Geary wrestling championship match results
Still trying to track down full results from the Geary Wrestling Tournament but here are the championship-match results.
106: Markus Simmons (Broken Arrow) defeated Blake Dauphin (Tuttle)
113: Gunnar Woodburn (Claremore) defeated Ladigo Williams (Rio Rancho, New Mexico)
120: Jake Goodwin (Bishop Lynch, Texas) defeated Gunner Laffoon (Tuttle)
126: Kyle Garcia (Choctaw) defeated Colby Powers (Lawton Mac)
132: Brian Crutchmer (Tulsa Union) defeated Clay Archer (Broken Arrow)
138: Chase Ferman (Broken Arrow) defeated Dakota Head (Tuttle)
145: Tanner Bailey (Broken Arrow) defeated Daniel Carrillo (Rio Rancho, NM)
152: Keilan Torres (Altus) defeated Kyle Ash (Tulsa Union)
160: Ricky McCarty (Lawton Mac) defeated Donaven Roberts (Randall, Texas)
170: Zachary Beard (Tuttle) defeated Drake Martel (Altus)
182: Kyle Crutchmer (Tulsa Union) defeated Joel Dixon (Edmond North)
195: Andrew Dixon (Edmond North) defeated Seth Calvert (Broken Arrow)
220: John Finn (Westmoore) defeated Josh McNaughton (Del City)
285: Kyle Factor (Westmoore) defeated Jose Chavez Del Real (Mustang)
Ronnie Delk to take over Perry wrestling program
It’s been all in the family when it comes to the Perry wrestling program. But for the first time since 1931, a non-Perry graduate is going to lead the team.
Assistant coach Ronnie Delk has been named the Perry coach, replacing Scott Chenoweth. Chenoweth has accepted the superintendent position of Perry Public Schools.
Chenoweth has coached Perry to 12 state championships in his 16 years, and the Maroons have won eight consecutive titles.
Delk was a two-time state champion at Collinsville and was a part of three national championship teams at Oklahoma State. He has been the assistant coach at Perry for the last four years.
To put into context Chenoweth’s contribution, here’s what Chenoweth has done:
Scott Chenoweth
Three-time state champion for Perry (1984-86)
Three-time All-American for the University of Nebraska (1989-91)
Head coach of Perry 1996-2011 (16 years)
State Champions – 12 times including last eight in a row
State runner-up – 2 times
3rd place at State – 1 time
Dual State Champions – 11 times including 8 of last 9 years
Dual State runner-up – 3 times
Dual State semi-finalists – 2 times
Academic State Champions – 4 times
Total State Championships won under Chenoweth – 27 (12 State, 11 Dual State and 4 Academic State)
Career Dual Record 263-76
Coached 42 individual state champions and 22 All-State wrestlers.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Weight changes highlight wrestling rule alterations
Moore wrestler Josh Lindsey told me during the season how tough it was for him to stay at 103 pounds. Well, he won’t have to do that anymore.
He’s got three more pounds he can hold. The National State Federation of High School Association Wrestling Rules Committee has approved some changes in the wrestling weight classes.
There are still 14 weight classes. However, here are the new weights: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285.
As you can see, 145-160 went completely untouched. Another big difference is the addition of the 195-pound division. Instead of 171, 189, 215 and 285 (four classes), the fifth one has been added. I like it because today’s kids are getting bigger and bigger.
“The rules committee was able to analyze data from almost 200,000 wrestlers across the country, with the goal to create weight classes that have approximately seven percent of the wrestlers in each weight class,” said Dale Pleimann, chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee.
The committee used data from a 3-4 year study before deciding on the changes.
The last time this drastic of a change happened in weight classes was in 1988 when the smallest weight class went from 98 pounds to 103.
In terms of competition, a major change was approved that now says the boundary line is inbounds. That’s a biggie, if you ask me. Before, if you were touching the boundary line, you were ruled out of bounds. This expands how big the mat is and gives chances for those nearly off the mat takedowns.
Cannot say any of these rule changes are head-scratchers. Agree and/or understand all of them.
If you want the full release with all of the changes, here ya go.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
OCU wrestling signs Eric Waggoner, Kenneth Hartfield
Carl Albert's Eric Waggoner, surrounded by family and friends, signs with OCU for wrestling.
Always fun to get out to signing day ceremonies. Wasn’t able to make it out to Western Heights to see Kenneth Hartfield sign with Oklahoma City University but was able to attend Eric Waggoner’s at Carl Albert.
Yep, conference foes and state champions are both heading to the Stars. Both were also named first team All-City wrestlers in Wednesday’s paper (or you can catch it all on NewsOK).
I’ve chronicled Waggoner’s story about overcoming his svt heart condition to qualify for state last year and win it this year. His cousin, Kyle Garcia of Choctaw, was also in attendance. Garcia was named the All-City Wrestler of the Year.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Metro Conference wrestling honors
Conference Team Champion: Edmond North
103 First Team: Cooper Finch (Yukon)
103 Honorable Mention: Nick Cosgrove (PC West)
112 First Team: Lloyd Crownover (Yukon)
112 Honorable Mention: Jordan Armstrong (Ed North)
119 First Team: Derek White (Ed North)
119 Honorable Mention: Brett Dunning (Santa Fe)
125 First Team: Kyle Garcia (Choctaw)
125 Honorable Mention: Hunter Bright (Ed. North)
130 First Team: Tanner Hamilton (Mustang)
130 Honorable Mention: Brandon Coleman (Putnam City)
135 First Team: Connor Adams (PC North)
135 Honorable Mention: Jacob Armstrong (Ed North)
140 First Team: Weston Slater (Mustang)
140 Honorable Mention: Bryce Hendricks (Ed North)
145 First Team: Blake Lawson (Choctaw)
145 Honorable Mention: Chris Nelson (Ed North)
152 First Team: Marshall Dickson (Choctaw)
152 Honorable Mention: Ted Baker (Putnam City)
160 First Team: Lance Dixon (Ed North)
160 Honorable Mention: Logan Thomas (Yukon)
171 First Team: Marcese Dickson (Choctaw)
171 Honorable Mention: Mitch Wilson (Putnam City)
189 First Team: Austin Schafer (Ed North)
189 Honorable Mention: Carson Mathews (Yukon)
215 First Team: Andrew Dixon (Ed North)
215 Honorable Mention: Elie Rushing (Putnam City)
285 First Team: Hunter Davis (Choctaw)
285 Honorable Mention: Lantz Parks (Yukon)
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
All-State and All-Star Wrestling
All-State Wrestling
Here are the rosters for the Oklahoma Coaches Association all-state wrestling match July 26 at a site to be determined.
Large West
112: Cooper Finch, Yukon; 119: Tray Dorrell, Del City; 125: Zach Dunlop, Deer Creek; 130: Justin Hughes, Duncan; 135: Eric Waggoner, Carl Albert; 140: Austin Goyette, Harrah; 145: Weston Slater, Mustang; 152: Kenneth Hartfield, Western Heights; 160: Jeremy Delzer, Altus; 171: Desmond Black, Lawton MacArthur; 189: Max Adair, Lawton MacArthur; 215: Cody Sivertsen, Moore; HWT: Caleb Cline, Norman North.
Large East
112: Hugo Arteaga, Muskogee; 119: Yahola Jones, Shawnee; 125: Jakob Weis, Jenks; 130: Connor Baxter, Tulsa Union; 135: Michael Williams, Claremore; 140: Stuart Spencer, Jenks; 145: Spencer Rutherford, Grove; 152: Nick Haugen, Claremore; 160: Zach Skates, Broken Arrow; 171: Calvin Stephens, Muskogee; 189: Taylor Woolman, Bartlesville; 215: Cody Johnson, Broken Arrow; HWT: Zach Hargrove, Tulsa Edison.
Small West
112: Brandon Henson, Little Axe; 119: Ryan Brooks, Marlow; 125: Matt Abbott, Anadarko; 130: Tanner Sauer, Weatherford; 135: David Snelgrove, Piedmont; 140: Seth Johnson, Comanche; 145: Matt Kennedy, Geary; 152: Dylan Harmon, Marlow; 160: Dylan Coppenbarger, Tuttle; 171: Logan Webb, Davis; 189: Devin Hunter, Hobart; 215: Dustin Hawkins, Little Axe. HWT: Rudy Oheltoint, Anadarko.
Small East
112: Brent McCormick, McLoud; 119: Rhett Leach, Sallisaw; 125: Colten Leach, Perry; 130: Bryle Martin, Vinita; 135: Taylor Groom, Perry; 140: Joseph Leven, Newkirk; 145: Tyran Brown, Tonkawa; 152: Aaron Bowline, Locust Grove; 160: Jeromy Davenport, Sallisaw; 171: Philip Dolan, Berryhill; 189: Jake Love, Tonkawa; 215: Garrett Martin, Oologah; HWT: Casey Piguet, Vinita.
All-Star Wrestling by Class
6A West
112: James Miller, Norman North; 119: Christian Juarez, Edmond North; 125: Josh Smith, Choctaw; 130: Tanner Hamilton, Mustang; 135: Brandon Coleman, Putnam City; 140: Bryce Hendricks, Edmond North; 145: Chris Nelson, Edmond North; 152: Wesley Ledesma, Norman North; 160: Eric Hormann, Edmond North; 171: Logan Thomas, Yukon; 189: Austin Schafer, Edmond North; 215: Daniel Moses, Norman North; HWT: Hunter Davis, Choctaw.
6A East
112: Nathaniel Rake, Owasso; 119: Irwin Aldaco, Owasso; 125: Jared Elmore, Stillwater; 130: Miles Andrews, Muskogee; 135: Joe Shaddox, Bixby; 140: Dylan Fields, Muskogee; 145: Brandon Warner, Jenks; 152: Throcan Samuels, Tulsa Union; 160: Zach Skates, Broken Arrow; 171: Jonathon Barnat, Bixby; 189: Eduardo Diaz, Muskogee; 215: Cody Johnson, Broken Arrow; HWT: Austin Whitaker, Muskogee.
5A West
112: Jimmy Langford, Ardmore; 119: Jacob Lusch, Carl Albert; 125: Jordan Litton, Altus; 130: Zane Howell, Ardmore; 135: Raymond Prescott, Deer Creek; 140: Sam Schrader, Ardmore; 145: Tanner Lackey, Deer Creek; 152: Kanyon Cunningham, Altus; 160: Brennan Trimble, Lawton MacArthur; 171: Kenton Whittington, Carl Albert; 189: Tyler George, Altus; 215: Kentrell Pierson, Carl Albert; HWT: Alex Christensen, Deer Creek.
5A East
119: Yahola Jones, Shawnee; 125: Nate Crawford, Durant; 130: Trey Bowman, Durant; 135: Jimmy Roach, Grove; 140: Bryce Armstrong, Grove; 145: Tyler Shear, Tulsa Kelley; 152: Josh Pennington, Collinsville; 160: Corey Delk, Skiatook; 171: Corey Snow, Collinsville; 215: Garrett Black, Skiatook; HWT: Zach Hargrove, Tulsa Edison.
4A West
125: Matt Abbott, Anadarko; 130: Bryce Henry, Piedmont; 135: Max Franklin, Anadarko; 152: Dylan Deluca, Elgin; Kody Haskins, Blanchard; 171: Drew Gareis, Elgin; 189: Luke Noel, Elgin; 215: Kenny Dennison, Blanchard; HWT: Rudy Oheltoint, Anadarko.
4A East
112: Brent McCormick, McLoud; 119: Rhett Leach, Sallisaw; 125: Danny Bettleyoun, Jay; 130: David Wilson, Cushing; 135: Anthony Brannon, Locust Grove; 140: Connor Gilstrap, Poteau; 145: Matt Shephard, Catoosa; 152: Josh Parker, McLoud; 160: Steven Tyree, Wagoner; 171: Jared Bass, Cushing; 189: Isaac Green, Madill; 215: Chance Shankle, Wagoner; HWT: Zach Hebensperger, Cushing.
3A West
112: Brandon Henson, Little Axe; 119: Joseph Blaylock, Comanche; 125: Donald Mitchell, Cordell; 130: Andrew Munsell, Lexington; 135: Luke Wright, Geary; 140: Jared Williams, Pauls Valley; 145: Ty Buser, Geary; 152: Austin Lewis, Geary; 160: Seth Yarbrough, Mangum; 171: Kyle Renbarger, Lexington; 189: Devin Hunter, Hobart; 215: Dustin Hawkins, Little Axe.
3A East
119: Alvie Killingsworth, Vian; 125: Hayden Wilson, Perkins-Tryon; 130: Cade Ketchum, Berryhill; 135: Chad Wofford, Berryhill; 140: John Cox, Inola; 145: Beau Shaw, Barnsdall; 152: Tyler Frost, Pawhuska; 160: Billy Monholland, Vian; 171: Cameron Heisler, Pawnee; 189: Anthony Lopez, Perry; 215: Phillip Moore, Berryhill and Cole Carr, Sperry; HWT: Steven Inselman, Perry.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Deer Creek wrestling with consolation surge
UPDATED: Deer Creek 77 points. Altus 74 and Collinsville 72.5. Get ready!
Any wrestling coach will tell you championships are won just as much on the back side as they are in the championship round.
Now I’m not saying Deer Creek is going to win the Class 5A championship, but wow did the Antlers put themselves in a position to pull it off.
The Antlers biggest weakness is that DC only has two championship competitors. Senior Zac Dunlop is taking on Justin Hughes of Duncan at 125 pounds in a battle of No. 1 seeds. Though both were top seeds, gotta favor Hughes in that one.
Junior Nolan Boyd can help the Antlers, while hurting Altus at the same time. In fact, if the chips fall a certain direction, Boyd could be wrestling for his second state championship and the team’s chance at a potential title.
Waiting for the exact point totals heading into the championship, but I believe it will be Deer Creek first, with Collinsville second and Altus third. Deer Creek’s Alex Christensen and Cole Pacheco each earned third place by scoring falls. Sophomore Chad Draper also finished third at 152.
The other team races aren’t as compelling. Perry took control of 3A in this session and holds a good lead over Berryhill. Tuttle is so far up on anybody and has a chance to make a dominating statement tonight. Broken Arrow has jumped Union and is in position to claim the crown once again.
Either way, it should be a great showdown in the 5A neck of the woods.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
State wrestling, session 1: Guthrie mounts charge
Like I said before, the team race really in Class 6A and 5A should be decided by teams in the east. However, Guthrie had a great first session here at the state wrestling championships at State Fair Arena.
The Bluejays sent seven to state and six are wrestling in the semifinals. Included in that is ‘my baby’ match between Landry Chappell and Deer Creek’s Alex Christensen. The 215-pound match is a must-see here in a few hours.
Speaking of the Antlers, Deer Creek and Harrah each fared well as the teams qualified four into the semifinals. Other Suburban Conference member, Carl Albert, had a rough few hours. The Titans went 2-6 in the first session though I still think Eric Waggoner has a great shot at winning it all at 135.
Shawnee and Southeast each moved along two to the semifinals, while Kenneth Hartfield is going to represent Western Heights in other local 5A news.
In 6A, good but not great session for Edmond North. The Huskies are bringing back five kids for the semifinals. Stillwater came on late and the Pioneers are sending four tonight.
Solid sessions from Moore and Yukon as Lions and Millers notched three into the semis. The Yellowjackets of Choctaw also advanced three.
And then a bunch of area teams were able to get one across: Edmond Memorial, Edmond Santa Fe, Del City, Mustang and Norman North.
Incredibly early in terms of team races, but Tulsa Union (6A), Collinsville (5A), Tuttle (4A) and Perry (3A) have the edge so far. Berryhill is right up there with the Maroons, though, in 3A. The Friday night session is going to go a long way in seeing what’s up there.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Updated: Class 6A, 5A state wrestling pairings
State Wrestling Pairings
As released by the OSSAA
At State Fair Arena
Feb. 25-26
Class 6A
103 — Josh Lindsey, Moore vs. Caleb Burns, Ponca City; Cooper Finch, Yukon vs. Justin Lombardo, Tulsa Union; Hugo Artega, Muskogee vs. Loc Hoang, Westmoore; Gunnar Woodburn, Claremore vs. Zack Edwards, Broken Arrow.
112 — Tray Dorrell, Del City vs. Zeak Naifeh, Bixby; Caleb Clark, Broken Arrow vs. Calib Freeman, Claremore; Josh Walker, Tulsa Union vs. Zac D’Amico, Southmoore; Laramie Allenbaugh, Sand Springs vs. Lloyd Crownovor, Yukon.
119 — Derek White, Edmond North vs. Irwin Adaco, Owasso; Josh Nunley, Edmond Memorial vs. Luke Wolfenberger, Tulsa Union; Lukas Etchison, Muskogee vs. Nathan Clark, Broken Arrow; Brett Dunning, Edmond Santa Fe vs. Parker Bohannon, Yukon.
125 — Kyle Garcia, Choctaw vs. Shea Conley, Sapulpa; Hunter Bright, Edmond North vs. Jared Elmore, Stillwater; Jakob Weis, Jenks vs. Kody Selby, Putnam City; Brian Crutchmer, Tulsa Union vs. Clay Archer, Broken Arrow.
130 — Tanner Hamilton, Mustang vs. Michael Hamilton, Bartlesville; Kaylob Kingler, Choctaw vs. Conner Baxter, Tulsa Union; Michael Williams, Claremore vs. Brandon Coleman vs. Putnam City; Miles Andrews, Muskogee vs. Tanner Bailey, Broken Arrow.
135 — Chase Ferman, Broken Arrow vs. Connor Adams, Putnam North; Frank Smith, Choctaw vs. Jose Depperschmidt, Stillwater; Jordan Boland, Sapulpa vs. Ronnie Schwab, Mustang; Matt Viera, Muskogee vs. Jacob Armstrong, Edmond North.
140 — Weston Slator, Mustang vs. Dylan Fields, Muskogee; Bryce Hendricks, Edmond North vs. Johnnie Walker, Tulsa Union; Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville vs. Derek Sivertsen, Moore; Stuart Spencer, Jenks vs. Tyler Secrist, Southmoore.
145 — Alec Warren, Edmond Memorial vs. Throcon Samuels, Tulsa Union; Dex Hicks, Lawton vs. Ian Hammond, Sand Springs; Nick Haugen, Claremore vs. Blake Lawson, Choctaw; Brannon Warner, Jenks vs. McKale Washington, Moore.
152 — Brock Warren, Broken Arrow vs. Chatin Munsell, Muskogee; Jamie Shawyer, Del City vs. Brannon Hunt, Ponca City; Kyle Ash, Tulsa Union vs. Charlie Armstrong, Westmoore; Austin Eades, Jenks vs. Marshall Dickson, Choctaw.
160 — Zach Skates, Broken Arrow vs. Aaron Lewis, Bartlesville; Logan Thomas, Yukon vs. Andrew Hocutt, Claremore; Kyle Crutchmer, Tulsa Union vs. Ethan Glidden, Moore; Kenny Cleveland, Owasso vs. Lance Dixon, Edmond North.
171 — Marcese Dickson, Choctaw vs. Dalton DeMoss, Sapulpa; Joel Dixon, Edmond North, vs. Blasé Walser, Tulsa Union; Calvin Stephens, Muskogee vs. Mitch Wilson, Putnam City; Jon Barnat, Bixby vs. Seth Calvert, Broken Arrow.
189 — Austin Schafer, Edmond North vs. Edwardo Diaz, Muskogee; Ry Huff, Edmond Memorial vs. Caleb Cotter, Sapulpa; Taylor Woolman, Bartlesville vs. Forest Meyers, Norman; Shelby Krout, Ponca City vs. Cody Sivertsen, Moore.
215 — Cody Johnson, Broken Arrow vs. Daniel Moses, Norman North; Andrew Dixon, Edmond North vs. Chase Duke, Sapulpa; Paul Wilson, Stillwater vs. Kyle Factor, Westmoore; Austin Whitaker, Muskogee vs. Elie Rushing, Putnam City.
285 — Hunter Davis, Choctaw vs. Brandon Johnson, Owasso; Quinn Hulsey, Broken Arrow vs. Travis Morgan, Stillwater; Caleb Cline, Norman North vs. Harrison Madden, Norman; Zach Veatch, Tulsa Union vs. Lantz Parks, Yukon.
Class 5A
103 — Markwae Sanders, Duncan vs. Chris Fairbairn, Carl Albert; Oscar Balderrama, Ardmore vs. Donald Cannon, McAlester; Hestin Lamons, Tahlequah vs. Dylan Bellmard, McGuinness; Chad Dunlop, Deer Creek vs. Andrew Revilla, Altus.
112 — Jimmy Langford, Ardmore vs. Nate Crawford, Durant; Jamie Copeland, Ada vs. Eli Hale, Miami; Gary Wayne Harding, Collinsville vs. Michael Smith, Shawnee; Mitch Sellers vs. Cole Powers, Lawton Mac.
119 — Jordan Litton, Altus vs. Hayden Contreras, Lawton Mac; Austin O’Connor, Guthrie vs. Will Steltzlen, Collinsville; Mark Carter, Tulsa East Central vs. Colby Powers, Lawton Mac; Jacob Lusch, Carl Albert vs. Yahola Jones, Shawnee.
125 — Jazer Duran, Southeast vs. Jake Bradbury, Deer Creek; Aaron Guery, Western Heights vs. Patrick O’Brien, Tulsa Edison; Dylan Helm, Collinsville vs. Connor Kelly, Duncan; Matt Jager, Carl Albert vs. Jake Todd, Ada.
130 — Justin Hughes, Duncan vs. Collin Harrington, Collinsville; Michael Varner, Western Heights vs. Brandon Hughes, Carl Albert; Zac Dunlop, Deer Creek vs. Timothy Shannon, Ardmore; Jimmy Roach, Grove vs. Jemuel Duran, Southeast.
135 — Austin Goyette, Harrah vs. Raymond Prescott, Deer Creek; Brok Williams, Lawton Mac vs. Trey Bowman, Durant; Eric Waggoner, Carl Albert vs. Corey Todd, Shawnee; Zack Abkemeier, Collinsville vs. Kanyon Weldon, Altus.
140 — Bryan Dutton, Guthrie vs. Cole Pacheco, Deer Creek; Daylan Stuteville, Shawnee vs. Blake Lam, Carl Albert; Spencer Rutherford, Grove vs. John O’Neal, Lawton Mac; Tyler Shearer, Tulsa Kelley vs. Sam Schrader, Ardmore.
145 — Keilan Torres, Altus vs. Caleb Jones, Coweta; Devin Bilyeu, Guthrie vs. Tanner Lackey, Deer Creek; Bryce Armstrong, Grove vs. Ricky McCarty, Lawton Mac; Josh Pennington, Collinsville vs. Jeremiah Pearce, Ardmore.
152 — Kenneth Hartfield, Western Heights vs. Mason Davis, Coweta; Dennis Murphy, Guthrie vs. Corey Delk, Skiatook; Colton Craig, Tulsa Kelley vs. Kanyon Cunningham, Altus; Chad Draper, Deer Creek vs. Payton Atchley, Duncan.
160 — Jeremy Delzer, Altus vs. Zack Dobbins, Coweta; Taylor Trabert, Chickasha vs. Austin Cook, Skiatook; Dylan Ussrey, Tulsa East Central vs. Brennan Trimble, Lawton Mac; Benny Steffenson, Grove vs. Richard Griffin, Harrah.
171 — Drake Martel, Altus vs. Isaac Dyer, Collinsville; Jake Welt, Harrah vs. Jonathon Gerrior, Pryor; Nolan Boyd, Deer Creek vs. Vincent Opuiyo, Western Heights; Blake Clodfeather, Grove vs. Desmond Block, Lawton Mac.
189 — Max Adair, Lawton Mac vs. Rocco Brittingham, Durant; Michael Conner, Guthrie vs. Kentrell Pierson, Carl Albert; Austen Brooner, Pryor vs. John Jones, Duncan; Keenan Priddy, Collinsville vs. Tyler George, Altus.
215 — Landry Chappell, Guthrie vs. Newt Salisbury, Collinsville; Ben Copeland, Duncan vs. Alex Christensen, Deer Creek; Rich Gerow, Tulsa Edison vs. Matt Hasty, Harrah; Garet Henning, Pryor vs. Jacoby Brown, Chickasha.
285 — Kyle Farley, Chickasha vs. Jake Gibson, Pryor; Curtis Hurst, Harrah vs. Kyle Croak, Carl Albert; Josh Friend, Grove vs. Evan McGee, Ardmore; Zack Hargrove, Tulsa Edison vs. John Davison, Guthrie.
Round 7 of Alex Christensen vs. Landry Chappell?
Any excuse to bust out this photo of Nolan Boyd of Deer Creek after last year's title win.
I’m gonna come out and say it. To be honest, the east side should have a lot of the top teams in the 6A and 5A wrestling races this weekend. The west is making strides, but you cannot touch those eastside powerhouses.
If you’re looking for an East preview, look up Matt Doyle of The Tulsa World, he’s got your hookup. With that said, there are a lot of interesting individual stories in the Oklahoma City area this weekend.
Class 6A
Dual state champion – Broken Arrow
Regional champions – Broken Arrow and Tulsa Union
Fellow chum Ryan Aber doesn’t get to see a lot of wrestling (or any, really), but he caught B.A. at the Del City regional last weekend and came away really impressed.
Figure it will be a good showdown with Broken Arrow, Union and Muskogee, but I’m not betting against Broken Arrow right about now.
Wrestler to watch: Caleb Cline, Norman North. One of only two undefeated wrestlers in the class. At 30-0, Cline is the top-seeded heavyweight in the East. He’s defeated the top seed in the west, Hunter Davis of Choctaw, so it appears like it’s Cline’s to lose.
Wrestler to watch, pt. II: Josh Lindsey, Moore. From the biggest of the bigs to the little guys, the 103-pounder is my favorite to claim the championship this year. He’s learned from last year’s championship loss and the man that vanquished him (Southmoore’s Zac D’Amico) has moved up the ladder.
Team to watch: Edmond North. Coach Andy Schneider has done a great job of getting this team to perform to its top abilities. Huskies have eight going to state, including the freshmen triplets of Andrew, Joel and Lance Dixon. Best shot at a championship, I believe, is going to be Austin Schafer at 189.
Class 5A
Dual state champion – Collinsville
Regional champions – Collinsville and Altus
In what I considered an upset, Deer Creek’s Alex Christensen was beat out in the regional final last weekend. That has made him the second seed in the east, and it has taken away my dream of another showdown between Christensen and Guthrie’s Landry Chappell.
At least in the finals. If everything goes to form, the two should meet Friday night in the semifinals. To my count (correct me if I’m wrong), Christensen holds a 4-2 lifetime edge and 3-1 season advantage against Chappell.
Would have made for a great championship story, but I guess I can live with a solid semifinal encounter (if both get through the first round).
Wrestler to watch: Nolan Boyd, Deer Creek. And no, not just because I wanted an excuse to bust out that picture again. Boyd has been dominant all year, losing one time to Tuttle’s Zachary Beard. Sometimes you just know a wrestler has ‘it’ and, yea, Boyd has ‘it.’
Wrestler to watch, pt. II: Bryan Dutton, Guthrie. I tell ya I have no idea what is his best sport. I see him in football and think it’s that. Then I watch him dominate on the mat, and yea, it’s wrestling. Then on the diamond, and I think baseball is his calling. He’s so good.
Team to watch: Carl Albert. Like I wrote in Thursday’s story, what a job of bouncing back after not qualifying for dual state. The Titans are sending eight wrestlers to the mats this weekend. I think Eric Waggoner has got the best chance to earn a title.
Friday: No more talking, time to wrestle. See ya at State Fair Arena.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
