CPHS Wrestling: Sandites hammer No. 10 Owasso 53-21 in season opener

Not even two full years removed from a Dual State title, the Charles Page High School wrestling team started their season ranked only eighth in Class 6A. Thursday night they put the pollsters on notice that they should probably be a little higher.

The Sandites rolled to a dominant 53-21 win over No. 10 Owasso (0-2) with six pins, one technical fall, and two decisions. The host team won only four matches in the lopsided dual, though three of those came by fall.

The Rams started in the hole after forfeiting 106 to Christian Forbes (1-0) but made up for it with a come from behind victory by Jared Campbell over Brendon Wiseley (0-1, 14-9). Wiseley took a 6-4 lead into the second period, but Campbell flipped him for a pin at 3:28.

Two-time State Champion Riley Weir (1-0, 92-27) easily handled EJ Tecson, taking a 10-1 first period lead, reversing in the second and securing the 18-1 technical fall at 3:54.

Seth Jones (1-0, 23-14) scored a takedown and back points late in the first period against Killian McNichol, started the second period on top, and cradled the ram in 3:09. Freshman Blake Jones (1-0) scored an immediate takedown against Jayden Miller before pinning his foe with six seconds left in the first period.

State Finalist Zeke Washington got the Rams back on track at 138, taking a 19-8 lead against Caleb Phillips (0-1, 2-8) before pinning the Sandite in 2:56. Preston Medlin (0-1) and DJ Anderson stalemated throughout the first two periods, but Anderson took the lead with an escape early in the third, then added a takedown soon after that and rode to a 3-0 decision.

Scott Patton (1-0, 36-22) scored a quick takedown against Mark Turner, gave up a second period escape, then scored again moments later. He reversed to start the final period, cut his opponent loose to look for a major, and instead it was Turner with the takedown. Never panicked, Patton reversed for back points and a 10-4 decision.

Chris Kirby (1-0, 23-10) gave up a takedown to Nate Jacobson early in the 160 match, but the Westside Strangler reversed with his signature headlock for a pin at 1:21. Dayvon Taylor (0-1, 23-21) took a 4-0 lead with back points against two-time State Qualifier Taylor Fleming but this time it was the Ram with the come-from-behind pin at 2:30.

Riley Magee (1-0, 6-5) won a 5-0 first period lead against Stephen Aycock before sticking him in 2:36.

Freshman Brooks Dudley (1-0) worked up an 8-0 lead with two sets of back points against Scott Ghavami before giving up a takedown early in the second period. He reversed quickly, but Ghavami scored once again in the second and twice in the third to cut his deficit to 11-10. The Ram scored with two seconds remaining, but Dudley held on for the one-point win.

Kaden Glass (1-0), also a freshman, made quick work of Devin Harris, winning his match by fall in 1:16.

Josh Fincannon (1-0, 15-17) wrestled up to heavyweight against Hilton Moseby and the two went scoreless through the first period. Fincannon scored an escape in the second period, then pinned Moseby in 4:36 to wrap up the night.

The Sandites, ranked fifth in tournaments, will return to action Friday at the 43rd Annual Perry Tournament of Champions. They won the tournament in 2016 and placed eighth last season with one champion in Carter Young. Young has since transferred to No. 12 Stillwater and could end up taking on one of his old teammates this weekend.

Other 6A teams traveling to Perry include No. 2 Choctaw, No. 7 Ponca City, No. 8 Edmond Memorial, and No. 10 Owasso. The host school is ranked first in class 3A and the defending 4A Kansas State Champions from Arkansas City will also be in attendance.