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Conner Miller's Third Place Finish: Fair or Unfair?
Injury time lasted one minute, 30 seconds for Cox’s Adam Watson.
The pain it caused Fauquier’s Conner Miller lingered hours longer and could leave a lasting scar.
Miller lost his chance at winning a Group AAA state title Friday because of a quarterfinal loss by injury default to Watson. The Fauquier 135-pounder dropped to the consolation bracket as a result and had to settle for a third-place finish Saturday at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake.
Miller led Watson, 2-0, in their match, but he was called for an illegal slam in the second period. Watson was given 1:30 injury time to regain his composure after the slam, but he was still unable continue wrestling after the allotted time. By rule, because Miller’s takedown was deemed illegal, Watson won the match by injury default, dropping the junior out of contention for a state title.
“I really didn’t lose here,” said Miller, a 2007 A state champion at Rappahannock High who transferred to FHS for his sophomore year in 2006-07. “The kid laid down and let the injury time run out, and my match was over…It’s one of my worst wrestling experiences ever.”
James River’s Jared Anongos ended up winning the 135 state championship with a 3-0 overtime win over Robinson’s Roman Perryman in final.
Meanwhile, Miller had to win three bouts in the consolation bracket to advance to the consolation final. He defeated Joshua Clark of Matoaca, 5-0, in that third-place match, but the victory only made his loss to Watson more painful.
Frustrated, Miller fought back tears as he walked off the mat after taking his third-place match. He felt he could have won a state title, given the opportunity...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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