Ague gets third at Top Gun tourney

By Eric Hamilton

The Fitch junior overcame weight problems and cruised through the consolations.

ALLIANCE — As exhausted as he was feeling during the first few weeks of the wrestling season, the only thing Fitch High’s Shawn Ague could have pinned was his pillow.

Attempting to cut enough weight to compete in the 103-pound weight class for the third straight year, the junior had problems. He didn’t make weight his first two times and had to compete at 112.

And even when he did finally get down to 103, Ague wasn’t his usual bundle of energy. Known for his constant motion as a freshman and sophomore, he just couldn’t muster the oomph he needed.

“I was tired even before my matches started,” said Ague, after taking third at Saturday’s Top Gun tournament in Alliance. “I just felt tired and dehydrated out there. All summer long, I knew I wanted to go 103, but I didn’t make it my first and second try.

“I finally made it at Brecksville and now I’m starting to get my weight under control. I’m doing it healthier, too and my body is getting used to staying down. Instead of trying to cut weight just three days ahead, now I’m just maintaining my weight all week long.”

Now that Ague has made the adjustments he needed to make weight he’s seeing the positive results he demands. The 2008 Division I state qualifier feels like he’s finally turned the corner and put his tough start behind him.

Ague advanced to the 103-pound quarterfinals on Friday. There, he fell to Mayfield’s Anthony Zingale 5-1 to drop to the consolation bracket.

But on Saturday, after a night’s rest, Ague did something he probably couldn’t have accomplished just a few weeks ago. The junior swept through the consolations by winning four straight matches — a sure sign that fatigue is no longer an issue.

“Shawn now has his body trained to wrestle at 103 and I think now he’s trained himself mentally,” said Fitch coach Brett Powell. “That’s a very hard weight to cut to when you’re a junior. He’s had a hydration test, so he knows right where he needs to be.

“He just has to understand the idea of altering what you eat and cutting out the junk. I think he’s understanding that now and handling the challenge well.”

Ague avenged his quarterfinal loss to Zingale when the two met in the consolations. Ague earned a 3-1 decision to advance to the third-place bout.

“That loss kind of woke me up,” said Ague, who now owns a 14-3 season record. “I knew he was good on top, so I just went after him. With my weight under control now, I can push the pace and still feel good in the third period of my matches.”

Ague went on to dominate Minerva’s Cody McGee 12-2 to take third. McGee (27-2) had entered Top Gun undefeated before losing twice.

In addition to proving to himself that his energy level is back, Ague’s strong showing at Top Gun serves as a confidence booster as the season heads toward the postseason.

“I got a lot of different looks here this weekend,” said Ague. “There were several kids here from our district — including Zingale — and I got to see them wrestle and see what they do. It gets me ready for sectionals and districts.”