2017 Dual State Preview: No. 1 Sandites enter post-season undefeated 17-0
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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
No. 1 CPHS (17-0)
No. 2 Choctaw (9-0)
No. 3 Broken Arrow (8-2)
No. 4 Edmond North (10-1)
No. 5 Yukon (7-2)
No. 6 Ponca City (8-2)
No. 10 Stillwater (8-3)
No. 11 Norman (15-2)
The brackets have been released and the countdown to Dual State has begun, with only three days left till the eight best teams in Class 6A converge at Firelake Arena in Shawnee.
The top-seeded teams were no surprise. No. 1 Sand Springs (17-0) and No. 2 Choctaw (9-0) ended up on opposite sides of the bracket, setting up a potential rematch of last year's State Finals, where the Yellowjackets upset the top-ranked Sandites 41-18 for their first Dual State Championship since 1997.
While the Sandites and Yellowjackets have been the heavy favorites throughout the season, there are several other talented teams that could have legitimate upset potential. All four quarterfinal duals will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, with the semifinals at noon Saturday, and the finals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
No. 1 Sand Springs (17-0) has been on a warpath this season, winning five shutouts and the Second Annual Ram Duals tournament. The Sandites are 12-0 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 68-9. They won their district 248-0 against Enid, U.S. Grant, and Putnam West. They pinned the entire Grant team in 14:02. They beat the No. 1 team in Kansas 53-24, Broken Arrow 46-21, Ponca City 51-12, Stillwater 59-9, and 3A No. 1 Perry 48-18. The Sandites have ranked wrestlers in twelve divisions and ten State Qualifiers.
The Sandites' first opponent will be No. 11 Norman (15-2). The Tigers have had an outstanding season, but it's tough to assess them against the rest of the Oklahoma field as half of their opponents were out of state. They placed fifth at the Grapevine Duals but they didn't wrestle a single Dual State-qualifying 6A team. Their toughest Oklahoma opponents were No. 9 Mustang and No. 8 Westmoore. They topped the Broncos 42-24, but barely edged out the Jaguars 39-37. They are 7-0 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 48-23. The only mutual opponent between the Sandites and Tigers is Midwest City, who fell 69-9 to Sand Springs and 58-13 to Norman.
No. 2 Choctaw (9-0) is still riding the seventeen-straight win streak they started last season. They topped Broken Arrow 38-22 and Edmond North 31-29. The Yellowjackets are 6-0 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 53 to 18. They have ranked wrestlers in ten divisions and seven State Qualifiers.
Choctaw will take on No. 10 Stillwater (8-3) in the quarterfinals. The Pioneers are 5-2 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 35-33. They fell 59-9 to Sand Springs and 41-24 to Ponca City. Choctaw and Stillwater have two mutual opponents in Deer Creek and Southmoore. Choctaw defeated the SaberCats 69-12 and Stillwater won 56-21. Choctaw defeated the Antlers 60-15, and Stillwater won 35-30. The Pioneers have wrestlers ranked in five divisions and five State Qualifiers.
No. 3 Broken Arrow (8-2) dropped a 38-22 dual to Choctaw and fell 46-21 to Sand Springs, but since then they've returned 195 State Champion Skyler Haynes to their lineup, who was out with a football injury for most of the season. They've recorded two shutouts this season, 73-0 against Muskogee and 78-0 against Bixby. They also topped No. 7 Union 38-20. The Tigers are 7-2 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 51-18. They have ranked wrestlers in twelve divisions and seven State Qualifiers.
Broken Arrow's quarterfinal opponent will be No. 5 Yukon (7-2). The Millers hold a 36-30 win over No. 9 Mustang and nearly shut out Lawton at 70-3. Their only losses their season are 40-19 to Edmond North, and 59-0 to 4A No. 1 Tuttle. They are 6-1 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 44-25. They have ranked wrestlers in seven divisions and three State Qualifiers. They will travel to Norman Tuesday night in their final dual of the regular season.
No. 4 Edmond North (10-1) may as well be undefeated. They went 10-0 this year before falling 31-29 in their regular season finale at Choctaw. That dual came down to the final match and was far too close to be considered decisive on who would win in a rematch. They have topped No. 9 Mustang 47-24, Yukon 40-19, and No. 8 Westmoore 46-20. They shut out Moore 69-0 and nearly shut out Putnam City West 73-6. All eleven of the Huskies' duals were against 6A opponents, and they won by an average score of 51-16. They have ranked wrestlers in ten divisions and three State Qualifiers.
Edmond North will take on No. 6 Ponca City (9-2). The Wildcats have a 41-24 win over Stillwater, and a 43-17 win over No. 7 Union. Their only losses are 51-12 to Sand Springs and 36-27 to 3A No. 1 Perry. They are 8-1 against 6A opponents, winning by an average score of 49-21. They have ranked wrestlers in nine divisions and three State Qualifiers.
