Sand Springs wrestlers compete at Virginia Duals on Team Oklahoma; two attain All-American status

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Team Results

18th Place - Oklahoma Outlaws Elementary (6-4)
31st Place - Oklahoma Energy Elementary (5-5)
50th Place - Oklahoma Lightening Elementary (6-5)
(60 Teams Participating)

19th Place - Oklahoma Storm Middle School
38th Place - Oklahoma Tornadoes Middle School
47th Place - Oklahoma Thunder Middle School
(60 Teams Participating)

Several Sand Springs elementary and middle school wrestlers recently joined Team Oklahoma at the Virginia National Holiday Duals. Clayton Giddens and Carter Young both attained All-American status by going undefeated through the entire tournament.

Clayton Giddens (24-1) went undefeated at 64 pounds for the Oklahoma Outlaws elementary team and earned All-American status. Giddens outscored his ten opponents by a total 56-8 with one pin and one tech fall. He scored an 18-3 tech fall over Maryland State Champion Morgon Corwine, and was only one point shy from a tech fall when he defeated North Carolina State Champion Jax Forrest 14-0. He also topped USJOC Runner-Up Christian Fretwell 7-0. Giddens went into a tie-breaker round against Nevada State Champion Muhammad Badery and came out 1-0, then defeated USJOC Champion Shawn Ryncarz 2-1 in a sudden victory round. The Outlaws competed against Team Ohio Scarlet for fifth place in the Silver bracket but fell 44-30. Giddens defeated his final opponent, Jace Jett 1-0 for a perfect tournament record. 

Carter Young (20-2) went undefeated at 92 pounds for the Oklahoma Storm middle school team and earned All-American status. Young outscored his nine opponents 72-14 with two pins and one technical fall. He defeated Freakshow Runner-Up and Flo Reno Worlds Runner-Up Drew Lang (Utah) 5-0, and Southeast Regional Champion David Panone (Minions Black) 7-3. In the seventh place match the Storm defeated Terps Express 50-26 and Young overcame Ohio State Champion Richard Delsanter 4-1 to complete his undefeated streak. 

Christian Forbes (7-6) competed at 70 pounds for the Oklahoma Storm middle school team. He went 5-4 overall and it could have easily been 6-3 as one of his loses was an overtime tie-breaker. 

Rhett Peak (16-8) competed at 76 pounds for the Oklahoma Outlaws elementary team. He went 5-5 in the tournament overall with two major decisions and three decisions. He scored an 11-0 major decision over Maryland State Champion Alexander Rodrigues, a 7-3 decision over Southeast Regional Champion Lane Foard, and a 4-0 decision over USAW Preseason National Runner-Up Carson Thomas. Luke Burdette (14-7) also competed for the Outlaws and went 4-6 with three forfeits and one decision. He defeated Caleb Beaty 4-0. 

Grady Mittasch (29-7) competed at 68 pounds for the Oklahoma Energy elementary team. He went 5-5 in the tournament overall, recording three pins, and scored a 13-6 decision over Georgia State Champion Colin Dragon. Three of his loses were by three points or less and he was never pinned nor defeated by technical fall. In the final dual of the tournament the Oklahoma team competed against Team Morrison Fitness for seventh place in the Bronze bracket and prevailed 57-21. Mittasch went into sudden victory overtime against Southeast Regional Champion Tyson Sherlock, but fell 4-2. 

Josh Taylor (10-5) competed at 112 pounds for the Oklahoma Tornadoes middle school team and went 4-5. He pinned two opponents and two of his losses were by a single point. Sam Harris (9-14) competed at 119 for the Tornadoes and went 2-7. He scored a 4-0 decision over Reno Worlds Champion Ryan Rutherford (California Black) and pinned Gavin Gregory (Michigan Select Red) in 0:30. 

Dariuz Black (12-11) competed at 72 pounds for the Oklahoma Lightening elementary team. He went 2-9 overall, but four of his losses were by three points or less and two were by a single point. Both of his victories were by fall, including 1:15 over Virginia State Runner-Up Anthony Lucchiani.

Ethan White (4-13) competed at 112 pounds for the Oklahoma Thunder middle school team. He didn't win any matches, but two of his losses were by two points or less and he took on some of the toughest competitors in the country.