CPHS Wrestling: Sandites win season-opener 36-31 at No. 10 Stillwater

Two Oklahoma 6A powerhouses collided Tuesday evening in the 2019-2020 high school wrestling season opener. No. 6 ranked Charles Page High School traveled to No. 10 Stillwater and came away with their 22nd consecutive season-opening win, 36-31, thanks to an incomplete lineup from the Pioneers. Twelve matches in and Stillwater owned a 31-24 advantage, but they forfeited 220 and 285 to end the night.

Freshman stud Cael Hughes got the Pioneers off to a great start, winning a 13-3 major decision against returning State Finalist Brendan Wiseley (0-1, 52-21) with three sets of back points. Gabe Fontanez won a 14-3 major decision against Harley Newberry (0-1) and the visitors found themselves in an 8-0 hole. 

Caden Vaughn (1-0) put the first points on the board for the Sandites, pinning Henry Warren in 3:31, then Seth Jones (1-0, 45-29) won a 6-0 decision against Cade Nicholas in a battle of returning State Qualifiers. Former Sandite State Champion Carter Young made quick work of Ethan Norton (0-1, 0-6) taking a 16-3 lead on his former teammate before sticking him in 2:40 to make it 14-9. 

Blake Jones (1-0, 27-14) took a 6-0 lead into the third period against Kobe Nguyen, then reversed for the cradle at 5:07. Preston Medlin (1-0, 14-22) had a closely contested match with Jake Egleston at 145 pounds. They stayed neutral through the first period and Medlin rode out the second, then reversed for the lead early in the third and held on for the 2-0 decision. 

State Qualifier Tanner Robinson worked up an 8-0 lead on Ethan White (0-1) but the Sandite got an escape with two seconds left to save his team a point. Chris Kirby (1-0, 59-24) headlocked Isaac Wilson for a pin in 0:34. 

State Qualifier Brett Black added a literal last-second takedown for a 9-1 major decision against Chase White (0-1, 0-3), then D’Angelo Benford pinned Thomas Naugle (0-1, 1-3) in 3:51 to regain the lead. Eli Wilson won the final match of the night, 14-3 against Brooks Dudley (0-1, 10-9). Josh Fincannon (1-0, 40-34) and Robbie Parrish (1-0, 3-15) received forfeits for Sand Springs.

Sand Springs will host No. 9 Owasso (0-1) Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m. Stillwater will host No. 15 Southmoore (0-0) this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. 

Michael Johnson kicked off the junior high dual with a 27-second pin of Ryker Ernce at 80 pounds. Maximus Brady got the Pioneers on the board with a 7-1 decision over David Ritchey, but Jayden Pait notched another Sandite pin, taking down Jose Baca in 0:35. Landon Barnes received a forfeit at 98 pounds to make it 18-3. 

Stillwater’s Sam Smith won an 11-3 major decision against Jaxon Trotter, then Landyn Sommer worked up an 11-1 lead on Jesse Moore before sticking him in 4:10. Cameron Johnson continued the Pioneer comeback with a first period pin of Mitchell Smith to take the lead at 19-18, then Parker Brown won a 4-0 decision against Gatlin Gunn. 

Cameron White broke up the streak with a pin of Aubrianna Smith, taking a 7-3 first period lead before sticking her in 2:21. Carter Goodman pinned Christian Diaz in 1:39, then Codey Cramer went the distance in a 15-10 decision over Luke Cazzelle to make it 33-22. 

James Robey secured an easy first period pin of Silas Camp to clinch the dual, then Malachi Wilson added to it with an equally quick pin of Kailer Page. Mason Harris pinned Kaleb Ramirez in 0:42 to wrap up the 51-22 victory. 

The teams also split a pair of exhibition matches prior to varsity action, with each team winning one pin.