularly since. “Last year, he was a little slow to get going, and it took him a while,” Hutchinson coach Mike Garcia said. “He’s doing better. He’ll win the matches he needs to win.” Escamilla was one of seven Salthawks to win a match Thursday. Brian Gates (103) won his match by forfeit. A few of Hutchinson’s regular wrestlers were sick or injured, which allowed some junior varsity wrestlers to get a varsity match. Braden Seems (132) made the most of his opportunity by beating Cole Davis 11-7, a result that left many Salthawks and Garcia smiling. “That was nice,” Garcia said. “Dakotah Gruver is sick, and Braden is a guy who didn’t practice until January because he was hurt. For him to be wrestling tough like that tonight was great to see.” Seems’ win underlined Hutchinson’s dominance in the lower weights. Sam Brammer (120), Hagen Kent (126), Sam Vasquez (138) and Dominic Wesley (145) also won, with Kent and Wesley winning by pin. Maize came back after Wesley’s victory, winning the next five matches, tying the dual 29-29. Escamilla gave the Salthawks the lead again, and Hutchinson’s Ricardo Roman ended the dual by pinning Sammir Jabril in the first period. Hutchinson will take the weekend off before heading to Salina South next Thursday.

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