McCormick captures 4th state title

WINNEMUCCA — It was the longest six minutes of his life.

“I could not stop looking at the clock,” Fallon senior wrestler Sean McCormick said. “I was trying to keep wrestling and was looking forward to having that match be over and having my hand raised.”

It was unlike the first two matches of the NIAA State Championships. McCormick, weighing in at 170 pounds, pinned his first opponent in 59 seconds. His second opponent fell at the 1:07 mark to set up the title match and a chance at history.

But the third and biggest match of his career wouldn’t end so quickly. Call it a six-minute farewell tour for Fallon’s greatest wrestler.

Once the clock expired in the third period, McCormick got up, went to the center of the mat and awaited for his hand to be raised for the final time in his Greenwave career. McCormick won another state championship, this one more meaningful than the previous three. McCormick became the school’s first four-time state champion after decisioning Spring Creek’s Clay Campbell, 12-2, Saturday night at the Winnemucca Events Center.

“You really don’t think about it. You take one year at a time and it all unfolds itself,” said Fallon coach Trevor de Braga, who won a state title when Fallon competed in the 4A. “You don’t prepare for it. You’ve got kids who have the potential. You know how prestigious it is.”

McCormick, like his fellow two state champions, dominated the season, especially this state tournament. McCormick won several out-of-state tournaments, became an All-American, again, by taking third in the Reno Tournament of Champions and then finished second to one of California’s best in the Sierra Nevada Classic. And now, he’s a four-time state champ.

“It feels pretty good. A lot of that, though, comes from my coaches and teammates,” McCormick said. “It wasn’t just me but it feels pretty good to accomplish that. This has really been one of my biggest high school goals since I could remember. I had really wanted to become the first four-timer.”

With the chance at making history and solidifying his place as one of the greatest to walk the halls of Churchill County High School, McCormick didn’t flinch. He was aware of the magnitude and understood not to take anyone for granted. Too much was at stake.

McCormick opened with a 59-second fall over Sunrise Mountain’s Issa Ziadeh in the quarterfinal before pinning North Valleys’ Garrett Pennington with 53 seconds left in the opening period of the semifinal on Friday.

“I knew that if I came and overlooked somebody, anything could happen,” McCormick said. “I just wanted to wrestle my best each match and not overlook anybody. I knew I was going to be one of the better wrestlers.”

But there was more than winning his fourth title.

McCormick watched his younger brother, Tommy, go for gold at 152 pounds and he didn’t disappoint either, winning his second title. It was the last time fans would get to see both McCormicks wrestling together.

“I’m going to miss having him there, the best partner in the state and having him there by my side,” Tommy McCormick said.