No. 1 Sandite Wrestling dominates No. 11 Norman 74-3 with eleven pins

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 1 ranked and undefeated Charles Page High School wrestling team (18-0) won their quarterfinal match-up with the No. 11 Norman Tigers (15-4) Friday afternoon at Firelake Arena in Shawnee.

Sophomore Noah Almy (19-16) picked up a quick 0:51 pin, then Zane Basma (21-2, 83-27) pinned his foe in 0:48 for a 12-0 lead. Sophomore Hayden Cramer (9-8) took a 2-1 lead into the second period of his match, escaped to start the second and the third periods, then got the pin in 4:53. Gage Fain (26-11, 39-33) wrestled at 196 and got the pin in 1:42. Delvin Jordan (36-2, 67-14) put on a takedown clinic at 220, building a 12-4 lead in the first minute before pinning his foe at 1:11.

Kris Edwards (4-2) gave up a lot of weight at heavyweight and trailed 3-1 going into the third period. He was faster than his opponent, and quickly scored a second escape point, but Dami Oyesanya ended out on top of a 7-3 decision to spoil the potential shutout.

Riley Weir (32-6, 53-18) took a 5-0 first period lead over his opponent, added an immediate takedown to start the second, then got the pin at 2:35. Tanner Ward (28-9, 104-21) followed with a quick pin in 0:20 to unofficially clinch the dual victory. Michael Ritchey (31-8, 60-32) got a pin in 1:19, then Blake Sargent (31-8, 83-22) got the fall in 1:51.

Daton Fix (38-0, 156-0) took a 12-5 lead into the second period and was 20-8 going into the third. The Norman wrestler managed to stay on top of Fix for a full 11 seconds, which is more than most wrestlers can say, but the undefeated Sandites prevailed with a 23-8 technical fall in 4:16.

Jack Karstetter (24-1, 97-16) had a tough opponent at 138. The two remained neutral throughout the first period, then Karstetter took a 2-1 lead with only 0:20 to go in the second. He added an escape point to start the third and won by 3-1 decision.

Beau Bratcher (37-6, 128-29) got a fall in 0:33, then Payton Scott (32-2, 53-10) pinned his foe in 0:38 to end the dual 74-3.

The Sandites will return to action Saturday at noon against No. 6 Ponca City (11-2). Ponca tied No. 4 Edmond North (10-2) 31-31 and advanced on criteria, having received less unsportsmanlike penalties than the Huskies. Sand Springs already defeated Ponca City 59-3 earlier this season. No. 2 Choctaw (10-0) defeated No. 10 Stillwater (8-4) 56-21 in their quarterfinal and will take on No. 3 Broken Arrow (9-2), who defeated No. 5 Yukon (8-3) 51-19. Choctaw defeated Broken Arrow 38-22 earlier this year.