Dominick Platow had little choice but to feel the pressure in the first state tournament wrestling match of his career last Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. After all, the coaches reminded him he was being thrown into the wolves.
Paynes-ville had advanced to the Class A team tour nament after upsetting Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in the section championship. Now, the unseeded Bulldogs were one win away from upsetting No. 3 Zumbrota-Mazeppa. with the match riding on their sophomore heavyweight's shoulders.
"I knew it was going to be close by the time it got to heavyweight," said the personable sophomore. "I was just hoping it wasn't going to be as close as it was. I knew I wouldn't get pinned so I was hoping I would just have to avoid giving up any big points."
Was he nervous?
"I was way nervous," he admitted, laughing.
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Tied 27-27, Platow (26-12) was pitted against Jason Arndt (32-11), an individual qualifier who finished fourth in Class A.
"I didn't really see what happened (in the 215-pound match) because I was warming up," said Platow. "The coaches came over and said 'It's all up to you now'. Then I saw we were tied."
Platow held his own against the talented Zumbrota-Mazeppa senior before succumbing 4-2 in three overtimes.
"We were both pretty tired by then," said Platow.
With Arndt on top to start the third overtime, he was able to get two back points and close out the match.
"I felt like I really let the team down," said Platow. "I really wanted to win for my teammates."
But no one on the team is blaming him for the loss.
"It's kind of sad that in sports, everyone remembers the last match, call or whatever," said Paynesville coach Tim Woehler. "That match probably could have rolled either way 10 or 15 times earlier in the dual."
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Platow has been wrestling at heavyweight on the varsity since eighth grade when he went 1-1. He followed that with a 23-20 freshman season and 26-12 this year.
"I've always had to wrestle against older guys my whole career on varsity," said the 260-pound Platow. "I'm used to that. They have the advantage of having more experience so I just try to do my best. I'll get my turn, too."
Platow didn't let the loss bother him long as he pinned his next two opponents in the consolation round and finished 2-1 in his first state tournament appearance.
"Dominick is the kind of kid you wish you had a whole team of," said Tim Woehler. "He is always upbeat and win or lose he comes off the mat content because he always gives it his all. Everyone on the team loves having him around and counts on him."
Platow isn't dwelling on the loss, even though he wishes the outcome were different.
"Everyone has been pretty supportive," he said. "I think I put up a pretty good fight."
