#1 Sandite wrestling will take on #7 Westmoore in State Quarterfinals

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126 Jack Karstetter pins Collinsville's Pete Flippo in 0:29. Photo by: Virgil Noah

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Photo: Virgil Noah, Staff

The No.1 ranked Charles Page High School varsity wrestling team finally found out their first opponent in the Class 6A Dual State Tournament Monday. 

Friday night at 6:00 p.m. the Sandites (11-0) will meet the No.7 Westmoore Jaguars (9-2) at Firelake Arena in Shawnee. Semifinals will be held Saturday at 2:00 and finals will be Saturday at 6:30. 

The Jaguars' only losses are to No.5 Edmond North (9-2) and 4A No.1 Tuttle (14-3). 

At 106 the Sandites will likely be putting up #7 Riley Weir (16-8). However, the freshman has been battling an elbow injury that has sidelined him for a couple of duals this season. His backup is fellow freshman Scott Patton (7-2) who saw action at the District Duals, the Jenks dual, and the Yukon tournament. 

Westmoore has heavy talent at the lowest weights including 106 #2 Canon Randall, 113 #2 Wes Hardin, and 120 #2 Dalton Duffield. 

The Sandites have #5 Michael Ritchey (19-14) at 113, and #5 Blake Sargent (31-9) at 120. Sargent has already met Duffield once this season and was defeated 13-5 at the Geary Invitational.

Sand Springs has the clear edge in the next two weights with 126 #3 State-Qualifier Jack Karstetter (31-6) and 132 2X undefeated State Champion Daton Fix (36-0). Westmoore has 132 #10 Brett Graham. Fix has yet to meet Graham, but he has beaten Duffield three times and 138 #8  Zach Johnson once.

Fix has actually been up at 138 in duals since John Jiminez got hurt so its likely we'll see Derek Davis (11-5) at 132. Meanwhile 138 State-Qualifier #2 Beau Bratcher (34-6) will probably go to 145.

Both teams have excellent options for 152. Sandite sophomore Payton Scott (11-4) is ranked third and Jaguar Trey Painter is ranked #4. Should Painter cut down to 145, Bratcher has already beaten him back in 2014 by 10-0 major decision at the Oklahoma State Freestyle. We could also see Payton go up to 160 as he did against Collinsville and wrestle Cody Mathis (14-12) at 152.

#3 State-Qualifier Zane Basma (27-9) is the typical 160 wrestler for Sand Springs, though he was bumped to 170 at Collinsville, and Westmoore has #9 Deven Brewer.

Bryton Beck (10-14) could come into play at 170, but State-Placer #4 Trace Fleischman (3-2) is finally back in the lineup after battling an injury sustained at the Geary Invitational so barring any big weight change-ups, he'll probably be up against #10 Sean Flandemeyer.

At 182 the Sandites boast State-Qualifier and Southeastern Kansas football-signee #4 Lane Lettich. 

Westmoore has #7 Daevon Newton at 195 while Sand Springs could see either #9 Zach Sims (20-19) or Cole Dixon (4-4).

While Westmoore has ranked wrestlers at both 220 and 285, Sand Springs is lacking in a true heavyweight and has been wrestling Gage Fain (11-16) up for most of the season, though State-Qualifier Delvin Jordan (12-4) stepped into that slot at Collinsville. 

Westmoore's no joke and it's sure to be a great battle, but Sand Springs has been utterly unstoppable this season and its unlikely anyone but #2 Broken Arrow (10-1) or #3 Choctaw (9-2) could really put up much of a stop against a Sandite lineup at near full-strength for the first time this season. 

Savage scores 24 as Sandite streak comes to a stop at Sapulpa

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Story and Photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Stat source: Scott Emigh and Morgan Miller, Staff

The No.14 ranked Charles Page High School varsity basketball team (14-6) won four games straight before seeing that streak come to an end at Sapulpa High School Chieftain Center Tuesday night.

Earlier this season Sand Springs defeated the No.11 Sapulpa team (16-4) 69-60 at home. Since then, both teams have given up losses to Owasso and Jenks, but where the Sandites fell 57-52 to Union, Sapulpa pulled off a two-point win. 

Perhaps it was the home field advantage, but this time around it was Sapulpa with the 9 point rivalry win.

Sand Springs started in the hole from the get-go with Sapulpa senior Alex Ogunseye hitting two free throws and a layup for a 4-0 Chieftain advantage. The Sandite hero of the night, sophomore Colt Savage, put up two, but Sapulpa freshman Julian Smith sank a three soon after.

The biggest problem of the night for Sand Springs was accuracy. While Savage impressed with a 67% field goal rate, when you remove him from the equation the team accuracy drops to only 32%. 

Junior Kyle Keener missed back-to-back point blank field goals before sophomore Brooks Haddock finally sent the rebound in for two. Julian Smith and Sandite senior Arvionte Nichols each added two, then Keener had back to back layups for the first lead of the game for Sand Springs.

That's when junior Keenan Ballance showed up with a pair of threes and Ogunseye slammed a dunk at the buzzer to carry a 19-13 lead into the second quarter.

Savage hit the first basket of the second period, but Ballance scored 8 straight and Sapulpa held a double digit halftime advantage at 35-25.

At one point Sapulpa led by a much as 18 before Sand Springs went on a 9-0 run by Savage and Haddock. Smith hit a free throw and a layup to break the streak, but Sand Springs went right back at it with a freebie by Nichols, a layup by Fort Hayes State football commit Jacob Taber, and back-to-back threes from Savage to narrow it to 48-45.

Haddock sent senior Khaleel Marshall to the line to shoot two. Marshall shot one-for-two, but Savage sank a two to make it a two-point gap for the first time in three periods. 

The Sandites were on the verge of rallying for an incredible come-from-behind victory when Savage fouled out with 1:52 left to play. Without their top player of the night, Sand Springs slipped back into the deficit as their rivals avenged themselves with a final score of 58-49.

Sand Springs will return to action Friday night at No.5 Union (16-4) with only three games left before Regionals. 

Mutiri scores 15 but Sapulpa runs away with 54-40 rivalry win over Lady Sandites

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Story and Photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No.11 ranked Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team (13-6) got a rematch against Highway 97 rival No.4 Sapulpa (17-3) Tuesday night at Sapulpa High School Chieftain Center. Earlier this season the Sandites hosted Sapulpa and lost 54-43 after leading till there was less than four minutes left. Unfortunately for the Lady Sandites, things would be no better this time around.

The game was a shootout from the start with senior guard and University of Oklahoma signee Chelsea Dungee returning the tip off for a layup in the first ten seconds. Sandite junior Sydney Pennington was fouled on a layup of her own and shot one-for-two with Sapulpa controlling the rebound and scoring a three-pointer off senior Bailey Mader for a 5-1 lead.

The teams combined for 16 points in the first two minutes alone. Things began to slow down from there and Pennington tied things up at 9-9. Senior Whitney Kameis briefly took the lead back for Sapulpa but 6’1” sophomore Gloria Mutiri hit back to back layups for a 13-10 Sandite lead going into the second period.

From there it belonged to the home team. Pennington had a layup blocked, Sandite freshman Holly Kersgieter rebounded it and sent it to Johnson, but Johnson’s corresponding layup was nullified for charging.

Mader, Dungee, and Brice Calip went on a 5-0 run for the lead. Mutiri hit a pair of free throws, but it was Sapulpa with the next four-straight baskets. Mutiri hit another field goal to put her in double digits for the first half, but Kameis iced the cake for her team with a 27-17 halftime break.

Dungee fouled Johnson to start the half and the Sandite sank both of her free throws, then Calip sent Mutiri to the line after accidentally slapping her in the face on a block attempt. Mutiri was clearly phased as she only made one of two, then was sent right back by Isabella Bacon and missed both. The Lady Sandites trailed 27-21 and it was the closest the two teams would be for the remainder of the night.

This time it was Sapulpa on the receiving end of a pair of fouls and Calip went three-of-four, then added back-to-back field goals. By the end of the third period Sapulpa had a staggering 42-24 lead.

The Lady Sandites wouldn’t go down without a fight. Senior Cierra Scott hooked a steal and sent it to junior Jessica Collins for a layup attempt. Mader fouled her and Collins missed both freebies, but Johnson got the ball back for the Sandites and sent it to Mutiri for two.

Dungee scored next but sent Johnson to the floor soon after with an elbow and fouled out of the game.

Penalties continued to define the fourth quarter, leading the Sand Springs student section to chant “you can’t do that,” to which the Cheiftains responded “you still suck.” Sand Springs retaliated with “let’s play football,” for which Sapulpa had one word. “Bixby! Bixby!”

I’m sure Sand Springs can live with barely losing one of two games to the State Champions, but nevertheless, Highway 97 Rivalry continues to show itself alive and well.

Ultimately Sapulpa would earn back the bragging rights with a final score of 54-40.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Friday night at Union (8-12) whom they have already defeated 59-39 earlier this season. 

Sand Springs Team Big sweeps Berryhill Open with eight champions

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Twenty-eight Sandites competed at the Berryhill Open Tournament last month and twenty-two of them placed. Asher Giddens and Kasen McAffrey won their weight classes in the 6 & Under division. David Ritchey won his weight in 8 & Under. Zander Grigsby and Clayton Giddens won 10 & Under. Carter Young, Blake Jones, and Bryce Fisher won 12 & Under.

Jace Simms had the fastest pin for the Sandites, defeating his round two opponent in only 8 seconds.  

Division I (Ages 6 & Under)

Asher Giddens - 37 lbs - First Place

  • pinnned Cael Dolan (Berryhill) in 1:52
  • defeated Cael Dolan 12-7

Blake Stephens - 43 lbs - DNP

  • defeated Gideon Carney (Broken Arrow) 4-0
  • pinned Karson Johnson (Berryhill) in 0:17
  • pinned by Jaxon Randall (Chickasha) in 0:24
  • pinned by Carlos Esparza (Cleveland) in 0:45

Brody Bates - 46 lbs - DNP

  • teched 17-2 by Karson Hopkins (RAW)
  • teched Haydon Deramus (Berryhill) 16-0
  • defeated 14-11 by Lachlan Barclay (Catoosa)

Kasen McAffrey - 52 lbs - First Place

  • defeated Mack Powell (Collinsville) 4-0
  • pinned Sonny Hicks (Broken Arrow) in 0:53
  • pinned Cannon Hailey (Berryhill) in 2:37

Carter Wood - 60 lbs - Second Place

  • majored 9-0 by Jaedan Adams (Stillwater)
  • pinned Luke Majors (Berryhill) in 0:27

Division II (Ages 8 & Under) 

Jaxon Grigsby - 46 lbs - Second Place

  • pinned Peyton Sims (Sapulpa) in 1:56
  • pinned Will Meredith (RAW) in 1:23
  • majored 14-2 by Mason Burnham (Catoosa)
  • defeated Jaxon Randall (Chickasha) 4-2

Ty Burdge - 49 lbs - Fourth Place

  • pinned in 0:41 by Nash Neeley (Creek)
  • pinned in 0:50 by Kru Vance (Catoosa)
  • majored 10-0 by Wiley Wilson (Stillwater)

Hunter Spencer - 58 lbs - Fourth Place

  • majored 16-2 by Robert Burke (RAW) 
  • teched Cooper Barrington (Berryhill) 15-0
  • teched 19-4 by Michael Blendowski (Catoosa)

Jace Simms - 61 lbs - Second Place

  • defeated Easton Hailey (Berryhill) 10-3
  • pinned Jackson Vaught (NEO) in 0:08
  • defeated 10-4 by David Ritchey (Sand Springs)

David Ritchey - 61 lbs- First Place

  • teched Jackson Vaught 15-0
  • pinned Easton Hailey in 2:56
  • defeated Jace Simms 10-4

Zane Swafford - 62 lbs - Second Place

  • majored Noah McCall (Bristow) 16-4
  • pinned Bittle Boston (Cushing) in 1:58
  • majored 11-0 by Logan Hargrove (Catoosa)

Dallas Flores - 70 lbs - DNP

  • pinned in 1:27 by Brett Cornett (Pryor)
  • defeated 4-3 by Tanner Bedford (Broken Arrow) 

Jackson Burdge - 70 lbs - Fourth Place

  • pinned in 0:43 by Hudson Sheppard (Cushing) 
  • pinned Coleman Burrow (Berryhill) in 0:57
  • pinned in 1:20 by Tanner Bedford

Division III (Ages 10 & Under)

Jackson Martin - 55 lbs - DNP

  • majored 10-2 by Cavin Pepper (Sapulpa) 
  • defeated 2-0 by Gunner Richey (Vian)

Zander Grigsby - 55 lbs - First Place

  • defeated Iziah Tusler (Cushing) 6-1
  • defeated Cavin Pepper 4-0

Blake Stewart - 61 lbs - DNP

  • defeated 6-2 by Matthew Manley (Pryor)
  • pinned in 1:42 by Max Tucker (Cushing)

Clayton Giddens - 61 lbs - First Place

  • pinned Jacob Caviness (Stilwell) in 0:50
  • pinned Dakota Seawright (Collinsville) in 1:26
  • majored Dariuz Black (NEO) 14-1

Mitchell Smith - 64 lbs - Third Place

  • defeated 7-0 by Grady Mittasch (RAW)
  • teched Jordan Harris (Little Axe) 16-0
  • pinned Dylan Seawright (Collinsville) in 2:23

James Winn - 120 lbs - Third Place

  • defeated Colt Carr (Sapulpa) 4-2 in sudden victory
  • pinned in 1:08 by Luke Burdette (RAW) 
  • defeated 4-0 by Blake Raglin (Pryor) 

Tyler B. Smith - 131 lbs - Second Place

  • pinned Braden Bruner (Broken Arrow) in 0:47
  • pinned Lane Gourley (Little Axe) in 1:07
  • pinned in 2:24 by JaKobe Sanders (Stillwater)

Division IV (Ages 12 & Under) 

Owen Martin - 64 lbs - Second Place

  • majored Caydon Miller (Sapulpa) 14-1
  • defeated Christian Forbes (RAW) 5-0
  • majored 9-0 by Canon Acklin (Collinsville) 

Colton Luker - 76 lbs - Third Place

  • teched 16-0 by Kenneth Adams (Catoosa)
  • defeated Kai Shultz (Pryor) 4-0
  • pinned Silas Carney (Broken Arrow) in 2:28

Sammy Naugle - 80 lbs - Second Place

  • teched 20-5 by Carter Young (Sand Springs)
  • defeated Henry Windsor (Metro Christian) 5-2

Carter Young - 80 lbs - First Place

  • teched Henry Windsor 21-4
  • teched Sammy Naugle 20-5

Ethan Norton - 84 lbs - DNP

  • pinned in 1:23 by Drake Acklin (Collinsville)
  • majored 11-0 by Cohlson Pepper (Sapulpa)

Blake Jones - 92 - First Place

  • majored Walker Hill (Broken Arrow) 8-0
  • pinned Aiden Hill (Broken Arrow) in 1:01
  • defeated Noah Smith (NEO) 11-5
  • majored Caleb Rogers (NEO) 16-2

Bryce Fisher - 100 lbs - First Place

  • pinned Ethan White (RAW) in 4:08
  • defeated Colt Fischer (Little Axe) 9-4
  • teched Brunk Gray (Pryor) 18-3

Division V (Ages 15 & Under)

Seth Jones - 113 lbs - Second Place

  • majored Gunner Mittasch (RAW) 13-3
  • pinned Matthew Chesbro (RAW) in 2:42
  • forfeited to Alec McDoulett (Little Axe)
  • forfeited to Blake Bruner (Broken Arrow)

 

Eleven Sandites have signed college letters of intent

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Story and Photos by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Eight Charles Page High School seniors signed college letters of intent Wednesday morning. Four are members of the girls' soccer team and four are members of the State Runner-Up football team. 

Jacob Taber Senior year stats

Linebacker Jacob Taber signed with Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. The FHSU Tigers compete in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and finished last season with an 8-4, 8-3 record. Taber was third among the Sandites in tackles with 67 and 10 for loss. He has also started several games this season for the boys' basketball team which is currently ranked No.13 in class 6A with a 14-5 record. 

Cole Dixon Senior year stats

Linebacker Cole Dixon was the leading tackler for the Sandites this season and signed to play for Northeastern State University in Tahlequah along with soccer player Madison Dye. The NSU RiverHawks are a NCAA Division II school that also competes in the MIAA with FHSU and finished last season 3-8 in football and 14-5-2 in soccer. Dixon finished the season with 73 tackles, 15 for loss. Dixon is also a member of the #1 ranked Sandite wrestling team and has a 4-4 record. He plans to study nursing. The two will also be joined by All-Metro Player of the Year Jessica Schuler of the State Runner-Up softball team who signed with the RiverHawks in the fall.

Lane Lettich Senior Year Receiving Stats

Cornerback Parker Taylor and runningback Lane Lettich both signed to Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. The Southwestern Moundbuilders compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and had a 3-8, 3-6 record last season.

Lane Lettich Senior Year Rushing Stats

Lettich rushed for 1,110 yards and 17 touchdowns as the starting runningback this past season and added another 232 yards receiving for 2 touchdowns. He's also a starter on the wrestling team with an 11-6 record this season at 182 pounds. 

Parker Taylor was the leading punt returner, averaging 17 yards per return, and was fifth in total tackles with 45. He was also team leader in pass-breakups. 

Parker Taylor Senior Year Defensive Stats

Parker Taylor Senior Year Defensive Stats

The Charles Page High School football team was a bit of a sleeper in the race for State this year, forfeiting their first two games due to an ineligible player. Their third game was called off shortly before the half due to lightning, and the fourth game was a loss to quarter-finalist Bartlesville. 

Parker Taylor Senior Year Punt Return Stats

By the time the Sandites reached the playoffs they only had a 5-4 record and most eyes were on Booker T Washington and Bartlesville for the title. Instead, Sand Springs upset Washington 30-23, avenging a week 9 loss of 17-14, and Bixby upset Bartlesville by a staggering 61-27 after falling to the Bruins 50-33 in week 5. Ultimately Bixby would defeat the Sandites 38-28 to defend their 6A Division II State Title. 

Kayla Foster signed for soccer and academics to Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. The Lady Miners compete in NCAA Division II in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and had a 1-14-2 record last season. 

Brooklyn Eardley signed to play for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. ORU is a NCAA Division I school that participates in The Summit League. The Golden Eagles went 10-8-2 this past season.

Kylee Cramer signed to play for Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. The Bison are an NCAA Division II school and earned a 6-11 record during their first year in the Great American Conference after moving over from the NAIA for the 2015 season.

Other college-committed Sandites include Stella Millican (Mid American Christian University), and Kennedy "Goose" Salyers (Southeastern Oklahoma State University) who played on the State Runner-Up Softball team. 

#13 Sandites win fourth straight with 59-45 triumph over #20 Bixby

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-In-Chief

Friday night's Homecoming victory over the Bixby Spartans read much like Tuesday night's win over Muskogee. It was their fourth straight win, and it was sophomore Brooks Haddock's fourth straight game as the top Sandite scorer. For the second week in a row, Haddock and junior Kyle Keener were the heartbeat of the team, with each scoring 16 in the first three periods before the Spartans went foul-crazy on Haddock and sent him to the line for a total of six free throws in the fourth. 

The No.20-ranked Bixby Spartans (9-10) had a rough time finding any momentum from the very beginning, turning over their first five possessions before finally getting on the board with a free throw from leading Spartan scorer Will Fiser. The 6-0 Sandite start had expanded to a solid 13-7 lead by the end of the first, and the second quarter would be no kinder to the visitors.

No.13-ranked Sand Springs (14-5) held a 24-13 lead coming out of halftime. The Spartans battled far closer in the third period, tying Sand Springs with 16 points each. The visitors got within 7 of the home team towards the end of the period, but Haddock hit a two and senior Arvionte Nichols returned a steal for a layup right at the buzzer. 

Bixby made yet another comeback-attempt, rallying to a 45-41 deficit with 4:45 left, but Keener and Colt Savage hit back-to-back baskets before Haddock went on a run at the charity stripe to make it 55-43. Mack Thompson scored a transition layup off a steal, then Tyler Smith came off the bench and dunked to seal the win. 

The boys are now third in conference standings with four games left in the regular season. They will next travel to #12 Sapulpa (15-4) in a rematch of their week two game which Sand Springs won 69-60 at home. 

In JV action, the Sandites went into overtime for the third time this season where Jacob Garbey hit the game wining shot for a 49-48 win. Garbey led the team with 15 points, followed by Josh Taber with 9. The boys are now 5-6 on the season. In the season opener the Sandites overcame Bixby 34-32, also in overtime.