Unleashed Anger

GONZALEZ AIMS FOR STATE TITLE AFTER LOSSES

STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER 
Ramsey Gonzalez of Rogers Heritage picks up Springdale Har-Ber’s Robert White during the finals of the 170-pound weight class at the Big West Conference tournament on Saturday. Gonzalez won the match by pinfall and has lots of momentum going into the upcoming state tournament.
STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER Ramsey Gonzalez of Rogers Heritage picks up Springdale Har-Ber’s Robert White during the finals of the 170-pound weight class at the Big West Conference tournament on Saturday. Gonzalez won the match by pinfall and has lots of momentum going into the upcoming state tournament.

— Ramsey Gonzalez unleashed quite a bit of frustration in the finals of the Big West Conference wrestling tournament on Saturday.

The senior didn’t perform up to his capabilities thanks to some flu-like symptoms two weeks ago in Maumelle, then waited a little too long to get going in a match against the top 6A-7A wrestler in the state at 170 pounds at the Bentonville Tiger Classic.

He had no such diff culties against Springdale Har-Ber’s Robert White.

Gonzalez picked up his opponent, turned him and pinned White in 38 seconds to easily win the Big West title.

“I was really upset about Bentonville,” Gonzalez said. “Coach just kept telling me to remember that and I did. I just unleashed that anger. I tried to be smart and control it, but use that anger.”

He was referring to his match in pool play against Micheal Volpe of Little Rock Catholic. He trailed by double digits in the final period, but made a hard charge late and came up just short, losing 16-14. That loss kept him out of the championship match because of tiebreakers and he had to settle for third.

He now has his sights set on a state title. Heritage wrestling coach Doug Freeman said Gonzalez has made huge strides since starting wrestling as a sophomore.

“He was 2-28 his sophomore year,” Freeman said. “He’s a good example of a kid who has lots of desire. He really dedicated himself to being good after last year. He kind of immersed himself in wrestling. He wrestled freestyle and went to Fargo and really worked hard at getting better in the oft season.”

His hard work has paid off with better results. He’s currently 34-9 this season and has positioned himself for a good seed in the upcoming state tournament. Gonzalez also grabbed the single-season school record for take-downs last weekend, surpassing Logan Evans, a former state champion at 138.

PROFILE

RAMSEY GONZALEZ

SCHOOL: Rogers Heritage HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 170 CLASS: Senior NOTABLE: Won Big West Conference tournament. … Set at Heritage singleseason record for take-downs at 110 and counting this year. … Finished 2-28 as a sophomore in his first season of varsity wrestling, then went 29-17 but didn’t make the medal state at the state tournament last year.

Gonzalez got Freeman’s attention in practice, but the coach was convinced when he finished third at a big tournament in Springfi eld, Mo., over the Christmas break. That’s the best finish ever by a Heritage wrestler in that tournament, which includes nine past state champions.

“That’s the highest we’ve ever had anybody finish up there,” Freeman said. “He beat some legit kids up there. It wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t a weak weight class or anything like that. He wrestled very well, wrestled smart.”

Both Gonzalez and Freeman agree his oft season work has given him more confi dence.

“That’s the biggest thing for him,” Freeman said. “He has confi dence to take shots and finish them. Before he had lots of matches where he’d do something good and then he’d get pinned. This year I can think about three or four matches off the top of my head he’s come from behind to win.

“That’s all about confi dence. He was down to the kid from Ozark, Mo., down to the kid from Jay, Okla., and came back and pinned them both.”

Gonzalez has a good test left this weekend at a tournament in Seneca, Mo., but he’s already thinking about the Class 6A-7A state tournament in Little Rock in two weeks. His goal is clear.

“I want to win a state championship,” Gonzalez said. “I think I can do it. I’m gonna give it all I’ve got.”

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