Medford’s Elwood escapes with a state title
Medford’s Tommy Elwood won a 1-0 decision in the 160-pound state championship match last weekend, thanks to a slick escape with two seconds remaining.
Elwood found himself in a war of attrition with Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie’s David Revering, constantly battling for position and scrambling through some tricky spots before finding his opening just before overtime.
“I wasn’t able to get off the bottom for most of the third period. I really thought it was going to go to overtime, but then he was really looking for a cheap tilt right there at the end. He over-committed, I got my hips out and got that escape right at the end… It just feels amazing, but I give all the glory to God,” said Elwood on his winning sequence.
While Elwood’s win against Revering earned him the state title, possibly his biggest match of the tournament was his semifinal showdown with Holdingford’s Drew Lange.
Lange entered the match 52-1 on the season but struggled with Elwood’s constant pressure.
An early takedown in the first period went Lange’s way for a 2-0 lead, but adversity struck soon after, when a fierce mat return in the second period resulted in blood time for Elwood. His eye was cut, and he was visibly shaken.
Instead of allowing the injury to stop him short of his dreams, Elwood opted to have his head wrapped and returned to the mat just minutes later.
The junior sparked his comeback with a takedown of his own to tie the match at 2-2 in the second.
Both athletes remained scoreless through the remainder of the match and the first overtime period.
In the tie-break, Lange elected to start on bottom and was unable to escape.
Lange’s corner opted to forego top position and start in neutral for the second tie-break period, forfeiting an escape point and giving Elwood a 3-2 lead.
Elwood was able to shut down Lange’s 30-second offensive to earn the win.
The junior’s state title win was the first of his career and earned him a spot alongside his brother, Charley, as a Minnesota state champion.
“It’s pretty sweet, and it’s sweet because they are very different. Charley was very savvy, smooth and almost effortless, and Tommy is just an absolute grinder. It’s hard to compare them because they are two completely different wrestlers,” said Whitman.
Elwood will have one year remaining as a senior in 2024-25 and already has his eyes set on another state title.
However, in the meantime, there’s still room to celebrate a season of hard work paying off.
“I’m going up, I’m giving my friends and family a hug, and then I’m going straight to Raising Cane’s,” said Elwood with a laugh.
