DENVER – A dislocated shoulder wasn’t going to stop Allison McDaniel from a state title. 

After dislocating her shoulder during the quarterfinal match against Pine Creek’s Gia Gabel, Falcon freshman McDaniel (40-1) pushed on to win the 5A girls 110-pound state championship in a 6-2 decision over Loveland’s Saydee Lussenhop. 

After a scoreless first period, McDaniel scored three points in the second period before a takedown in the third. Lusenhop’s lone points came from a reversal with 24 seconds left in the third period. 

“It feels really good being able to show everybody the dedication and hard work I’ve been putting in,” McDaniel said. “The adrenaline didn’t make me pay attention to my shoulder. I was more focused on winning.”

McDaniel fell to title contender Gabel 1-0 earlier this season, which was the freshman’s only loss this season. To get revenge in the quarterfinal match on the way to the title felt extra sweet for McDaniel and her coaches.

“Losing to Gia was more about me beating myself than beating her,” McDaniel said. “Beating her was working on moves every day to make sure I could accomplish beating her.”

McDaniel embraced her coaches in the center of the mat at the end of the final bout before a bunch of Falcon fans swarmed the freshman as she walked off the mat with a Falcon flag in hand. 

To achieve her goal of winning a state championship in front of friends and family was all she could ask for. 

“It was exciting being able to prove myself to everybody and make my coaches, myself, friends and family happy,” McDaniel said. “It means a lot to know there’s a bunch of people who care about me and want to see me succeed in my wrestling career as much as I want to see myself succeed.”