Sandite Alumni Report: Track, Wrestling, Volleyball & More

Courtesy of OSU Athletics.

Oklahoma State University super-senior Daton Fix, a 2017 CPHS alum, is now 8-0 on the season and ranked third in the country at 133 pounds.

Most recently Fix won an 11-3 major decision against No. 7 Evan Frost to help the No. 5 Cowboys win a 21-12 upset against No. 4 Iowa State (9-2) Saturday night.

OSU is now 10-0 on the season and will return to action Friday with a home dual against Arizona State (3-4).

2022 alum Ethan Norton is in his sophomore season at College of the Ozarks. The 157-pounder went 1-2 at the Pete Willson Invitational this weekend, earning a 6-5 decision over Muskingum’s Zeke Poulos.

Men’s Basketball

2021 CPHS alum Marlo Fox is in his junior year at Rogers State University. The Hillcats are 11-8 on the season and 8-5 in the MIAA conference.

Rogers State will look to bounce back from a 75-53 loss at Missouri Southern when it hosts Washburn (13-6, 9-4) Thursday in Claremore.

Cheer

2022 alum Ashley Blake is in her sophomore year at Oklahoma Baptist University while 2020 alum Coleman Wright is representing the Sandites at Nichols College.

Women’s Track and Field

2021 alum Erika Baker is a distance runner at Pittsburg State University, where she placed 24th in the 5000 meter run Saturday at the Gorillas’ home invitational. The junior ran the event in 19:19.54 for eighth place in her heat.

She also ran in the recent Rumble in the Jungle Invitational on January 19th and placed 28th in the 3000 meter run with a time of 11:18.55.

Layne Kirkendoll is in her sophomore season at South Dakota State and is already seeing major success.

The 2022 alum won the high jump event at the Jim Emmerich Alumni meet on January 20th with a mark of 5 ft. 5 in. and was seventh in long jump at 17 ft. 7.5 in. as the team placed second overall.

Men’s Track and Field

2019 alum Aden Baughman made his Pittsburg State University debut at the Rumble in the Jungle Invitational on the 19th.

The junior ORU transfer placed fourth in the 600-meter finals with a time of 1:12.81, just 0.6 seconds behind the champion. He also ran the second leg of the 1600-meter relay, helping the Gorillas to a sixth place finish. Pitt State won the invitational overall.

At the Pittsburg State Invitational on the 27th he took third place in the 800-meter finals in 1:53.13. He also ran the 1600-meter relay on the Pitt State B-team that placed 10th.

Volleyball

2020 alum Gloria Mutiri is playing professional volleyball with USC Muenster in Germany. Muenster is 5-12 on the season and will return to action on Saturday against the Vilsbiburg Red Ravens.

Muenster won its latest match 3-0 against VC Neuwied, 25-11, 25-21, and 25-16. Mutiri scored 7 points in the match as the No. 3 scorer for USC.

Four Former Sandites Kick Off College Wrestling Season

Charles Page High School’s four-time undefeated State Champion from the Class of 2017 is back in the lineup at Oklahoma State University.

Daton Fix is in his seventh year overall and final year of eligibility. The redshirt senior is a three-time NCAA runner-up and four-time All-American and is looking to close out his storied career atop the podium.

Fix pinned his first opponent of the season, No. 16 Kurt Phipps, in 5:31 in a 38-6 dual win against Bucknell.

Also in the lineup at OSU is Carter Young, who won a State title at Sand Springs as a freshman before transferring to Stillwater.

The Pokes will return to action on December 1st at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas.

Ethan White (2023) is in his freshman year at Reinhardt University. White is 1-4 thus far, competing in two open tournaments. The Eagles will return to action at the Lindsey Wilson Duals on December 9th.

Ethan Norton (2022) is in his sophomore season at University of the Ozarks where he recently took 8th place at the Maryville Kaufman/Brand/Bayly Open. The Eagles will compete at the Drury University Open on December 2nd.

Sand Springs weekly roundup: Eli Buxton pitches perfect game in 20-0 shutout of US Grant

Left to right: Abbie Dunn, Daffaney Snyder, Caitlin Shipman. Courtesy of Dana Peacock.

This story was originally written for the Sand Springs Leader.

The Charles Page High School baseball team (26-5, 9-3) started last week with a pair of run-rule district shutouts, 18-0 and 20-0, at U.S. Grant (1-14, 0-7) before taking on Oologah-Talala, Bixby, and Tahlequah in non-district play.

Jabe Schlehuber (5-1) threw a five-inning one-hitter with seven strikeouts in the first game and Keaton Campbell went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs and five RBI to lead a slugging crew that amassed 15 hits.

Eli Buxton (2-0) pitched a perfect game in the nightcap, tossing 11 strikeouts as the visitors recorded 14 hits. 

Keaton Campbell continued his dominant night at the plate, going 2-of-3 with three runs, three RBI, and a triple. Ty Pennington was 2-of-2 with three runs, three RBI, and a home run, and Jace Arnold was 2-of-2 with two runs, three RBI, and a triple. 

On Thursday the Sandites traveled to Oologah (15-9) and won 11-4 while out-hitting the Mustangs 12 to six. 

Kayden Campbell (3-0) tossed eight strikeouts with five hits and two walks in five innings, while Gage Elliott threw one hit, one strikeout, and one HBP in two innings of relief. 

Keaton Cambpell led at the plate, going 3-of-5, while Schlehuber scored one run and three RBI.

The Sandites’ six-game win streak came to an end on Senior Night in a 17-7 run-rule loss to Bixby (27-5).

The Spartans scored five runs in the first, second, and third innings and out-hit the Sandites 17 to eight with nine home runs.

John Keim (4-1) took his first loss of the season, tossing two hits, five walks, and three strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning. Elliott threw 10 hits, one strikeout, and one walk in two innings, and Wyatt Rutledge threw five hits and one walk in 2.1 innings.

The Sandites also had strong offensive performances in the second and fourth innings, but couldn’t stymie the Spartan bats that combined for nine homers.

Pennington went 2-of-3 with two runs, three RBI, and a home run, and Keaton Campbell hit a solo homer.

Prior to the game the Sandites celebrated seniors Carson Seabolt, Jacob Shields, Cale Askew, Keaton Campbell, Jason Clark, Brooks Dudley, Nathan Gibson, Gabe Glenn, Keim, Ethan Norton, Pennington, and manager Avery Tanner.

Sand Springs wrapped up the busy week with a high-noon showdown at Tahlequah (9-19) and won 16-3 in five innings.

Arnold (6-0) got the win on the mound, tossing three hits, six strikeouts, and no walks in four innings. Buxton threw two strikeouts and one walk, surrendering one hit in an inning of relief.

Glenn and Dom Ornelas both hit home runs and the team amassed 11 hits overall.

Sand Springs will wrap up the regular season with a district home-and-away series against Putnam City North Monday and Tuesday, followed by home games against Sapulpa Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and Westmoore Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Softball

The No. 15 Sand Springs slow pitch team (7-12) picked up an 11-8 upset win against No. 8 Union (15-16) Tuesday but fell 8-0 to Bixby in the evening game and 16-7 to No. 5 Jenks (23-8) in Thursday’s regular season finale.

The Sandites will travel to Jenks for a three-team Regional tournament on Wednesday, April 27th, with a first-round game against No. 14 Guthrie (12-8) at 10:00 a.m. 

Sand Springs has yet to play the Bluejays this season, but they’re 1-2 against Jenks, upsetting the Trojans 7-5 at the Haskell tournament in March.

Golf

Gina Foster shot a 103 and Madison Chambers shot 116 at the Frontier Valley Conference Championship in Bartlesville on Wednesday. Chambers scored 108 and Foster scored 110 at the Skiatook tournament on Thursday.

The boys’ Skiatook tournament was rescheduled for Wednesday, April 27th.

Track and Field

The Sand Springs varsity girls placed ninth and the boys took 13th at the Terry Due Track Classic in Collinsville on Friday. The freshman girls and boys both placed eighth and Sandites won four total events.

Layne Kirkendoll won the high jump with a mark of 5 ft. 6 in. and the long jump with a distance of 17 ft. 0.75 in. Jestin Rawlins won the discus throw with a mark of 162 ft. 9 in.

Jazmin Lopez placed fifth in the 800-meter run in 2:32.42.

In freshman action, Gracie Gifford placed third in the 1600 in 6:37.39 and won the 3200 uncontested in 14:37.93. Briona Searcy was second in long jump at 14 ft. 9 in.

Caleb Goodman ran the 110 hurdles in 17.51 seconds for fourth place, Preston Kennedy ran the 100 in 11.8 for fifth, Jacob York ran the 400 in 1:00.56 for sixth. Kennedy also placed third in the high jump at 5 ft. 4 in. and was sixth in the long jump at 17 ft. 8.5 in.

The freshman boys placed third in the 4x100 relay in 48.01 and fourth in the 4x200 in 1:43.68.

Tennis

Kira Shipley placed seventh in No. 1 Singles, Abbie Dunn placed sixth in No. 2 Singles, and Caitlin Shipman and Daffaney Snyder placed seventh in No. 1 Doubles at the Broken Arrow tournament on Friday, April 15th.

On Monday, April 18th the girls won the consolation bracket at the Bartlesville tournament with Dunn defeating Muskogee and Ponca City in No. 1 Singles, while Shipman and Snyder defeated Edison and Ponca City in No. 1 Doubles. 

Sandite Wrestling places sixth at Regionals with seven State qualifiers

Sandite wrestler Mitchell Smith

Mitchell Smith finished second as the Sandites’ top placer.

This story was originally written for the Sand Springs Leader.

The Charles Page High School wrestling team finished in sixth place at the OSSAA 6A-East Regional in Stillwater on Saturday, qualifying seven Sandites for the State tournament next weekend in Oklahoma City.

“I felt like everybody wrestled hard,” said coach Jarrod Patterson. “We had a couple that came up a little bit short but I was very pleased with the effort that we put in. Everybody wrestled hard.”

The team saw a notable improvement over last year’s eighth place finish with four qualifiers, and the Sandites will be sending their largest lineup to State since Patterson took over the program in 2018.

“I think we’ve got a little bit more of a team type of atmosphere,” said Patterson. “Everybody’s watching every single match, cheering for guys.”

“They’re excited for each other, they’re excited for themselves. There’s a little bit more passion this year. I’m really excited about this group and the future.”

Junior Mitchell Smith (27-6) was the team’s highest finisher, placing second at 145 pounds with two pins and a 3-1 upset of the one-seed.

Carter Goodman (24-11) placed third at 160 after taking a break from wrestling last season. In the placement round he won a 6-4 decision against the Bixby wrestler who had beaten him 5-1 the day before. 

“Carter’s come up short a few times throughout the year, but man this tournament was a good one for him,” said Patterson. “He’s been working hard and just battling and staying in good position and had some really good matches.”

Blake Jones (11-6) placed third at 170 with three pins, and his only loss came to the tournament champion.

“Blake’s had a couple lingering injuries from football that we’ve been nursing throughout the season,” said Patterson. “But at this point it is what it is. He’s a senior and we’re going to push through it. That’s all we can do.” 

Sophomore stars Zander Grigsby (18-3) and Mason Harris (17-7) placed fourth at 120 and 220, respectively, and freshmen David Ritchey (20-12) and Jaxon “Scout” Trotter (20-11) placed fifth at 106 and 138, respectively.

Seniors Ethan Norton (23-15) and Brooks Dudley (21-11) placed sixth in their brackets, one win short of qualifying for State.

The State wrestling tournament will begin Friday, February 25th at 10:00 a.m. at State Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City.

Sandite Wrestling Takes Down Owasso 42-36

This story was originally written for the Sand Springs Leader.

The 6A No. 15 ranked Sandite wrestling team (7-3) won a 42-36 upset against No. 10 Owasso (8-5) Tuesday night in a Senior Night instant classic at the Ed Dubie Field House.

The visiting Rams stormed out to a 24-0 lead with four falls before Jayden Pait (17-8) pinned Easton Eicher to get the home team on the board.

Mitchell Smith (23-6) and Ethan Norton (19-9) also collected falls at 145 and 152, but the Sandites still found themselves down 36-18 with only four matches left.

Ethan White (18-13) and Brooks Dudley (17-7) both pinned their opponents and Cash Lucas (11-12) received a forfeit at 220 to tie it up, putting the weight of the dual on Mason Harris’s shoulders.

The sophomore star weighed in 40 pounds lighter than Jamon Colbert but wrestled tough and pinned his foe 25 seconds into the second period to end the dual and improve to 15-4 on the season.

The Sandites had their Thursday night dual at No. 3 Broken Arrow (6-5) rescheduled for Monday at 7:00 p.m. and the Glenpool Warrior Invitational was canceled over the weekend.

Sand Springs placed 17th out of 151 teams at the Junior High Allstate tournament in Oklahoma City with three runners-up.

Jaxon “Scout” Trotter, who is 10-6 on the varsity team, placed second at 138 pounds with three pins. 

In the 6th & 7th Grade division, Kasen McAffrey placed second at 120 pounds, Kaden Pope placed second at 105 pounds, and Jaxon Grigsby placed third at 80 pounds.

Sandite Wrestling wins Homecoming 54-27 against Glenpool

The Sand Springs Winter Homecoming Court combined Basketball and Wrestling this year. Photo courtesy of Moton Photography.

The Charles Page High School wrestling team went 2-1 in district duals Tuesday at Union, winning 65-9 against Deer Creek and 45-27 against Union before falling 50-30 to No. 8 Ponca City.  They also won a 54-27 Homecoming dual against 5A No. 8 Glenpool on Thursday.

Sammy Naugle, James Robey, Carter Goodman, Blake Jones, and Brooks Dudley collected pins against the Antlers, while Jayden Pait, Mitchell Smith, Goodman, Ethan White, Dudley, Mason Harris, and David Ritchey recorded falls against Union. 

Against the Wildcats, the Sandites fell behind 21-0 before Smith got a pin at 145. Ethan Norton, Goodman, and White followed it up with pins to take the lead.

Ponca rallied with pins at 182 and 195 before Harris got a fall at 220, but the Wildcats won the next three matches with bonus points to punch their ticket to dual state.

On Thursday, Ritchey, Colt Hood, Shane Wolf, Robey, Goodman, White, Dudley, and Harris all won pins against the Warriors.

The Sandites canceled their involvement at the Owasso Ram Duals over the weekend due to sickness and injuries. They will instead compete at Glenpool Warrior Classic February 4-5th.

Keystone Kids

The Keystone Kids brought home two gold medals from the Wrestlemania tournament in Broken Arrow, Saturday, January 22nd.

Nicholas Elmore and Kydon Harness won their brackets, JJ Baker was runner-up, Collin Randall and Caemon Young placed third, and Rixon Hathaway placed fourth.