No. 1 CPHS Wrestling splits consolation round, guaranteed seven placers
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Senior Tanner Ward won his consolation semifinal match, guaranteeing his spot as a four-time State-placer. (Photo: Scott Emigh).
Top-Ten Team Scores:
- Sand Springs (107.5)
- Broken Arrow (101)
- Choctaw (94.5)
- Edmond North (54)
- Stillwater (47)
- Yukon (33)
- Mustang (30)
- Ponca City (30)
- Midwest City (28.5)
- Norman North (28)
Consolation Finals:
106: Fowler (Yukon) vs Long (Union)
113: Ward (CPHS) vs Picklo (Mustang)
120: Lupton (Mustang) vs Jones (Bartlesville)
126: Holman (Choctaw) vs Schickram (Ponca)
132: Edwards (Mustang) vs Schickram (Ponca)
138: Simons (EDN) vs Mattioda (BAHS)
145: Gilmore (Yukon) vs Johnson (Westmoore)
152: Walker (MWC) vs Rubio (Ponca)
160: Wise (BAHS) vs Messer (NNHS)
170: McBride (Mustang) vs Hensley (EDM)
182: Carnes (Sapulpa) vs Johnson (Owasso)
195: Jones (Putnam) vs Johnson (Owasso)
220: Lancaster (Putnam) vs Poole (Choctaw)
285: Austin (Choctaw) vs Haff (Owasso)
By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team is still in good position to win their first State Championship since 1971 with seven competitors still in contention and guaranteed to place. But they haven't clenched it yet.
With six finalists waiting to wrestle this evening, the Sandites had only two matches in the Saturday morning consolation semifinals. Seniors Michael Ritchey and Tanner Ward split wins, and Ward will wrestle for third place this afternoon around 12:45 p.m.
Ward (34-11 season, 110-23 career) breezed through Bartlesville sophomore Brayden Strachan (33-9) with a pair of takedowns and a trio of nearfall points for a 7-1 first period lead in the 113-pound consolation semifinals. He started the second period on bottom and reversed in the first twenty seconds. Strachan reversed immediately after, and Ward reversed once again near the end of the period. The Sandite added a takedown to start the third, cut his foe loose, and repeated to try for a technical fall. Strachan got the final score however, and Ward settled for a 15-7 major decision. The four-time State placer will take on Mustang sophomore Cameron Picklo (31-7) in the placement round.
Ritchey (36-12, 65-36) scored first against Mustang junior Joe Lupton (30-7) and held a 2-0 advantage to start the second period on top. Lupton failed to escape and Ritchey elected to start the third period on top as well. This time the Bronco got the upper hand for a reversal with 50 seconds left and sent the match into overtime, scoring a takedown for the 4-2 sudden victory decision.
Sand Springs has lots of opportunity to score points, with sophomore Riley Weir (113), senior Daton Fix (132), senior Jack Karstetter (138), senior Beau Bratcher (145), junior Payton Scott (152), and senior Delvin Jordan (220) all wrestling for State titles.
Broken Arrow and Choctaw are still nipping at the heels of the Sandites, however. The third-ranked Tigers also have seven wrestlers in contention, with five finalists and two consolation finalists. The defending State Champions from Choctaw have seven in contention with four finalists and three consolation finalists.
The tournament is being held at Jim Norick Arena in the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Consolation finals are slated to begin at 12:45 p.m., with the Championship matches scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Team and Individual awards presentations will be held at the conclusion of all wrestling.
