No. 2 Sandite Wrestling wins Perry Tournament with 3 champions, hammers Owasso 62-6

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity wrestling team (1-0) is on a roll to start the season, and may slip past No. 1 Choctaw (1-0) in the rankings soon. The OSSAA has two separate rankings for High School wrestling, one for tournaments and one for duals. Sand Springs is ranked second in both, but took first place this weekend at the prestigious Perry Tournament of Champions by a 27-point margin over the defending State Champions. They also won their first dual of the season last Tuesday without losing a single match.

Oklahoma State University-signed senior Daton Fix (5-0), a three-time undefeated State Champion, was name the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament after becoming only the sixth wrestler in the tournament's history to win it all four years. Seniors Beau Bratcher (5-0) and Delvin Jordan (5-0) also picked up first-place wins. Bratcher was the State Runner-Up last season, while Jordan was a Regional Champion and defeated the previously undefeated State Champion Nic Roller, but was unable to compete at State. 

Seniors Michael Ritchey (4-1) and Zane Basma (4-1) both took second place. Sophomore Riley Weir (5-1), senior Tanner Ward (5-1), senior Jack Karstetter (5-1), junior Payton Scott (5-1), and junior Gage Fain (5-1) placed third. Junior Blake Sargent (5-2) took fourth place and sophomore Noah Almy (5-3) took sixth place.

Weir, a State qualifier, made his season debut with the No. 2 ranking at 106 pounds and pinned Union's Cooper Gibson in 2:17. He scored a close 7-6 decision over Choctaw's No. 5 Gabe Johnson, but was majored 9-1 by Lawton MacArthur's Wyatt Adams, a two-time 5A State Champion. In the consolation bracket Weir won a 10-8 decision over Perry's 3A State Runner-Up Alex Valencia, then edged out Johnson 1-0 in a rematch for third-place.

Freshman Seth Jones (2-2) made an impressive varsity debut while wrestling unattached at 106. He pinned Kingfisher's Eric Gallupe in 2:27, then defeated Alex Valencia 5-2 before falling 6-3 to Edmond Memorial's Garrett Steidley. In the consolations he was defeated 9-5 by Gabe Johnson and got a rematch against Valencia. This time the Perry wrestler prevailed 4-3 and Jones took sixth place.

Tanner Ward is a State Runner-Up at the 3A level, and made his Sandite debut after transferring from Berryhill. He pinned Ark City's Christian Robinson in 3:18 and Yukon's Noah Hanscom in 0:39 before being edged out 8-7 by Perry freshman Dylan Avery. In the consolation bracket he scored back-to-back 5-2 decisions over Catoosa 4A State-placer Fabian Huerta and Union's No. 3 ranked TJ Long. 

120 State-placer No. 3 ranked Michael Ritchey won his first four matches of the tournament before falling to 3A State Champion Cale Betchan of Perry. He won a close 2-1 decision over Kylon Burgert of Yukon and a 3-0 decision over Karson Bellmard of Ponca City, then majored Lawton MacArthur's Billy Gonzalez 10-0 before going down 4-1 to Betchan in the finals. 

126 State-placer No. 3 ranked Blake Sargent won his first match 10-4 over No. 4 Jacob Swenson of Ponca City, but fell 7-1 in the semi-finals to 132 No. 3 Drew Wilson of Midwest City. In the consolations he defeated 113 No. 4 Wyatt Johnson of Owasso 6-3, then majored Pryor's 5A State-placer Von Gray 12-4. In the semi-finals he won a 9-3 decision over Perry's 3A State Runner-Up Brycen Justus before falling 7-1 to Choctaw State Runner-Up Conner Holman.

No. 1 Daton Fix worked his way through the 132 bracket with relative ease, winning two matches by pin and two by fall. Ponca City's No. 5 Dawson Hunt was pinned in 2:35 and Muskogee's Kyri Beasley was teched 18-3. He then pinned Ponca City No. 9 Dylan Schickram in 2:32 and teched Ark City's Montez Robinson 27-11 in 4:04.

138 No. 1 State Runner-Up Jack Karstetter pinned Chanute freshman Dalton Misener in 1:43, then edged out No. 8 Baylor Smith 3-2 before falling 3-1 to Kansas State Runner-Up Jake Beeson of Ark City. Beeson went on to defeated 145 No. 1 Jaxen Gilmore of Yukon 8-7 in the finals. Karstetter headed to the consolations where he put away No. 4 State-qualifier Seth Graves of Edmond Memorial 6-0. In the finals he once more defeated Baylor Smith, this time 6-2 for third place.

145 No. 2 Beau Bratcher handily worked his way through some tough competition for first place. He defeated Choctaw's Blake Muse 3-0, then pinned Blackwell's Braden Kincaid in 1:02. In the semifinals he scored a 5-1 decision over No. 8 Brandon Conrad, then he edged out Claremore 5A State Qualifier Trace Reeder 2-1 for the title.

Junior Cody Mathis competed at 152 and won his first match 12-8 over Owasso's Wyatt Wilson before falling 7-5 to Ark City's Colton Watters in a sudden victory overtime round. In the consolations he pinned Blackwell's Kris Lanman in 1:31 and defeated No. 8 Nenebah Biggoose of Ponca City 12-9 before getting pinned in 1:34 by Edmond Memorial's Kyle Knowles.

152 No. 2 State-placer Payton Scott wrestled up to 160 and won his first two matches before falling 3-2 to Choctaw State Champion Jaryn Curry. He pinned Owasso's Nolan Miller in 1:32 and scored a 22-8 major decision over Kingfisher's Austin Neal. In the consolation bracket he pinned No. 8 State qualifier Ezequiel Rubio of Ponca City in 0:59, then edged out Lawton MacArthur 5A State Runner-Up Hunter Jump 6-5 for third place.

160 No. 10 Noah Almy wrestled unattached and won his first two matches before falling to Jaryn Curry. He scored a 20-9 major decision over Muskogee's Mason Seth, then edged out Blackwell's Quinton Bolts 5-2 before getting pinned in 1:11 by Curry. In the consolations he defeated Edmond Memorial's Ben Parkhurst 7-1 and Austin Neal 12-5 before getting pinned in 4:57 by Hunter Jump. In the fifth-place match he was pinned in 2:50 by Ezequiel Rubio.

170 No. 2 State-placer Zane Basma defeated Harrah's Trey Winstead 6-3, then pinned Edmond Memorial's No. 7 State-qualifier Sam Hensley in 4:49. He scored a huge victory in an 8-2 upset of No. 1 State Champion Zane Coleman, but was in turn upset 9-6 by Claremore State-qualifier Austin Short.

While the Sandites are stacked at the lower weights and have several JV wrestlers who would be varsity at many 6A schools, they are limited at the upper weights and didn't wrestle anybody at 182 or 195. 

At 220, No. 1 Delvin Jordan pinned all four of his opponents in only three minutes. He took down Blackwell's Todd Grey in only 18 seconds, Chanute's Qualin Powell in 26 seconds, Ponca City's No. 4 State-qualifier Austin Fry in 38 seconds, and Perry's State-qualifier Bailey Burdik in 1:42.

At Heavyweight, Gage Fain scored a 4-2 decision over Lawton MacArthur's Brandon Lawton, then defeated Ark City's State Champion Tyler Shannon 5-2, before being pinned in 1:06 by Choctaw's No. 4 State-placer Zach Austin. In the consolations he majored Ponca City's Brett Bridges 12-2, then defeated Shannon 1-0 in a rematch for third place. 

Overall the Sandites had thirteen placers, more than any other team. Both Choctaw and Sand Springs had three Champions, but the Yellowjackets had four finalists to the Sandites' five, and only ten total placers. The host team, 3A No. 1 Perry (2-0) came in third with two champions, four finalists, and nine total placers. 

The Sandites took on No. 15 Owasso (1-1) last week and only gave up six points on a forfeit at 195 pounds. Owasso forfeited the 106 and 113 weight classes and started with a 12-0 deficit before the wrestling even started. Michael Ritchey handily worked over Tristan Herrera with an 11-0 major decision at 120, and 126 Blake Sargent edged out 113 No. 4 Wyatt Johnson with a 3-2 decision to make it 19-0.

Fix picked up a pin in 3:20 over Jesse Gomez. 138 Jack Karstetter won a 12-6 decision over No. 8 Baylor Smith and 145 Beau Bratcher edged No. 8 Brandon Conrad with a 4-1 decision for a 31-0 advantage. 

Cody Mathis scored a 16-5 major decision over Wyatt Wilson at 152, and Payton Scott stepped up to 160 and pinned Nolan Miller in 1:07. Noah Almy moved up to 170 and won a close 9-8 decision over Jared McLaughlin and Zane Basma moved up to 182 for a 3:44 pin of 170 No. 8 Kaleb Mertz.

Owasso finally got on the board with a forfeit at 195, then forfeited 220 to the Sandites. In the heavyweight class junior Gage Fain (5-1), ranked fifth in 195, pinned 220 No. 10 Cameron Harizal in 2:43 to wrap things up.

The Sandites will return to action this Friday when they travel to the prestigious Kansas City Stampede. Several Oklahoma teams will be at the tournament, including 4A No. 1 Tuttle, 3A No. 1 Perry, 5A No. 2 Collinsville, No. 4 Edmond North, No. 8 Stillwater, No. 12 Ponca City, and unranked Southmoore. The Sandites are ranked No. 26 in the nation by InterMat Wrestling, but they won't be the only nationally ranked team present. Tuttle is ranked No. 22 in the nation, and No. 25 Goddard High, and No. 44 Park Hill will also be competing. 

Daton Fix is a three-time champion at the event, and will have the opportunity to become only the third wrestler in the tournament's history to sweep all four years. 

Undefeated Lady Sandites win Bishop Kelley Tournament 62-38 over No. 13 Norman North

Photo: Morgan Miller

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

1Q Sand Springs 10-9
2Q Sand Springs 21-11
3Q Sand Springs 19-10
4Q Sand Springs 12-8

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Pennington 20, Regalado 15, Mutiri 8, Kersgieter 7, McGee 6, Johnson 4, Taber 2. (Norman North) Brewster 12, Waters 8, Jacie Evans 6, Landreth 5, Base 4, Sturgell 2, Jessika Evans 1. 

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 2, Mutiri 2, Regalado 1, Pennington 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 5, Taber 4, Regalado 3, Mutiri 3, Johnson 1, McGee 1, Pennington 1, Wilson 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 5, Pennington 3, Johnson 2, McGee 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Kersgieter 5, Pennington 3, Johnson 1, McGee 1, Taber 1, Regalado 1.
Fouls: Taber 4, Pennington 3, McGee 3, Johnson 2, Mutiri 2, Kersgieter 1, Regalado 1, Boaz 1.

Undefeated at 5-0, the Charles Page High School girls basketball team has more than earned their No. 5 ranking after winning their four game this season against a ranked opponent, and four-straight games by 24 points or more. Senior Oklahoma State University softball-signee Sydney Pennington led her team to a 62-38 victory over the No. 13 Norman North Timberwolves (3-1) with 20 points to win the Bishop Kelley Invitational for the second-straight year. 

Things didn't start out as lopsided as they ended, and Sand Springs used a timeout at only 2-2 after the girls gave up several turnovers to start the game. The pep talk seemed to work as the girls pushed ahead to a 10-4 lead before the Timberwolves fought back with three-pointer from Lindsey Waters and a pair of free throws from Taylor Landreth.

The Lady Sandites held a close 10-9 lead going into the second quarter, but outscored their opponents 21-11 for a solid halftime lead. Pennington started off the period with a two, followed by a pair of free throws from junior Ohio State volleyball-commit Gloria Mutiri. Emma Base hit a two for the T-Wolves, but Mutiri sank two more freebies and a two of her own. Sophomore Isabella Regalado hit a goal to make it 20-12, Waters sank a pair from the charity stripe, then Regalado hit two free throws, a three, and a two to make it 27-14. By the end of the half the Sandites were up 31-20.

Norman North came out of the half fired up and Jacie Evans scored three straight to make it 31-24. Sophomore Holly Kersgieter hit back-to-back twos, followed by a pair of free throws from senior Kierra McGee. The lopsided scoring continued until the Sandites held a 50-30 advantage going into the final stanza.

Pennington started the fourth with back-to-back layups, sophomore Jacie Taber scored a two of her own, then Pennington added another to bring her total for the evening to 20. Lilith Brewster cut into the lead with a pair of twos, but Regalado added another three and McGee pushed the lead to 62-34. Norman North got to cut into the deficit a little bit, ending with three points from Landreth and one from Jessika Evans for a final score of 62-38.

Pennington was named the Tournament MVP and Kersgieter made the All-Tournament team as well. Pennington was also on the All-Tournament team last year.

Sand Springs basketball will return to action Tuesday in Broken Arrow when the girls take on the No. 11 Lady Tigers (2-0) and the boys (0-2) battle the No. 10 Tigers (4-1).

Kersgieter shines as No. 5 Lady Sandites hammer 5A No. 4 Shawnee 60-28

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

1Q Shawnee 13-12
2Q Sand Springs 20-5
3Q Sand Springs 14-8
4Q Sand Springs 14-4

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Kersgieter 12, Johnson 12, Pennington 11, McGee 10, Mutiri 6, Regalado 6, Taber 2, Boaz 1. (Shawnee) Tramble 11, Bonner 4, Tarpey 4, Kasterke 4, Rice 3, Palmore 2.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Regalado 2, Taber 2, Johnson 1, McGee 1, Kersgieter 1, Mutiri 1
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Regalado 4, McGee 3, Johnson 2, Pennington 2, Mutiri 1, Taber 1, Bunch 1. 
Steals: Kersgieter 5, Johnson 5, McGee 2, Pennington 2, Mutiri 2, Taber 2
Assists: Kersgieter 4, Pennington 2, Johnson 1, Regalado 1, Grant 1
Fouls: Mutiri 3, Regalado 2, Pennington 2, Johnson 2, McGee 1, Kersgieter 1, Taber 1.

The No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School Girls Basketball team (4-0, 2-0) continued their undefeated start to the season with a lopsided semifinal victory in the Bishop Kelley Invitational semifinals over 5A No. 4 Shawnee (2-2). 

Sand Springs needed the first period to stretch their legs and were neck and neck throughout. The Sandites were down 11-7 when sophomore Isabella Regalado scored a three mere seconds after coming into the game. Sophomore starter Destiny Johnson sank a pair of free throws to take the brief lead, but a two-point basket from Kyla Tarpey gave the Lady Wolves a 13-12 lead after the first period. It would be their final lead of the game.

Sophomore Holly Kersgieter sank a two after a rebound and long pass from Johnson to start the second quarter, then rebounded and sent a long pass to Oklahoma State Softball-signed senior Sydney Pennington in a replay of the previous score. Kersgieter added another two off a steal and layup before the Wolves got back into the game with a free throw from Logan Bonner. 

Ohio State volleyball-committed junior Gloria Mutiri posted her second score of the night, followed by another Pennington basket and Kersgieter assist. Pennington drew a foul on the score and sank her free throw to make it 23-14, then followed it up with a midcourt steal and layup. 

Mutiri and senior Kierra McGee sank a series of free throws, then McGee hit a two on a steal and assist by Kersgieter to make it 30-14. Makyra Tramble hit a two shortly before the end of the half, Johnson responded with a goal of her own, but Ashley Kasterke got the final points of the half on a pair of free throws to make it 32-18.

Sand Springs opened the third quarter with an eight-point run, capped by a steal and layup from Johnson, before Tramble broke things up with a two. McGee responded with a two, then Kersgieter added a two and a pair of free throws to make it 46-20. Kasterke scored two of her own from the charity stripe and Makaila Palmore sank a two to make it 46-24 going into the final stanza.

Tramble started things off with a three, followed by a freebie from Kasey Rice, but those would be the last points of the game for the Lady Wolves. Johnson and McGee each sank a pair of free throws, Kersgieter and McGee hit twos, Bailey Boaz sank a freebie, Regalado hit a three, and Jacie Taber sank a two for a final score of 60-28.

This was the third straight game that the Lady Sandites would win by a 30-point margin. Sand Springs will return to action Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Championship round against No. 13 Norman North (3-0) in a battle of the undefeated. Norman North defeated 5A unranked Edison Prep (0-2) in the first round, then topped 5A No. 3 Claremore (3-1) in the semifinals.

Oklahoma Wrestling: Week One High School 6A Individual Rankings

106

1. Braden Fowler (Yukon Senior) Previously #6
2. Riley Weir (Sand Springs Sophomore) Previously #7
3. TJ Long (Union Sophomore) Previously unranked
4. Austin Hall (Southmoore Senior) Previously unranked
5. Gabe Johnson (Choctaw Freshman) Previously unranked
6. Jackson Cockrell (Broken Arrow Freshman) Previously unranked
7. David Boucher (Bartlesville Sophomore) Previously unranked
8. Jacob Zimmer (Norman North Freshman) Previously unranked
9. Nate Becker (Edmond North) Previously unranked

113

1. Colt Newton (Choctaw Sophomore) Previously #3 in 106
2. Tanner Ward (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #1 in 3A 113
3. Andrew Police (Broken Arrow Freshman) Previously unranked
4. Wyatt Johnson (Owasso Senior) Previously unranked
5. Johnathan Warford (Sapulpa Junior) Previously unranked
6. Joe Lupton (Mustang Junior) Previously unranked
7. Will Pham (Deer Creek Freshman) Previously unranked

120

1. Canon Randall (Westmoore Senior) Previously #2 in 106
2. Tyler Lawley (Broken Arrow Senior) Previously #5 at 113
3. Michael Ritchey (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #4 in 113
4. Spencer Schickram (Ponca City Sophomore) Previously #7 in 113
5. Brandon Blose (Sapulpa Senior) Previously #5 in 106
6. Cameron Picklo (Mustang Sophomore) Previously #8 in 106
7. Laif Jones (Bartlesville Sophomore) Previously unranked
8. Andy Schaepfer (Choctaw) Previously unranked

126

1. Paxton Rosen (Edmond North Senior) Previously #1 in 113
2. Tanner Cole (Deer Creek Senior) Previously #2 in 120
3. Blake Sargent (Sand Springs Junior) Previously #3 in 120
4. Jacob Swenson (Ponca City Junior) Previously unranked
5. Chase Slatton (Jenks Senior) Previously #8 in 113
6. Blake Gonzalez (Broken Arrow) Previously unranked
7. Caron Watson (Union Junior) Previously unranked
8. Alaisa Rubio (US Grant) Previously unranked
9. Gavin Southern (Bixby Sophomore) Previously unranked

132

1. Daton Fix (Sand Springs Senior) Previosuly #1 in 126
2. Connor Holman (Choctaw Junior) Previously #2 in 113
3. Crew Wilson (Midwest City Senior) Previously #3 in 126
4. TaJuan Daniels (Broken Arrow Senior) Previously #4 in 120
5. Dawson Hunt (Ponca City Senior) Previously unranked
6. Easton Hudson (Bixby Senior) 
7. Bobby Robinson (Deer Creek Sophomore) Previously #8 in 126
8. Crash Blumenthal (Westmoore) Previously unranked
9. Ashad Rufia (Union Junior) Previously unranked
10. John Ritchey (Stillwater Junior) Previously unranked

138

1. Jack Karstetter (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #1 in 132
2. Kendon Lee (Stillwater Senior) Previously #3
3. Sam Avant (Norman North Senior) Previously #5 in 132
4. Seth Graves (Edmond Memorial Senior) 
5. Zach Johnson (Westmoore Sophomore) 
6. Josh Suter (Norman Senior) Previously #6 at 120
7. Bryce Mattioda (Broken Arrow Freshman) Previously unranked
8. Baylor Smith (Owasso Junior) Previously unranked
9. Dylan Schickram (Ponca City Junior) Previously unranked
10. Keanu Quinn (Sapulpa Senior) Previously unranked

145

1. Jaxen Gilmore (Yukon Junior) Previously #1 at 138
2. Beau Bratcher (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #2 at 138
3. Tyler Dieringer (Stillwater Senior) Previously #3 at 132
4. Chase Umholtz (Jenks Senior) Previously unranked
5. Brady Mattioda (Broken Arrow Junior) Previously #5 in 126
6. Cameron Traylor (Union Junior) Previously unranked
7. Garrett Spears (Norman North Senior) Previously unranked
8. Brandon Conrad (Owasso Senior) Previously unranked

152

1. Kruz Simons (Edmond North Sophomore) Previously #2 in 132
2. Payton Scott (Sand Springs Junior) Previously #3
3. RJ Walker (Midwest City  Senior) Previously #5
4. Ryan Swanson (Westmoore Junior) Previously #4 in 145
5. Connor Wilcoxen (Stillwater Senior) Previously #8 
6. Jeff Speer (Choctaw Junior) Previously #7 in 138
7. Jermain Harring (Union) Previously unranked
8. Nenebah Biggoose (Ponca City Junior) Previously unranked
9. Killian McGrew (Jenks Freshman) Previously unranked
10. Austin Manley (Bartlesville Junior) Previously unranked

160

1. Christian Bahl (Stillwater Senior)
2. Jaryn Curry (Choctaw Junior) Previously #1 in 145
3. Joseph Messer (Norman North Senior) Previously #2 in 152
4. Chase Vincent (Yukon Senior) Previously #2 at 145
5. Trey Painter (Westmoore Senior) Previously #7 at 152
6. Caleb Wise (Broken Arrow Junior) Previously #3 at 145
7. Sam Hensley (Edmond Memorial Junior) Previously #5
8. Ezequiel Rubio (Ponca City Senior) Previously #4 at 152
9. Austin Loza (Enid Senior) Previously #7 at 145
10. Noah Almy (Sand Springs Sophomore) Previously unranked

170

1. Zane Coleman (Choctaw Sophomore) Previously #1 at 152
2. Zane Basma (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #3 at 160
3. Jace Brownlee (Stillwater Senior) Previously #4
4. Cooper Meadows (Mustang Senior) Previously #5 in 145
5. Payden Brown (Putnam City Senior) Previously #8
6. Trey Odam (Union Junior) Previously unranked
7. JT Stambeck (Norman North Sophomore) Previously unranked
8. Kaleb Mertz (Owasso Junior) Previously unranked
9. Joseph Hall (Broken Arrow Senior) Previously unranked
10. Trey Jezik (Bixby Senior) Previously unranked

182

1. Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow Sophomore)
2. Easton Rendleman (Choctaw Junior)
3. Shane Flandermeyer (Westmoore Junior) Previously #5
4. Austin Fry (Ponca City Senior) Previously #7
5. JD Johnson (Owasso Junior) Previously unranked
6. Jakob Ogden (Stillwater Senior) Previously unranked
7. Gage McBride (Mustang Senior) Previously unranked
8. John Bolton (Union Senior) Previously unranked
9. Jaylen Childs (Putnam North) Previously unranked
10. Joe Curtis (Bixby Sophomore) Previously unranked

195

1. Skyler Haynes (Broken Arrow Senior)
2. Cody Adams (Bixby Junior) Previously #6
3. Dakota Carnes (Sapulpa Senior) Previously #4
4. Blake Minnick (Edmond North Sophomore) Previously #5
5. Gage Fain (Sand Springs) Previously unranked
6. Rafe Johnson (Deer Creek) Previously unranked
7. Gary Dockert (Choctaw Junior) Previously unranked
8. Riley Corona (Westmoore Senior) Previously unranked
9. Arin Copas (Mustang Senior) Previously unranked

220

1. Delvin Jordan (Sand Springs Senior) Previously #2
2. Mason Lancaster (Putnam City Junior) Previously #4
3. Jon Martinez (Westmoore Senior) Previously #7
4. Caulin Poole (Choctaw Junior) Previously unranked
5. Keland Bearpaw (Sapulpa Junior) Previously unranked
6. Yousef Aliya (Union Senior) Previously unranked
7. Julian Flores (Broken Arrow Junior) Previously unranked
8. Griff Stanley (Deer Creek Junior) Previously unranked
9. Beltazar Reyes (US Grant) Previously unranked
10. Camer Harizal (Owasso Sophomore) Previously unranked

285

1. Brey Walker (Southmoore Junior) 
2. Gage Johnson (Norman North Senior) Previously #3
3. Trenton Lieurance (Broken Arrow Senior) Previously #2
4. Zach Austin (Choctaw Senior) Previously #5
5. Elwood Tomlin (Union Senior) Previously #4
6. Ryan Tilbury (Midwest City) Previously unranked
7. Malik McGee (US Grant) Previously unranked
8. John Carroll (Enid Senior) Previously unranked
9. Trey Cossey (Mustang Senior) Previously unranked

Sandite of the Week: Cheyenne Walden places 34th at Nationals; CPHS Cross Country runners excel in post-season

View fullsize

Left to right: Superintendent Sherry Durkee, Cross Country Head Coach Chris Corbin, Sandite of the Week Cheyenne Walden, Mayor and CC Assistant Coach Mike Burdge.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Two members of the Charles Page High School varsity cross country team competed on the Oklahoma All-Star Team against Arkansas this past month. Senior Southwestern Oklahoma State-signee and four-time State Qualifier Alexis Davis placed 28th in the event with a 5K time of 20:54.85. Sophomore two-time State Qualifier Aden Baughman placed 36th with a time of 17:25.38.

The Arkansas Women's team won by nine points, though their average time was only two seconds ahead of the Okies. The Arkansas Men's team won by two points, but the average Oklahoman was a second faster. The meet was held at Rogers High School in Rogers, Arkansas.

Cheyenne Walden also qualified for the event, but instead traveled to The Woodlands, Texas for the Nike South Regionals. The four-time State Champion placed fifth at Bear Branch Park against runners from five different states. She finished the 5K with a time of 17:58.22. She was 26 seconds behind her personal-record, ten seconds behind the number-four runner, and 25 seconds behind the first place runner. 

From there Walden advanced to Nationals in Portland Oregon where she competed this past weekend. In 2014 she placed 22nd at the South Regional, then took sixth last year and went on to place 59th in the Nation. 

This time around she improved even further, placing 34th out of 200 of the country's best competitors. Walden finished the 5K run in 18:28.2 with an average mile of 5:56.3. She was neck-and-neck with several competitors, finishing 0.3 seconds behind the 33rd place runner and a flat second ahead of the runner after her. Overall she was 1:18.3 behind Berkeley-signed senior Brie Oakley who swept the National Championship by a 28 second margin over Portland sophomore Ember Stratton. 

 According to Head Coach Chris Corbin, Walden's performance is the best placing ever for an Oklahoma girl at the event. Walden was presented with a Sandite Spirit Award by the Sand Springs Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting Monday night. "She's a better human being than she is a runner," said Corbin during the presentation. Walden volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday with the Elementary running program.

Walden signed with the No. 15 ranked Oklahoma State University earlier this school year and will be studying physical education. This is her fourth time being named Sandite of the Week. 

---

Sandite of the Week is a weekly recognition given to any one person with significant ties to the Sand Springs community who accomplishes remarkable achievements during the Sunday through Saturday week preceding the award. Prior achievements may be noted in the article, but do not bear direct influence on the selection committee which only considers prior week accomplishments. Candidates may be nominated by anyone by emailing SanditePrideNews@gmail.com. The award is not given to anyone in consecutive weeks, but any recipient may be nominated and awarded again in the future, so long as the weeks are not consecutive. Final selection is made by a majority vote of the Sandite Pride Editorial Board.

Businesses or organizations seeking to sponsor the Sandite of the Week award may contact the above email for inquiries.

No. 5 Lady Sandites rout Cascia Hall 60-15; Kierra McGee scores 17

1Q Sand Springs 14-4
2Q Sand Springs 21-2
3Q Sand Springs 15-2
4Q Sand Springs 10-7

Scoring: McGee 17, Johnson 12, Kersgieter 8, Taber 7, Regalado 6, Pennington 4, Mutiri 4, Boaz 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Pennington 3, Mutiri 3, McGee 2, Taber 2, Johnson 1, Kersgieter 1, Regalado 1, Bunch 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Regalado 7, Kersgieter 4, Taber 3, Grant 2, Mutiri 2, Johnson 1, Boaz 1.
Steals: Johnson 6, Kersgieter 3, McGee 2, Pennington 2, Taber 2.
Assists: Regalado 3, McGee 2, Taber 2, Kersgieter 1.
Blocks: Kersgieter 1, Mutiri 1.
Fouls: Regalado 3, Taber 3, McGee 2, Pennington 1, Kersgieter 1, Grant 1, Bunch 1.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School girls basketball team (3-0) continued their impressive start to the season with yet another powerful double-digit win. After topping No. 8 Bartlesville (2-1) by 17 points to start the season, they hammered 5A No. 14 Bishop Kelley (0-2) by 35 points and carried that momentum into a Bishop Kelley Tournament first-round match-up against Cascia Hall (0-2) and prevailed 60-15 

They started slow but effective in the first quarter, scoring the first seven points of the game before giving the Lady Commandos a two-pointer. By the end of the first they were up 14-4 and they were just getting started.  

In the second quarter they really had the ball rolling. Cascia junior Anne Marie Stagg scored the first basket of the period, but the Sandites scored the next 25-straight points. Sand Springs led 35-6 at the half and started off the third period with back-to-back steals and layups from sophomore Destiny Johnson. Kate Dreyer broke up the scoring streak with a pair of free throw, but Kierra McGee hit a three and Holly Kersgieter scored six before Jacie Taber closed out the quarter with a pair of free throws.

Taber also kicked off the fourth with a field goal, then scored a three-pointer between free throws from Raielle Watkins. Isabella Regalado and Bailey Boaz posted the final points of the night for the Sandites and the game wrapped up with a pair of Lady Commando baskets. 

McGee, a senior transfer from Union, led the Sandites with 17 points. She was two-for-two on free throws and six-of-nine on field goals, including three out of four from three-point range. Sophomore standout Destiny Johnson was close behind, scoring twelve points while shooting six-of-seven on field goals. Johnson also had six steals. Kersgieter scored eight points in addition to her five rebounds and three steals. Regalado pulled in eight rebounds in addition to her six points. 

The Lady Sandites will return to action Friday night at 7:00 p.m. when they take on the winner of 5A No. 4 Shawnee (1-1) vs 5A No. 14 Bishop Kelley (0-2). The winner of Friday night's game will play Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the Championship round, while the loser plays for third place at 1:00 p.m.