Preble’s Cummings overcomes setbacks to return to state
Kade Cummings had cuts and scrapes on his face Saturday.
It was fitting since the Green Bay Preble senior seemingly had to claw his way back to the mat to earn a return trip to the Kohl Center.
Cummings punched his ticket to state in dramatic fashion with a 5-3 sudden victory decision over Ashwaubenon junior Dawson Dembroski in a wrestleback match for the second qualifying spot at 152 pounds from the WIAA Division 1 sectional at Appleton North.
A second consecutive state appearance had been in serious doubt for much of the season while Cummings dealt with an ankle injury and then a concussion.
“It was tough making it back, and I wasn’t sure I was going to even finish the season, but I’m super glad I did,” Cummings said.
“It means everything to me. I’m super glad I get to put the Preble name back up on the board.”
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Cummings was one of two wrestlers from Preble last season that ended a two-year drought without a state qualifier for the program.
His return to state will be at the same 152-pound weight class he competed at last year, and he hopes to win his opening match again.
The Preble senior will face Oshkosh West senior Connor Collins (32-9), who is ranked No. 10 in D1 by Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Cummings (22-5) is ranked No. 11 and was unranked heading into regionals. It was a far cry from the No. 3 ranking bestowed upon him at the start of the season before the injury bug stung him.
“Kade came in this year with huge expectations,” Preble coach Ben Cherney said. “Then he rolled his ankle early in the year and had a concussion, so he’s missed a good portion of the year. For him to come through and win that match in overtime, I’m beyond happy for him. It’s a big, big deal for us.”
Cherney is in his fourth season as the Preble’s head coach.
Cummings, a four-time sectional qualifier, has been in the varsity lineup every year and would like nothing more than to earn a spot on the state podium to become his coach’s first state medalist.
The Hornets haven’t produced a state medalist since Evan Garcia placed fourth at 126 pounds in 2013.
“It feels good saying I made it there, but I still have a lot of work to do,” Cummings said. “I still want to place there. That’s my goal right now.”
