Day 1 Wrestling thoughts…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Friday started my three-week excursion to the good ol’ State Fair Arena. It’ll be my home away from home the next three weekends.
My fellow chum Matt Patterson will keep you up-to-date on what’s up in Classes 5A and 6A while I got your backs for 3A and 4A.
First day thoughts, observations, etc.
- Oh dem Perry Maroons. Perry is so dominant. Perry had 10 wrestlers qualify for the semifinals and will have six compete in the finals. Strangely enough, Berryhill knocked out three of Perry’s wrestlers while Blanchard’s John McCracken got the other.
- It’s a joy to watch Perry’s Ladd Rupp and Steven Swan operate. This is the second year I’ve done the lower classes, so I get to see these boys a lot. Still impressive.
- Kingfisher had a great day with four finalists. Chad Kochenower at 119, Brayden Hicks at 152, Cash Johnson at 189 and Joe Gaither at 215. All have that extra oomph for good stories. Matt has documented Kochenower’s battles with being deaf, I chronicled Hicks and his comeback from a torn ACL for Saturday’s paper. Yellowjackets won’t be atop the podium, but don’t be surprised by a second-place finish.
- Little shocking how many freshmen made waves today. I just figure freshmen wouldn’t know how to handle their body weight yet, but many solid outings all day and night from the young guns.
- The hope for 4-for-4 is still there. Chris Perry (Stillwater), Ladd Rupp (Perry), Dallas Bailey (Catoosa) and Jarrod Patterson (Cushing) all coasted into the finals. Bailey will meet Woodward’s Zach White in the finals in what may be the match of the tournament. The two have split in a pair of matches this season.
- Marlow has kinda dropped off after making a good run at Perry last year, but Tanner Keck is still around. Keck and sophomore Ryan Brooks will represent the Outlaws in a couple of finals.
- Class 4A will be fun, if not stressful. It’s a three-team battle: Tuttle, Cushing and Catoosa. Catoosa holds a substantial lead after the first day with Tuttle and Cushing one point apart for second and third. Tuttle and Cushing have five finalists while Catoosa has six.
- However, Tuttle can make some real headway in a hurry as the Tigers have two finals apiece against both Catoosa and Cushing. That’s a major point momentum swing if Tuttle can do it.
- The only finals without one of those three schools is at 189 with Brad Avery of Madill against Cody Johnson of Oologah and at heavyweight with Chaz Mattocks of McLoud against Joey George of Blackwell.
- Should be a fun and memorable Saturday. Be back Sunday with thoughts and also going to bust out the videos again. Let’s hear what some of these studs have to say.
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