No. 3 CPHS Girls Basketball dominates No. 13 Mustang 42-24 in State Quarterfinals

Isabella Regalado is one of three starting sophomores who will be anchoring the Lady Sandites in the years to come. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

CPHS 42 MHS 24

1Q CPHS 12-4
2Q CPHS 11-4
3Q CPHS 8-7
4Q CPHS 11-9

Free Throws: CPHS 4-of-9. MHS 10-of-15.
Field Goals: CPHS 18-of-48. MHS 7-of-31.
Fouls: CPHS 10. MHS 9.

Scoring: (CPHS) Kersgieter 16, Pennington 9, Johnson 8, McGee 3, Regalado 3, Mutiri 3. (MHS) Niehues 8, Haywood 7, Foreman 4, Metzinger 3, Brown 2.

(CPHS only)
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Pennington 1, Mutiri 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Pennington 6, McGee 5, Kersgieter 3, Mutiri 3, Regalado 1.
Steals: Johnson 3, McGee 3, Kersgieter 2, Pennington 1, Regalado 1.
Blocks: Mutiri 2.
Assists: Pennington 1, Johnson 1, Kersgieter 1.
Fouls: Mutiri 4, Regalado 2, Pennington 2, Johnson 1, McGee 1.

The No. 3 ranked Charles Page High School Girls' Basketball team (24-1) took on No. 13 Mustang (17-11) in the first round of the OSSAA 6A State Championship Thursday afternoon at Memorial High School and rolled to their tenth-straight victory by a final score of 42-24. They will advance to the State Semi-Finals Friday morning at the Oral Roberts Mabee Center where they will meet with No. 4 Deer Creek (25-2) at 9:00 a.m.

The Sandites made their first two attempts from three point range and missed both, but they found their usual niche in transition as sophomore Holly Kersgieter snagged a steal on the Broncos' first possession and turned it into a layup. Fellow sophomore Destiney Johnson struck next for the Sandites, then Kersgieter sank a three for the 7-0 lead.

Next it was time for the upperclassmen to shine as Ohio State Volleyball-commit Gloria Mutiri sank one from the charity stripe and Oklahoma State Softball-signed senior Sydney Pennington scored on a steal for the double digit lead. Johnson got back in the action with another steal and layup for the 12-0 lead and the Broncos used their second timeout.

Mustang finally got on the board with a steal and layup from Mia Brown, then Ellise Foreman added another basket to cut the lead to 12-4 shortly before the buzzer. The Broncos tried to go to work in the second period and scored four straight after an opening basket from McGee, but after a brief timeout, Sand Springs went right back to furthering their lead. Kersgieter scored four, Pennington added three, and Mutiri had two in the final minutes to take a 23-8 advantage into the locker room.

Mustang opened the second half with a pair of free throws from Abby Niehues but Sand Springs retaliated as Pennington hauled in a defensive rebound and sent it down court to Kersgieter for two. Sophomore Bella Regalado struck from three point range to put three sophomores in the scorebook. By the end of the third the Sandites had pushed their lead to 31-15.

Kersgieter, McGee, and Pennington went on a five point run to open the fourth, then the Broncos did the same to negate the damage. But Sand Springs wouldn't be stymied and Pennington and Johnson hit back to back layups for the 40-20 lead with 4:30 left to play. The offense fizzled out from there and the Sandites held on for a 42-24 victory.

Kersgieter led all scorers with 16 points as the only player in the game with double digits. Pennington posted nine and Johnson had eight. Neihuis led the Broncos with eight points.

The Lady Sandites' Friday morning opponent won their quarterfinal 49-42 over No. 6 Booker T. Washington (22-6), who the Sandites defeated 56-44 in the Area Championship. 

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. 

No. 1 CPHS Wrestling leads State Championship after first round with 8 semifinalists

Top-ranked 220 pound senior Delvin Jordan pinned his first-round opponent at the OSSAA State Championship. (Photo: Scott Emigh)

6A Top-Ten Team Scores:

1. No. 1 Sand Springs (25)
2. No. 2 Choctaw (21.5)
3. No. 3 Broken Arrow (21)
4. No. 13 Norman North (11)
5. Midwest City (10)
   No. 8 Stillwater (10)
6. No. 4 Edmond North (9)
7. No. 6 Ponca City (8)
   No. 5 Yukon (8)
8. No. 11 Edmond Memorial (6)
   Owasso (6)

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team got off to a solid start at the OSSAA 6A State Championship Friday afternoon at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Eight of the eleven State Qualifiers won their first round matches, and the Sandites had the top team score by a narrow margin over the defending State Champions from No. 2 Choctaw. 

It's a three-way race for the top with Choctaw and No. 3 Broken Arrow right behind the Sandites. The Yellowjackets and Tigers each have six wrestlers remaining in the championship bracket.

106-pound sophomore Riley Weir (39-6 season, 60-18 career) met Edmond North freshman Nate Becker (22-13) in his quarterfinal. Weir took a 5-1 lead into the second period and started on bottom, then quickly reversed in the first twenty seconds. He did it again to start the third period and held on for a 9-1 major decision. He will face Choctaw freshman Gabe Johnson (34-6) in the semifinals.

113 senior Tanner Ward (33-10, 109-22) took on Mustang sophomore Cameron Picklo (29-8) and recorded a takedown in the first twenty seconds, then cut his foe loose soon after. He snagged another score midway through the first period, added a pair of back points, cut his opponent loose, then took him down again to end the first period 8-3. Picklo started the second period on top and Ward easily got the escape, then added a takedown soon after. Picklo got a reversal and nearly put the Sandite in danger, but Ward managed to stay off his back and recovered for a reversal and 14-5 third period lead. The final stretch started neutral and Ward picked up a couple more takedowns for a 16-5 major decision. He will face Westmoore senior Canon Randall (36-4) in the semifinals.

120 senior Michael Ritchey (36-10, 65-34) and Choctaw junior Andy Schlaepfer (27-16) hit the mat early and struggled for control, ending up in a stalemate before the Sandite finally came out on top with seven seconds left. They started the second period neutral and it went the same as the first, hotly contested with one stalemate, and one Sandite takedown, once again in the final ten seconds. Ritchey started the final period on bottom and escaped thirty seconds in, then took control with a minute left and held on for the 7-0 decision. He will face Edmond North senior Paxton Rosen (36-2) in the semifinals.

126 junior Blake Sargent (37-10, 89-24) battled Choctaw junior Connor Holman (35-6) and gave up a takedown late in the first period. He started the second period on top and cut his opponent loose early on, then Holman added another pair of points towards the end and took a 5-0 lead into the final stretch. Sargent started the third period on the defensive end and escaped in the first few seconds, but was unable to score. Holman added another takedown, Sargent cut loose, and the Yellowjacket won by 7-2 decision. He will face Ponca City sophomore Spencer Schickram (37-9) in the consolationquarterfinal.

132 Oklahoma State University-signed senior Daton Fix (45-0, 163-0) easily handled Midwest City senior Marquez Edwards (24-8), scoring a takedown for nearfall points in the first thirty seconds. He cut his foe loose, scored, cut him loose again, scored again, and continued to run up the score to 11-3 at the end of the first period. He started the second with a reversal and secured the pin in 2:43. He will face Ponca City junior Dylan Schickram (38-12) in the semis.

138 senior Jack Karstetter (30-1, 103-16) had a scrappy competitor in Edmond Memorial junior Connor Simpson (21-8). The Sandite handily prevailed, however, taking a 7-0 lead into the second period with two sets of back points. He started on bottom and immediately escaped five seconds in, then added a second takedown for a 10-1 third period advantage. He reversed to start the final stretch and cut Simpson loose to look for bonus points, but the two remained neutral and Karstetter got the 12-2 major decision. He will face Ponca City senior Dawson Hunt (29-14) in the semifinals.

145 senior Beau Bratcher (43-7, 134-30) battled Westmoore sophomore Zach Johnson (25-7) and scored his first takedown at the minute mark. He started the second period on defense and scored an early escape and held on for a 3-0 lead in the third. Johnson selected defense, and remained there for the duration, giving Bratcher a 3-0 decision. He will face Yukon senior and defending State Champion Jaxen Gilmore (27-2) in the semifinals.

152 junior Payton Scott (37-3, 58-11) took on Choctaw junior Jeff Speer (16-8) and scored a takedown in the first thirty seconds, and cut his foe loose immediately. He added two more by the end of the first and entered the second stretch 6-2. He started with an immediate escape, then took Speer down for a fall at 2:19. He will take on Midwest City senior Rober Walker (28-6) in the semifinals.

160 sophomore Noah Almy (24-18) took on Choctaw junior and defending State Champion Jaryn Curry (35-3) and gave up an early takedown, but escaped soon after. Curry added another score and cut the Sandite loose, then repeated for a 6-3 lead. Almy started the second period on top, but Curry broke free and scored another trio of takedowns in the first minute and entered the third period with a 15-6 lead. They started neutral and Curry scored a takedown and a pair of back points before securing the 22-7 tech fall in 4:58 after a stalling penalty on Almy. The Sandite will return to action against Edmond Santa Fe junior Williams Depona (16-13) in the consolation quarterfinals.

170 senior Zane Basma (26-4, 88-29) gave up an early takedown to Edmond Memorial junior Sam Hensley (36-7), but quickly escaped and scored his own takedown for a trio of nearfall points. The Sandite started the second period neutral with a 6-2 lead, but gave up another takedown at the end of the period. Basma started the final stanza on bottom and quickly escaped, but Hensley scored a last second takedown for back points for the 9-7 decision. Basma will take on Ponca City junior Lane Newlin (31-14) in the consolation quarterfinal.

220 senior Delvin Jordan (43-2, 74-14) took on Westmoore senior Jonathan Martinez (15-8) and the two were evenly matched through the first. Jordan took a 1-0 lead with a second period escape then added a takedown soon after. Slow and steady won the race and Jordan worked his foe into a cradle at 3:42. He will take on Choctaw junior Caulin Poole (25-10) in the semifinals.

The first round of consolations will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 7:15 p.m.