CPHS Wrestling: Sandites send three to State finals, in 3rd Place as team

Junior Kaleb Tabor made the State Championship finals in his first year on varsity. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Three members of the Class 6A No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team punched their ticket to the Championship finals match Friday night at the OSSAA State Tournament. Three others will compete in the consolation bracket, leaving a total of six still in contention at Oklahoma City's Jim Norick Arena.

106-pound freshman Carter Young (39-1) took on Mustang freshman Keegan Luton (33-9) in the semifinals. Young scored takedowns in each period for a 7-1 decision. He will take on Yukon senior and West Regional Champion Studd Morris (34-6) in the title match.

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (28-7, 90-25) wrestled Bartlesville junior Corwin Strachan (38-9) in the 113-pound semifinals and took a 4-1 lead with two first period takedowns. He escaped in the second and rode out the third for a 5-1 decision. He will wrestle Mustang freshman Tucker Owens (41-5) in the Championship finals. Owens topped Weir 2-1 at Dual State, scoring in the final moments after Weir was injured in an escape. Weir repaid that loss with a 4-0 victory in the Regional finals.

Junior Kaleb Tabor (25-11) defeated Owasso sophomore Richie Lee (23-7) in the 152-pound semifinals. They went scoreless through the first, Lee escaped in the second, then pinned the Ram in 3:49. He will meet Jenks sophomore Drake Vannoy (36-4) in the finals.

Sophomore Chris Kirby (21-9) fell in 25 seconds to Yukon senior Jaxen Gilmore (38-3) in the 145-pound semifinals. He will take on Sapulpa senior Hunter Skaggs (27-12) in the consolation semifinals. The two previously met in the Bobby Lyons Invitational consolation finals where Kirby pinned the Chieftain in 2:09. 

Senior Blake Sargent (14-8, 103-33) wrestled Muskogee senior Kyri Beasley (31-8) in the 126 consolation quarterfinals. They went scoreless through the first period, Beasley escaped in the second, then Sargent tied it up in the third to send the match into overtime where Beasley was given a technical for the 2-1 loss. Sargent will next take on Cameron Picklo (37-9) who he fell 4-2 to at Dual State.

Sophomore Seth Jones (26-16, 28-19) wrestled Union senior CaRon Watson (28-15) in the 120 consolation quarterfinals and fell by 12-4 major decision. Jones scored first but Watson escaped and took a lead that he never relinquished.

Junior Irwin Portillo (31-18, 37-23) took a 4-1 first period lead on Southmoore sophomore Roarke Simpson (25-12) in the 132 consolation quarterfinals, then gave it back with a trio of back points in the second. He reversed for the lead, then Simpson broke loose and trailed 6-5 to start the third. Simpson escaped again to tie it, but Portillo scored a takedown in the final moments for the 8-6 decision.

Junior Scott Patton (27-20, 34-22) wrestled Deer Creek junior Parker Wright (29-14) in the consolation quarterfinals and trailed 1-0 after the first period. He gave up an escape midway through the second and Wright rode out the third for a 2-0 decision.

Senior Gage Fain (20-10, 59-48) wrestled Jenks junior Jared Galli (25-14) in the consolation quarterfinals. The two went scoreless through the first period, Galli picked up a pair of back points in the second, then Fain escaped and started the third neutral. He took several shots, but was unable to score and lost 2-1.

The Sandites are the defending State Champions, but are currently sitting in third place with 55 points, trailing Choctaw (107) and Broken Arrow (91.5). 

Wrestling will continue Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with consolation semifinals, immediately followed by third-place matches. Championship finals will begin at 5:45 p.m.

6A State Finals Matches
106 - Studd Morris (Yukon) vs. Carter Young (Sand Springs)
113 - Riley Weir (Sand Springs) vs Tucker Owens (Mustang)
120 - Laif Jones (Bartlesville) vs Zeke Washington (Owasso)
126 - Colt Newton (Choctaw) vs Reece Witcraft (Broken Arrow)
132 - Gabe Johnson (Choctaw) vs Dylan Schickram (Ponca City)
138 - Pete Rolle (Edmond Memorial) vs Connor Holman (Choctaw)
145 - Jaxen Gilmore (Yukon) vs Tate Picklo (Mustang)
152 - Kaleb Tabor (Sand Springs) vs Drake Vannoy (Jenks)
160 - Jaryn Curry (Choctaw) vs Caleb Wise (Broken Arrow)
170 - Zane Coleman (Choctaw) vs Bryce Mattioda (Broken Arrow)
182 - J.D. Johnson (Owasso) vs Lane Newlin (Ponca City)
195 - Easton Rendleman (Choctaw) vs Gavin Potter (Broken Arrow)
220 - Mason Lancaster (Putnam City) vs Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow)
285 - Caulin Poole (Choctaw) vs Christian Arriola (Putnam City)

6A State Day One Team Scores
107 - Choctaw
91.5 - Broken Arrow
55 - Sand Springs
43 - Mustang
38 - Owasso
34 - Ponca City
33 - Yukon
23 - Jenks
22 - Edmond Memorial
19 - Bartlesville
17 - Putnam City
11.5 - Edmond North
8 - Union
6 - Deer Creek
4 - Stillwater
3 - Putnam City North
3 - Southmoore
2 - Midwest City
2 - Norman North
2 - Westmoore
1 - Sapulpa
1 - Shawnee