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Sowmanís dream of placing at states slips awayBy Barbara Brown What would instant replay in high school wrestling have meant last weekend when Rush Cityís Garett Sowman faced off in second round competition against Frazeeís Andy Quittschreiber? It may have meant the difference between realizing his recent dream of earning a slot on the school banner for state wrestling place winners and going home broken-hearted. But, with no option for appeal or instant replay, Garett Sowman left the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament disappointed. For three years Sowman had tried to earn a place standing among the best of the stateís grapplers, but he couldnít do it this year. And it may not have been all his fault. In Sowmanís second match of tournament action last weekend, he lost in the last tenths of a second. Sowman faced off against Andy Quittschreiber The match was pretty evenly matched into the third period with Sowman up 4-3. The last eight seconds were heart stopping as Sowman nearly lost his grip on Quittschreiber, but seemed to maintain. The referee for the match granted two points to Sowmanís opponent for a reversal. Those points probably should not have been given because the Frazee wrestler did not have control of the action. Sowman lost the match by decision with a score of 5-4. He walked slowly from the mat as his coach Kevin Jenson and teammate Sam Umbreit tried to appeal the call. Umbreit even offered his video camera for the referee to watch the last few seconds of the match. Their efforts were fruitless and Quittschreiber moved on in the brackets while Sowman was forced to wrestle for third. ìThird is the best I can do now,î Sowman said as he stood, being comforted by friends on one of the promenades of the Xcel Energy Center. ìIím heart broken,î he said. When asked if he was robbed of his chance to compete for first place, Sowman said: ìEveryone seems to know it but the referee.î Sowman went in to Saturdayís competition knowing that if he did not beat his opponent, his high school wrestling career would end. In one of the first matches of the day, Garett lost 5-2 against Tyler Ties of Lewiston-Altura. Quittschreiber went on to take fourth in the tournament over all. Ties took fifth. Sowman made appearances at the state tournament his sophomore, junior and senior years. In his sophomore and junior years, he won the first matches, lost the second, won the third and lost the fourth rounds. This yearís competition was especially important for Sowman; and not just because it would be his last. Sowman headed to the mats this season after suffering a major head injury after he fell during a family vacation to Florida. ©ECM Post Review |