Catching up with some of da local boys…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
When Harrah wrestling coach Bryan Miller started to tell me about his fund-raising event more than a month ago, I was pretty excited.
Not necessarily for the event but because of the names I was hearing. It was going to give me a chance to check in with some of the former Oklahoma high school standout wrestlers.
It was a blast from the past in one aspect and then a look at the future in another at the Harrah Fight Night on Saturday.
I was at Shawnee during Gary Frazier’s senior season. I’m happy to hear he is landing on his feet. He’s still quite the presence. Frazier was a two-time state champion for Shawnee and won his MMA bout by first-round TKO.
Former teammate Aaron Smith also was a two-time champion and went on to Oregon. Frazier told me Smith is thinking about heading into the MMA world, even coming to the gym last month.
The two used to battle each other and both were made the better for it. Frazier said they used to play “toetaps” where you see who can tap the other’s toe from the standing position. He said it really helped out in footwork and movement.
Smith is shooting for a degree in petroleum engineering, so he has a future somewhere, be it there or in MMA.
Frazier trains with Matt Grice and said his favorite fighter is Anderson Silva. Good choice. He said Silva because of the way he can attack with the knees.
Also spoke with Harrah product Tony Quintero. He’s hoping to go to Bacone to wrestle, but he looked impressive in his first-round TKO on Saturday.
Quintero has a solid, compact frame and said his favorite fighter is B.J. Penn. Penn is not just his favorite, he’s Quintero’s all-time favorite. He’s trying to model his game after Penn, but you know that’s not easy to do.
Most impressed with Harrah graduate Levi Queen in his win Saturday. He’s going to be a sophomore at Central Oklahoma this year and hopes to perhaps play football.
He missed out on sports last season because of a communication error, but he’s been training and looks in great shape.
His favorite fighter is Forrest Griffin. Griffin is the working man’s hero, for sure. It’s not surprising how big of a following he has.
Caught up with Shawnee coach Jeff Chamblin. He pretty much nailed it: “I would prefer these kids not get involved. But they’re grown men now and make their own decisions. If they’re going to be in it, might as well go in the full way.”
That’s true, just have to accept this is what the kids want and support them. Always good to speak with Chamblin and his assistant, Jason Merrell.
It was the first MMA event for Thunder P.A. announcer Jim Miller. Most know him as the Thunder guy, he’ll always just be the Harrah tennis coach for me. Always enjoy chatting it up with Miller.
Now turn my attention to four-time state champion from Harrah, Matt Grice. He’s fighting at UFC 100 on July 11 in Las Vegas. And I’m going to head to one of his training sessions this week.
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