Wrestling: Cascia Hall, Perry advance to 3A finals
The Class 3A semifinals just wrapped up at Cushing. It was a photo finish on one side as Cascia Hall barely got past Kingfisher 31-30.
There were two pivotal matches in the dual. The first came at 215 pounds where Joe Gaither battled Cascia’s (much taller) Kyle Cowan 9-5 with a strong third period in which he scored two takedowns, a near fall and an escape to secure the win.
The second came at 103 pounds where Kingfisher was forced to forfeit because the Yellowjackets don’t have a wrestler at that weight. Still, Kingfisher was a tough out for Cascia who has become a power. The Yellowjackets should be a force at next week’s regionals.
On the other side, Perry dominated Comanche 54-21. It was more of the same for Perry who had seven falls. They will meet Cascia in about two hours for the 3A crown.
Wrestling: Sallisaw, Tuttle advance to 3A Dual State finals
Tuttle, Sallisaw advance to 4A finals
Tuttle trailed Cushing early in its Class 4A finals Saturday afternoon, but the Tigers rallied for what proved to be a convincing 45-20 win over their longtime rival.
Tuttle put the dual away beginning at 152 pounds where Zach Beard won by major decision. Jerrod Williams (160) and Cole Gracey (171) followed up with pins to put the dual out of reach for Cushing.
Sallisaw needed a win at heavyweight to secure its berth in the finals. The 103 pound match went to Blackwell’s Connor Cline who nearly pinned JJ Hamilton for the victory but ran out of time in the second period.
Wrestling: Getting to know Edmond North’s Josh Durham
Edmond North begins competition in the Class 6A Dual State touranemnt at Skiatook High School Friday night. It’s the Huskies second straight Dual State appearance. Edmond North lost to Ponca City in the first round last year. Here’s a little bit from 125 pounder Josh Durham’s life on and off the mat.
What was your welcome to the varsity moment?
Becoming a varsity wrestler. It’s a lot different when you’re on the varsity because you’re pushed so much harder in practice.
What has been the most life changing event you’ve experienced?
Working with special-ed kids has opened my eyes to many things and made me realize how blessed i really am, so probably when i started working with them.
What’s on your bucket list?
Win state in wrestling, go skydiving, travel out of the country, start a family, and somehow become a decent golfer.
What’s your hidden talent?
I can say the abc’s backwards faster than i can say it forwards.
Besides you, who is the best athlete in your family?
My dad, because he runs 10 miles every morning and then works out and there’s no way i could do that.
Wrestling: Dual State seeding issue settled
Colleague Ryan Aber is attending the OSSAA Board Meeting today. One of the items on the agenda was a dispute over seeding in the Class 5A Dual State tournament. Altus coach Nick Williams had argued he was unable to vote in a recent coach’s poll because his power was knocked out in the recent round of ice storms that hit central and southwest Oklahoma. The missed vote dropped Altus from the two seed to the third seed. The OSSAA ruled the seeding would not be changed. Harrah will be seeded second and Altus third.
Wrestler of the Week: Landry Chappell, Guthrie
Landry Chappell helped lead Guthrie to the Class 5A semi-finals in football as a linebacker, but the sophomore is also pretty good on the mat. Wrestling at 215 pounds, Chappell picked up a major decision and a fall in action last week against Piedmont and Southeast High School. Chappell is ranked No. 2 behind NW Classen’s Mike Anderson at his weight by okwrestle.com.
Others in the mix: BryanDutton (Guthrie), Joe Gaither (Kingfisher), Jazar Duran (Southeast)
Tuttle: Biddy, Garrett sign on the dotted line
Tuttle had two players sign letters of intent Wednesday. Linebacker and running back Ethan Biddy is headed to the Air Force Academy and linebacker Jake Garrett is headed to Southern Nazarene. Here’s a few leftovers from the story I wrote on Biddy.
Tuttle coach Phil Koons knows a lot about Air Force. His son Sterling is a cadet there, so he knows what Biddy is in for though he takes pride in preparing him for what lies ahead.
“It’s hard not to get choked up when you see these guys,” Koons said. “You get to know them in grade school and you watch them grow into young men. You like to think you had a part of them getting there by being so demanding. As far as the time and physical constraints we put on them it prepares them for what they’re going to experience.”
As for Biddy, he’s excited about the opportunity to play college football on the Division I level. Air Force got interested in him as a junior. He also drew interest from Southwestern, UCO and several more Division II schools. He leaves behind a strong legacy as one of the school’s best players.
“I hope I left a legacy of hard work and living by the examples God sets,” Biddy said. “I hope the guys coming up behind me can follow it.”
Wrestler of the Week: Norman North’s Colton Cline
With the winter weather sweeping through Oklahoma and the endless snow days and canceled tournaments and duals it’s been a VERY quiet week on the high school wrestling front the last five days or so, but we’re going to pick a WOW based on season accomplishments this week.
Drumroll……..the winner is…..
Colton Cline, Norman North, Heavyweight
Cline is a three year starter for the T-Wolves at heavy and he’s apparently saving his best for last. Of his 28 wins this season, Cline had an incredible 27 falls according to coach Jay Gibson. That’s an amazing stat at a weight class where falls can be rare.
Wrestling: Tuttle could get Gracey back soon
Some good news for the top ranked Tuttle’ wrestling team as they head toward dual state and regionals. It looks like 171 pounder Cole Gracey has a good chance of returning to the lineup in the coming days. Tuttle coach Matt Surber said there’s a chance Gracey could be available for dual state.
Gracey has missed the past month and a half after undergoing surgery for an injury to his arm. Surber said he’s not out of the woods yet, but will get his cast off this week and hopes to be back as soon as possible.
“He’s the kind of kid that if there’s any chance at all he can go, he’ll do whatever it takes to make it back,” Surber said.
Wrestler of the Week: Carl Albert’s Jared Porter
Jared Porter, 145, Carl Albert
Carl Albert wrestler Jared Porter had a tough test at the Jay Hancock 145 pound finals Saturday night. Beat reigning Class 6A state champion Travyon Lee. Porter did just that 3-2 to win the tournament title.
Others in the mix: Tray Dorrell, Del City (won the 112 pound title at Jay Hancock), Kyle Garcia, Choctaw (won the 119 pound title at the Jay Hancock).
Wrestling: Wrestler of the Week
Mike Anderson, 215, Northwest Classen
Anderson rolled to the finals in the Carl Albert Tournament Saturday with three falls. He capped off the tournament with a decision over Guthrie’s Landry Chappell in the finals. Anderson is unbeaten this year and has come off a serious knee surgery in the off-season that forced him to lose more than 50 pounds in order to compete this year.
Others in the mix: Josh Durham (Edmond North) won the 130 pound title at the Sand Springs Tournament and Jared Porter (Carl Albert) who won his weight at the Carl Albert Tournament.
