NCAA Wrestling: Daton Fix wins first tournament over two conference finalists

Charles Page High School Class of 2017 graduate and Oklahoma State University freshman Daton Fix won his first collegiate title last month at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions. 

After going undefeated for four-straight State Titles in high school, Fix is off to a great start in his college career with a 5-0 record. Despite being the number-one recruit in the country, Fix took a redshirt his freshman year, leaving the 125-pound spot to All-American No. 8 ranked Nick Piccininni. However, he was able to wrestle unattached at the RTOC.

In the first round he scored an 18-2 technical fall against Highline College sophomore Jacob Mendoza in 2:45, then followed it up with a 17-2 tech against Eastern Oregon sophomore Caballa Mhar in 4:24. In the quarterfinals Fix majored Wyoming sophomore Drake Foster 19-5 with seven takedowns, giving up only escape points.

The semifinals were a close one as Fix went head to head with two-time Pac 12 finalist Ronnie Bresser of Oregon State. Neither scored on offense, remaining neutral throughout the first period. Fix escaped 27 seconds into the second, Bresser escaped with 28 seconds left in the third, and Fix was awarded the win on riding time. 

In the finals the young Sandite went up against ACC-finalist No. 3 ranked Sean Fausz from North Carolina State. The two stayed neutral through the first period but Fausz escaped twelve seconds into the second. Fix elected to start the third period neutral and scored a takedown with ten seconds left for the 2-1 decision. 

The Cowboys are currently ranked fifth in the country by the NCAA and hold an 8-1 dual record. They will return to action Saturday in a home non-conference dual against undefeated No. 3 Missouri (15-0).

Sandite of the Week: Daton Fix qualifies for World Championship in Finland

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Charles Page High School Class of 2017 graduate and incoming Oklahoma State University freshman Daton Fix defeated Arizona State freshman Brandon Courtney at the Junior World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend.

Courtney finished his senior season ranked 11th in the country at 126 pounds according to Flowrestling. He was a four-time Arizona State finalist, three-time State Champion, and the 2015 USAW Junior Freestyle National Champion.

Fix is ranked first in the country both at 132 pounds and pound-for-pound. He finished his high school career as a four-time undefeated State Champion with multiple UWW and USAW National Championships. 

Fix has made the World Team the past three seasons. In 2016 he took Bronze at Junior Worlds in France, in 2015 he took Bronze at Cadet Worlds in Bosnia, and in 2014 he placed tenth at Cadet Worlds in Slovakia. He also won Silver at the Youth Olympic Games in China in 2014.

As the defending World Team member, Fix got a bye through the World Team Trials bracket and met Courtney in a best-of-three series in the finals.

Courtney had to win three matches to make his way to the finals. He defeated Buffalo freshman Derek Spann 12-2, Nebraska-committed and undefeated high school senior Alex Thomsen 7-5, and Indiana freshman Liam Cronin 10-0.

Courtney had an impressive trip to the finals, but once he got there he was quickly shut down by Fix. In the first match the Sandite handily rolled to a 12-0 tech fall. In the second match Courtney managed to score a four-point throw, but Fix still prevailed with another tech fall at 15-4 to secure his place on the world team.

The Junior World Championship will be held August 21-26 in Tampere, Finland. 

Fix was one of five State Champions on the 2017 Sand Springs Wrestling Team that won both the State and Dual State Championships this year. Click here to view our commemorative magazine.

Click here to view previous Sandites of the Week. 

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Sandite of the Week: Daton Fix competes in Times Square, receives National award

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Many high school athletes participate in club sports in the summer, but few participate at the level of Sand Springs Class of 2017 graduate Daton Fix. The Oklahoma State University-bound Sandite just wrapped up his high school career as an undefeated four-time State Champion, helping his team to State and Dual State titles, and he hasn’t taken any time off since then.

Earlier this month he won an OKUSA Freestyle State Championship in Cushing, and last week he traveled to Times Square in New York for an exhibition match against USAW Folkstyle National Champion Joey Melendez, who is ranked fourth in the country at 113 pounds. In his second year at the outdoor Beat the Streets benefit he rolled to a decisive 14-1 technical fall against the Illinois star.

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This upcoming weekend he will be receiving the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award at the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater. Each year the award is presented to a high school senior from each state for outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement, and citizenship or community service. Not only was he selected as the recipient from Oklahoma, he was also selected as one of five Regional recipients, and the overall National recipient. He is only the second wrestler from Oklahoma to receive the national award since its inception in 1996

Fix was named to the Oklahoma Junior Dual team alongside fellow Sandite Riley Weir and cousin Jack Karstetter, as well as future OSU teammate and fellow four-time undefeated State Champ Kaden Gfeller. Fix's dad, Derek, is an assistant coach on the junior team. Junior Dual Nationals will be held June 20th through 24th at the Tulsa Convention Center for the third-straight year. 

Click here to view former Sandites of the Week.

To nominate a Sandite of the Week, please fill out the form on our home page.

Sand Springs Team Big Wrestling Club wins nineteen First place medals at SS tournament

Clyde Boyd Middle School played host to the Sand Springs USA Oklahoma wrestling tournament this past weekend and the Sand Springs Team Big wrestling club earned a plethora of medals in their home tournament. Fourteen members of Team Big won gold.

Team Big meets Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in the Charles Page High School wrestling room, and is open to wrestlers from the surround areas as well as Sandites.

Junior

CPHS sophomore State Champion Riley Weir (6-0 FS) took first place for the third straight week at 120 freestyle. He pinned Braydon Blose in 0:39, then scored an 11-0 tech fall over Zane Plunkett.

CPHS junior State Qualifier Blake Sargent (2-0 FS) took first place in freestyle at 126 pounds. He teched teammate Skylar Galloway 10-0, then pinned Brendan Clarke in 2:18.

CPHS senior State Champion Daton Fix (8-0 FS) took first place in freestyle for the second week in a row at 138 pounds. He teched all four of his opponents without giving up a single point, including Cleveland State Qualifier Tyler West 12-0.

Claremore State Runner-Up Tracy Reeder took first place in freestyle at 152 with two pins and a tech fall.

CPHS senior State Qualifier Michael Ritchey (11-2 FS, 3-0 GR) took second place in freestyle at 138 pounds for the second week in a row. He lost his opening match to teammate Daton Fix, but teched his next three opponents, including a 12-2 victory over Tyler West.

Cleveland State Qualifier Zach Myles took fourth place in freestyle at 145 pounds with two tech falls.

Cadet

Clyde Boyd Middle School’s Carter Young (12-0 FS, 9-0 GR) took first place in both styles at 106 pounds. He teched all three of his opponents in Greco and two in freestyle, then wrapped up his fourth-straight perfect weekend with a 7-2 decision against teammate Zachary Keal.

Texas State Champion Parker Decker took first place in both styles at 113 pounds. He defeated all six of his opponents by tech fall, giving up only one point altogether.

Skiatook freshman Jeran Seabolt took first place in freestyle at 160 pounds with a tech fall and a 16-14 decision over Jacob Rogers.

Zachary Keal took second place in freestyle at 106 pounds. He defeated his first two opponents by tech fall, but was defeated 7-2 by teammate Carter Young.

Skiatook State Qualifier Cale Glover took second place in freestyle at 145 pounds. He pinned his first opponent, then scored a pair of 12-2 tech falls before falling 17-7 to Spencer Schickram, a State-placer from Ponca City.

Kansas State Qualifier Austin Keal took second place in Greco at 113 pounds, but failed to place in freestyle. He teched his first two opponents 11-0 in Greco, but fell 10-0 to teammate Parker Decker in the finals.

Skiatook’s Josh Taylor took second place in freestyle at 126 pounds, but failed to place in Greco. He won an 11-2 decision and a 10-0 tech fall in freestyle before falling in 4:42 to freshman State Qualifier TJ Long.

Preston Decker took fourth place in freestyle and third in Greco at 126 pounds.

Cleveland Junior High’s Bryar Lucas took fourth place in freestyle at 138 pounds, pinning Micah Bynum in 1:09.

Schoolboy

Cole Brooks (6-1 FS, 5-1 GR) took first place in both styles at 91 pounds with four tech falls and two pins.

Kaden Glass (6-0 FS, 3-0 GR) took first place in both styles at 190 pounds with four falls and two tech falls. He pinned three opponents in under a minute apiece with his fastest coming in sixteen seconds against Cameron Timmons.

Christian Forbes (10-0 FS, 1-3 GR) took first place in freestyle at 84 pounds for the third-straight week, teching all four of his opponents.

Bryce Fisher (4-1 FS) took first place in freestyle at 136 pounds. He pinned Gavin Koehler in 2:35, then scored a 7-3 tech fall over Jose Flores.

Rhett Peak (5-3 FS, 1-0 GR) took first place at 84 pounds in Greco, teching his sole opponent 10-0. In freestyle he placed second with two tech falls and a 7-0 decision before falling 14-3 to teammate Christian Forbes.

Clay Gates (5-9 FS, 0-1 GR) took second place in Greco at 84 pounds, losing his sole match 10-0 to Rhett Peak. He placed fourth in freestyle with a pin of Zachariah Jones in 2:24.

Jim Mullin (5-2 FS) took third place in freestyle at 91 pounds. He lost his opening match, but scored two tech falls and topped Hunter Waits 10-7 in the consolations.

Braden Anderson (6-6 FS, 4-4 GR) took third place in freestyle at 112 pounds, but failed to place in Greco. He lost his opening match of freestyle in a close 12-10 decision, but defeated his next opponent 11-6, then scored a 12-2 tech fall.

Intermediate

Dian Fix (2-1 FS) took second place at 65 pounds in freestyle. He lost his first match 10-0, but rebounded with a pair of close decisions. He defeated Caleb Thompson 9-8 and Kale Fruits 9-8.

Nation Johnson (4-3 FS, 6-3 GR) took second place in both styles at 80 pounds. He drew only one opponent in freestyle and was teched twice by Jake Miller, but split wins in Greco with a 16-4 victory over Bodie Adams.

Promised Johnson (10-3 FS, 6-5 GR) competed in both styles at 70 pounds, taking second in freestyle and third in Greco. He was pinned in both styles by Brody Mills, but teched two opponents and pinned Bobby Brockman in 0:46 in freestyle. In Greco he was defeated by Ryder Seago, but teched Isaiah Jones 12-0.

Bantam

Legend Johnson (0-2 FS, 1-1) GR took second place at 55 pounds in both styles. He drew only one competitor in freestyle and was teched twice in a best-of-three series, but went 1-1 in Greco with a pin of Williams Corde in 1:07.

Novice

Clayton Giddens (8-0 FS) took first place in freestyle at 70 pounds. He teched all three of his opponents and didn’t give up a single point for the third-straight week.

Balance Johnson (7-1 FS, 3-1 GR) took first place in both styles at 100 pounds. In freeestyle he won three tech falls and a 12-10 decision over teammate Abraham Flores. In Greco he topped Abraham 11-9, pinned Adrian Flores in 1:04, and teched Ty Vinson.

Robert Burke (5-1 FS, 4-3 GR) took second place at 65 pounds in both styles. He was pinned by Stockton Allen, but teched Ezekiel Smith 10-0 in freestyle. Allen was his only opponent in Greco, and the Spartan won the best-of-three series with a pair of pins.

Abraham Flores (7-1 FS, 5-3 GR) took second place at 100 pounds in both styles. His only losses were to teammate Balance Johnson, both by close decisions. He recorded three tech falls between the two styles.

Jaxon Trotter (1-1 FS, 0-2 GR) took third place at 90 pounds in both styles. He was defeated twice in Greco, but split wins in freestyle with an overtime decision against Gavin Salt.

Adrian Flores (2-5 FS, 1-5 GR) took fourth place at 100 pounds in both styles. He pinned Tyler Hockett in freestyle.

Kagen Foster (0-2 FS, 1-2 GR) failed to place in freestyle, but took fourth in Greco at 75 pounds with a 10-0 tech fall against Tanner Winesburg.

Laira Mullin (0-2 FS) competed in freestyle at 60 pounds and drew only one competitor. She was teched twice by Ava Roe in a best-of-three series.

CPHS Senior Daton Fix attains #1 ranking in USA pound-for-pound

Four-time undefeated State Champion Daton Fix hasn't lost a match in the U.S. since October of 2015.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Daton Fix is a household name in Sand Springs by now. Every serious high school wrestling fan in the United States is at least somewhat aware of him, and every year his name-recognition increases worldwide as he racks up the hardware at junior and senior level freestyle events across the globe.

Fix has held the #1 ranking from FloWrestling in the 132-pound weight class since June, but after finishing his high school career undefeated as a four-time State Champion, he has now climbed to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings as well.

The previous #1 was Iowa University-signed senior Spencer Lee.

Fix and Lee have held very similar careers these past four years. The two first met in May of 2013 at the Cadet Freestyle Nationals in the 110-pound weight class. Lee rolled to a 13-2 technical fall for the National title.

Two years later it was Fix's turn, winning a 9-6 decision for the Championship. Since then, the Pennsylvania State Champion has won a pair of gold medals at the World Championships while the Oklahoman won bronze the past two years. 

So what pushed Fix past Lee in the rankings? How he finished in high school. While Fix concluded his undefeated career with a 168-0 record and four State Championships, Lee lost his final match to end as a three-time State Champ and four-time finalist with a 144-1 record.

Lee could still easily make his case to remain number one, however. His loss was to a no-joke opponent in Drexel-signed senior Austin Desanto, who was then ranked fourth in the nation at their weight class. Furthermore, though he refuses to use it as an excuse, Lee was wrestling with a torn ACL in his right knee. 

In the latest Flo rankings, Fix moved from third to first, while Lee dropped from first to third. Second-ranked Cornell-signed senior Yianni Diakomihalis held his spot. Diakomihalis and Fix have split decisions in the past. Diakomihalis defeated Fix 5-0 in the 2014 Super 32 finals, but Fix won a 3-1 overtime decision for the FloNationals Folkstyle Championship in 2015. Diakomihalis finished his career with a 243-3 record but didn't compete for the State Championship due to a broken elbow. 

While the odds of meeting the 145-pound Diakomihalis is college is unlikely, it's very likely we could see Fix and Lee meet again, either at the collegiate level or in national/international freestyle competitions.

For now, the only four-time State Champion in Sandite history has certainly lived up to his Twitter handle of "Greatest Ever." At least, greatest ever in Sand Springs. But the State Championships were just small stepping stones in his ultimate quest for Olympic Gold. He'll get his first shot in Tokyo in 2020, but till then he'll have to be content with being the #1 wrestler in America, and maybe win a few NCAA Division One titles for Oklahoma State University along the way.

Daton Fix titles:

2X Oklahoma Junior High State Champion
2X USAW Schoolboy Freestyle National Champion
2X USAW Schoolboy Greco-Roman National Champion
2012 USAW Preseason Middle School National Champion
2013 USAW Cadet Greco-Roman National Champion
2013 USAW Cadet Freestyle National Champion
2014 USAW Cadet Folkstyle National Champion
2014 Cadet Greco-Roman Pan American Champion
2014 Cadet Freestyle Pan American Champion
2014 Youth Olympics Freestyle Silver Medalist
2015 Junior Folkstyle FloNationals Champion
2X UWW Cadet Freestyle National Champion
2015 USAW Junior Freestyle National Champion
2016 Cadet Worlds Freestyle Bronze Medalist
2X Jay Hancock Memorial Champion
2X UWW Junior Freestyle National Champion
2016 Junior Worlds Freestyle Bronze Medalist
4X Perry Tournament Champion
4X Kansas City Stampede Champion
2X Geary Invitational Champion
4X Jerry Billings-Bobby Lyons Champion
4X OSSAA 6A-East Regional Champion
4X OSSAA 6A State Champion

Sand Springs Sandite Wrestling wins 6A State Championship with 5 Champions

Top-Five Team Scores:

1. Sand Springs (129.5)
2. Broken Arrow (124)
3. Choctaw (110.5)
4. Edmond North (64)
5. Stillwater (47)

2017 6A State Champions

106: Riley Weir (Sand Springs sophomore)
113: Canon Randall (Westmoore senior)
120: Paxton Rosen (Edmond North senior)
126: Tanner Cole (Deer Creek senior)
132: Daton Fix (Sand Springs senior)
138: Jack Karstetter (Sand Springs senior)
145: Beau Bratcher (Sand Springs senior) 
152: Payton Scott (Sand Springs junior) 
160: Jaryn Curry (Choctaw junior)
170: Zane Coleman (Choctaw sophomore)
182: Gavin Potter (Broken Arrow sophomore)
195: Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow sophomore)
220: Skyler Haynes (Broken Arrow senior)
285: Trenton Lieurance (Broken Arrow senior)

6A Outstanding Wrestler: Daton Fix (Sand Springs)

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

For the first time since 1971, the Charles Page High School Wrestling team will bring home a team trophy from the OSSAA State Tournament. With five State Champions and seven placers, the Sandites came out on top of a three-way race with No. 2 Choctaw and No. 3 Broken Arrow to clench their second State Championship this month after winning the Dual State title in Shawnee two weeks prior. 

This is the first time in town history that the Sandites have won two team State Championships in a single year. Oklahoma State University-signed senior Daton Fix officially ended his high school career as the first-ever four-time State Champion in Sand Springs history, and he did it without giving up a single loss. This was the first time since 2002 that anyone in Oklahoma went four years undefeated with four titles. This was also the first time another Sandite would bring home the gold with him.

Before this season, the Sandites had crowned 25 State Champions with 36 gold medals total. But no two Sandites have won State in the same year since 1978 when Craig Sanders, Kevin Newport, and Billy Boyd took the podium. Hall Williams, Wayne Sutterfield, and current Assistant Coach Ronnie Luce did so in 1974, and Frank Peck, Rick Warren, and Eddie Sullivan did so in 1971. The Sandites have never had more than three Champions in a single year, but they did place seven finalists in the 71' Championship season.

History was made Saturday evening as five of the six Sandite finalists won their brackets. Fix was joined atop the podium by sophomore Riley Weir, junior Payton Scott, and seniors Jack Karstetter and Beau Bratcher.

Weir (41-6 season, 62-18 career) took on Edmond Memorial freshman Garrett Steidley (30-4) in the 106-pound finals and won the first State Title of the evening. Weir was visibly dissatisfied with his first shot as the two ended up in a tangled mess vying for control. The wrestlers returned to their feet and Steidley took Weir off the mat with an inside trip, but didn't score. Returning to center the Sandite got the angle he was looking for and took the Bulldog down for back points. They started the second period neutral with Weir leading 4-0, and this time it was Steidley with the takedown. They returned to neutral for the third period and stayed there for the duration. The trailing Bulldog was the aggressor, firing off multiple close shots. But every time they hit the mat, Weir found his defense and staved off the takedown, ultimately holding on for the 4-2 decision.

Fix (47-0, 165-0) easily handled Edmond North senior Brandon Bright (36-5) in the 132-pound finals. It was a strange match for Fix. Bright did the unthinkable and actually scored a takedown. He was the first opponent to score against Fix this season. It wouldn't happen again, however. The Sandite took a 7-4 lead into the second period and made it 17-9 by the third, though Bright did put up some solid shots. Fate had its way and the Sandite was within a takedown of a technical fall before snagging the pin at 4:52.

Karstetter (32-1, 105-16) met Stillwater senior Tyler Dieringer (26-5) in the 138-pound finals. The two remained neutral throughout an aggressive first period, with Dieringer fending off several close calls. Karstetter started the second period on bottom and took the lead with an escape, but Dieringer tied it up early in the third. With twenty seconds left, the Sandite scored the winning takedown.

Bratcher (45-7, 136-30) battled former two-time Louisiana State Champion and Stillwater senior Kendon Lee (35-3) in the 145-pound finals. Bratcher and Lee were evenly matched throughout, remaining neutral through the first period. The Sandite scored an escape midway through the second period and added a takedown at the minute mark. He cut Lee loose midway through but was unable to score again. Bratcher started the final stretch on top and was nearly reversed on but managed to hold tough till a "potentially dangerous" call returned him to a more comfortable position. Lee continued to show his explosiveness on the scramble, but Bratcher had a vice grip and held off a reversal attempt as time expired for the 3-1 victory.

Scott (40-3, 61-11) squared off with Enid senior Austin Loza (36-9) in the 152-pound finals. Loza selected the down position after a neutral first period and quickly escaped for the lead, but Scott found a buzzer-beating takedown for the advantage. He started the third period on bottom, immediately broke loose, and stayed on his feet for a 3-1 decision.  . 

Jordan (44-2, 75-14), a Pittsburg State University football-signed senior, took on defending State Champion and Broken Arrow senior Skyler Haynes (12-2) in the 220-pound finals. Jordan wasted no time with his first shot and had the defending State Champ on the ropes before Haynes worked his way out of danger and ended up scoring on the Sandite. He cut Jordan loose soon after and the Sandite was just a second short of a takedown. Instead he entered the second period trailing 2-1 and Haynes elected the defensive position. Jordan cut him loose almost immediately but was unable to find points. He chose to start the third period on bottom and was in danger of a cradle for a while before finding the escape. He was unable to score, however, and Haynes prevailed for his second State title. Jordan may have lost this match, but he bested the Tiger two other times this season and still finished his career as a three-time State Qualifier and State Runner-Up.

Eleven Sandites qualified for the State Tournament. Michael Ritchey (36-12, 65-36), Blake Sargent (37-11, 89-25), Noah Almy (24-20), and Zane Basma (26-5, 88-30) were eliminated without placing. 

Senior Tanner Ward (34-12, 110-24) finished his career as a four-time State-placer, taking fourth place in the 113-pound bracket. He met Mustang sophomore Cameron Picklo in a rematch of the first-round and looked to be in good shape, leading 3-1 in the final minute of the match. Picklo scored a takedown with twenty seconds left, however, and rolled the Sandite onto his shoulder for a pair of nearfall points and a 5-3 decision. 

Sand Springs will be in a bit of a rebuilding year next season after graduating seven of their eleven State Qualifiers, but the Sandite bench is loaded with talented underclassmen waiting their turn. Simply returning two State Champions will be huge, but the Sandites will also have incoming Junior High State Champion Carter Young, Runner-Up Brett Black, and placers Kaden Glass, CJ Kirby, and Seth Jones. 

The future is as bright as ever in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.