CPHS Wrestling: Carter Young wins Perry Tournament of Champions, Sandites place 8th

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The Class 6A No. 5 ranked defending State Champion wrestling team from Sand Springs traveled to storied Perry, Oklahoma this weekend for the 42nd Annual Tournament of Champions and placed eighth with a depleted roster, claiming one individual title.

Last year the Sandites won the tournament with three champions after placing second the year before. The Sandites graduated all three of those champions, including four-time winner Daton Fix, but crowned a new champion in freshman Carter Young, who is 5-0 since starting his varsity career last week.

Young breezed through the competition at 106 pounds, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over Martezz Carnes in 2:59. Next to fall was Ethan Kemble, who was pinned in 1:14. In the semifinals Young scored a 19-5 major decision against Choctaw’s Caleb Williams, and in the finals he majored Perry sophomore Ryan Smith 15-7. Young is currently ranked 20th nationally by FloWrestling. 

Also making the finals was senior Gage Fain (4-1 season, 43-39 career) at 220 pounds. He pinned Marlon Welty in 3:25 and Raven Soap in 1:15, then scored a 6-5 decision against Matt Woods before getting pinned in 4:53 by Kansas State Qualifier Qualin Powell.

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (4-2, 66-20) took third place at 120 pounds with a 2-0 decision over Perry freshman and U.S. Junior Open Champion Cade Nicholas. He started the tournament off by pinning Bryce Hawk in seventeen seconds, then scored a 7-2 decision over Choctaw senior Andrew Schlaepfer before falling 3-1 to Kansas State Runner-Up Gabe Buckbee. In consolation he majored Billy Gonzales 11-2. Owasso junior Zeke Washington, who stunned the crowd in the Sandites’ season-opening dual by defeating Weir, followed up that success with a first-place finish, defeating Buckbee 3-1.

Sophomore Seth Jones (4-2, 6-5) also competed at 120, wrestling unattached, and took fifth place. He pinned Trenton Harding in 45 seconds before being defeated 11-3 by Buckbee. In consolation he pinned Kristopher Humble in 2:11 and defeated Kaden Stanley 8-1 before falling 6-3 to Nicholas. In the placement round he majored Gonzales 12-4.

Irwin Portillo (3-3, 9-8) placed sixth at 132 pounds. He lost his opening match 3-1 to Edmond Memorial senior Ty Lutze but worked his way up through consolation by defeating Kansas State Qualifier Logan McDonald 8-5 and Marcus Slater 3-2 before once again meeting Lutze in the semifinals. This time he was defeated 5-1 and he lost his placement match 7-5 to State Qualifier Jaylon Otero. Ponca City senior Dylan Schickram won the division.

Scott Patton (4-4, 11-6) placed sixth at 138 pounds. He lost his opening match 11-4 to two-time State Finalist Connor Holman but worked his way through consolation by teching Landis Scoon 18-3 in 3:29, pinning Logan Patton in 2:44, and majoring Kansas State Qualifier Brady McDonald 12-1. In the semifinals he was defeated 9-1 by three-time Kansas State Champion Marcus Robinson and in the placement round he was defeated 11-10 by Pryor senior State Qualifier Bennett Sherrer. Ponca City junior Spencer Schickram won the division.

Dayvon Taylor (3-4) placed sixth at 170 pounds. He started hot, defeating Edmond Memorial senior Ben Parkhurst 13-3, Kansas State Qualifier Mason Manning 5-3, and Kingfisher senior Jameson Hale 12-11 before being pinned in 5:14 by two-time State Champion Jaryn Curry in the semifinals. In consolation he was pinned in 3:53 by Yukon’s Waylon Heger and was defeated 6-5 by Harrah sophomore Hunter Mauldin in placement. Curry won the bracket.

Josh Fincannon (2-3) placed sixth at 195 pounds. He lost his first match 6-2 to Ponca City junior Abram Arechiga, defeated Braden Thomas 2-1 and Owen Vincent 7-2 in consolation, then fell 7-2 to Arkansas City senior Dalton Collins in the semifinals. In the placement round he was defeated 5-2 by Arechiga. Choctaw senior Easton Rendleman won the bracket.

Caleb Phillips (2-2) competed at 145 pounds was defeated one round short of placement, going 2-2. In the opening round he was pinned in 1:15 by State Champion Jaxen Gilmore, who went on to win the bracket. In consolation he defeated Kailieb Ruff 6-4 and pinned Kansas State Qualifier Huntyr Schwegman in 2:01 before falling in 2:14 to State Qualifier Connor Simpson.

Chris Kirby (2-2) won his first match at 152 by pinning Kingfisher senior Mike Callente in 5:16, but was pinned in 3:14 by Perry senior Parker Nicholas and in 0:58 by Catoosa junior Trenton Blair. MacArthur senior Nick Mahan won the bracket.

Sophomore Brendon Wiseley (1-2, 2-2) competed at 113 pounds and fell to State Qualifier Studd Morris 16-3 in the first round. In consolations Wiseley was pinned in 0:42 by State Qualifier Fabian Huerta. Edmond Memorial sophomore Jackson Oplotnik won the division.

Colten Roberts (0-2) competed at 126 pounds and was pinned in 3:00 by Arkansas City’s Trig Tennant and in 4:22 by Stillwater’s Tanner Robinson. Choctaw junior Colt Newton won the division.

Defending State Champion Payton Scott and State Qualifier Blake Sargent were both absent. The Sandites didn’t wrestle anyone at 160, 182, or heavyweight. Lawton MacArthur junior Hunter Jump won 160, Choctaw junior Zane Coleman won 182, and MacArthur junior Montana Phillips won 285.

6A No. 2 ranked Choctaw won the tournament by a 61.5 point margin over 3A No. 1 Perry. Sand Springs will take the week off from duals to prepare for the 12th Annual Kansas City Stampede this Friday. 5A No. 2 Collinsville, 5A No. 3 Coweta, 6A No. 3 Edmond North, Perry, 6A No. 6 Ponca City, Southmoore, 6A No. 11 Stillwater, and 4A No. 1 Tuttle will all be competing at the tournament, as will nationally-ranked No. 11 Park Hill, No. 24 Christian Brothers College Prep, and No. 49 Goddard.

Sandite of the Week: Holly Kersgieter averages 20+ points per game, named Tournament MVP

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Charles Page High School junior basketball standout Holly Kersgieter was selected as Sandite of the Week for her consistent and outstanding performances in last week's games. The University of Kansas-commit led her team in three out of four games and was recognized as the Bishop Kelley Invitational All-Tournament Most Valuable Player.

On Tuesday the Class 6A No. 3 ranked Lady Sandites (6-0) notched their second in-conference win 60-48 over No. 18 Sapulpa (2-2), led by Kersgieter with a career-high 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. 

On Thursday the Sandites played Tulsa Memorial (0-6) in the first round of the Kelley tournament and hammered their competition 68-32. Kersgieter led the team once again with seventeen points, eight rebounds, and one steal, despite only playing for about half of the game. 

On Friday the Sandites took on the tournament hosts and prevailed 53-30 over the 5A No. 18 Comets (1-3). Kersgieter was the number-two scorer on the team with fifteen points, six rebounds, a steal, and two assists.

In Saturday's tournament finals the Sandites easily handled formerly undefeated No. 8 Norman North (5-1) 59-34, led by Kersgieter with 27 points, three rebounds, and two steals.

Thus far in the season, Kersgieter is shooting 54% on field goals, 50% from three-point range, and 82% from the charity stripe. She averages 20.5 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. 

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday when they host the Union Redskins (2-2, 1-0) in a conference battle at 6:30 p.m.

CPHS Basketball: Lady Sandites win third-straight Bishop Kelley Tournament 65-42 over No. 8 Norman North

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It was a battle of the undefeateds in the Bishop Kelley Tournament finals as Class 6A No. 3 ranked Sand Springs (6-0) and No. 8 Norman North (5-1) duked it out in a rematch of the prior year's finale. History repeated itself and the Lady Sandites won their third-straight Kelley Tournament trophy in dominant fashion.

University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter led all scorers with 27 points, just one shy of the career-high she set just four days prior. Destiny Johnson, who also has multiple NCAA Division One offers, recorded fourteen points, twelve of which came in the first half. Isabella Regalado was third on the team with six points and ten rebounds. Johnson and Kersgieter both made the All-Tournament team and Kersgieter was named All-Tournament Most Valuable Player. 

Johnson kicked things off with a two-point basket for Sand Springs, Jacie Evans scored one for Norman, Johnson added another, then Evans gave her team their first lead with a three-point play off a Kimi Presnell foul. Johnson took the lead once again with a steal, then Emma Base and Holly Kersgieter each went two-for-two from the line.

Regalado made it a two-score game with the first goal of the night from three-point range, but the Timberwolves battled right back with a two-pointer from Jayda Whitley and a free throw from Lindsey Waters. Kersgieter added two more from the charity stripe, Base scored a field goal, then Jacie Taber hit a two and Kersgieter scored off a steal seconds before the buzzer for a 17-12 lead.

The Sandites got off to a good start in the second quarter, padding their lead with back-to-back shots from Kersgieter. Kayton Kite hit the first three-pointer for Norman, then the Sandites earned their first double-digit lead with back-to-back layups from Kersgieter and Johnson. Kersgieter made it 27-15 with an assist from Johnson, then Johnson scored on a throw-in from Bree Berge before the Timberwolves finally broke up the streak with a two-pointer from Whitley. Johnson scored two more, Jessika Evans hit two from the line, and Madison Burris made it 33-19 to end the half. Kersgieter led all scorers with fourteen.

Both teams started the second half sloppy with turnovers and missed layups before Kersgieter notched the first two points from the free throw line. Jessika Evans did the same for Norman, then both teams exchanged air balls. Regalado had the first goal of the half, Waters notched a free throw, then Presnell hit two more freebies before Berge hit her first goal of the night. Norman added three more free throws, Kersgieter made a three point play, Kite hit a deep ball, then Kersgieter hit one from the volleyball attack line at the buzzer to make it 47-28.

Regalado hit another three-pointer to start the fourth, Kersgieter added a free throw, Waters hit a three-pointer, Kersgieter notched two more, then Whitley hit a two and Waters scored a freebie. Kersgieter notched her 27th point of the night, Johnson scored her first basket of the second half, and Coach Dustin Morrow benched the starters with a 57-34 lead. The Sandite second and third stringers continued to defensively smother Norman North and McKenzie Harris scored two free throws for the only points of the final two minutes.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. when they host the Union Redskins (2-2 overall, 1-0 conference) in Frontier Valley Conference play. Sand Springs is 2-0 in conference. Norman North will host No. 9 Edmond Santa Fe (4-1) on Friday in Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference action.

CPHS 59 NNHS 34

1Q CPHS 17-12
2Q CPHS 16-7
3Q CPHS 14-9
4Q CPHS 12-6

Free Throws: CPHS 10-of-14, NNHS 13-of-21.
Field Goals: CPHS 22-of-39, NNHS 9-of-41.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 5, NNHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 26, NNHS 14.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 31, NNHS 18.
Steals: CPHS 5, NNHS 4.
Fouls: CPHS 16, NNHS 11.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 27, Johnson 14, Regalado 6, Taber 4, Presnell 2, Burris 2, Berge 2, Harris 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Burris 2, Taber 1, Kersgieter 1, Presnell 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Regalado 10, Burris 4, Johnson 3, Presnell 2, Kersgieter 2, Taber 2.
Total Rebounds: Regalado 10, Burris 6, Taber 3, Kersgieter 3, Presnell 3, Johnson 3, Solis 2, Mong 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 2, Johnson 1, Presnell 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Johnson 2, Berge 2, Regalado 1, Taber 1.
Fouls: Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Presnell 3, Taber 2, Burris 2, Berge 1.

(Norman North Stats)
Scoring: Base 6, Waters 6, Whitley 6, Kite 6, Evans 5, Jacie Evans 5, Jessika Evans 5.
Fouls: Jacie Evans 4, Kite 2, Jessika Evans 2, Whitley 1, Waters 1, Deisering 1.

CPHS Basketball: Girls head to BK Tournament finals with 53-31 win over Kelley

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Destiny Johnson scored a game-high sixteen points against Bishop Kelley Friday night. 

The Bishop Kelley Invitational hosts took on the two-time defending tournament Champions Saturday evening in the semifinals, and the Class 6A No. 3 ranked Sand Springs Lady Sandites (5-0) prevailed 53-31 over 5A No. 18 Bishop Kelley (1-3) to continue their undefeated start to the season.

Things started out well for the home team as Gracie Ritchie gave her team the first points of the game. Destiny Johnson scored on a throw in from Kimi Presnell to tie it, but Jacie Taber sent Amy West to the line for a free throw and Macy Craig made it 5-2 soon after. Presnell was next in the scorebook and Johnson added two more for the first Sandite lead of the game. A Cat Easterling free throw briefly tied it at 6-6, but the Sandites went on a nine point run to end the first quarter with a 15-6 lead thanks to ten points from Johnson.

University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter made her first field goal to start the second quarter, Easterling and Meaghan Cyr cut it to 17-10, then Sand Springs went on an eight-point run with threes from Kersgieter and Presnell and a putback from Johnson. Easterling scored a free throw then Kersgieter finished the half off at 27-11.

Isabella Regalado made her way onto the scoreboard to kick off the second half, Amy West and Kirstyn Stecker retaliated, then Presnell hit her second three-pointer of the night. Sophomore Madison Burris capped the third quarter for the Sandites to double Kelley at 36-18.

Johnson started off the fourth quarter with a two, Kersgieter scored two from the charity stripe, then Johnson took a steal to the house to make it 43-18, finishing the night with a game-high sixteen points. Kersgieter was right behind her with fifteen as the only two players in double digits. 

Regalado hit a pair of threes, broken up by a three from Cyr, then Ashlee Bunch scored a two just moments after clocking in for the first time. The home team went on an 8-2 run from there with Burris adding two more points for Sand Springs. Ellie Davie got the final points of the night for the Comets.

Bishop Kelley split the scoring up fairly equally, with Cyr and West leading the team with six apiece. Davie, Stecker, Easterling, and Ritchie all had four. 

Sand Springs will play in the tournament finals Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. against fellow undefeated No. 8 Norman North (5-0) who was held to a season-low 27-16 victory over No. 17 Shawnee (2-2) in the semifinals. Last year Sand Springs beat a thirteenth-ranked Norman North team 62-38 in the finals. The Comets will play Shawnee at 4:00 p.m. for third place. Shawnee defeated Bishop Kelley 51-35 in the opening round of the tournament last season.

CPHS 53 BKHS 31

1Q CPHS 15-6
2Q CPHS 12-5
3Q CPHS 9-7
4Q CPHS 17-13

Free Throws: CPHS 4-of-5, BKHS 6-of-17.
Field Goals: CPHS 22-of-49, BKHS 12-of-34.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 17, BKHS 16.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 9, BKHS 8.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 26, BKHS 24.
Steals: CPHS 8, BKHS 3.
Blocks: BKHS 3, CPHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 17, BKHS 10.

(Sand Springs Individual Stats)
Scoring: Johnson 16, Kersgieter 15, Regalado 8, Presnell 8, Burris 4, Bunch 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Taber 2, Regalado 1, Johnson 1, Burris 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Johnson 7, Regalado 3, Kersgieter 2, Presnell 2, Taber 1, Burris 1, Berge 1.
Total Rebounds: Johnson 8, Kersgieter 5, Regalado 4, Taber 3, Presnell 2, Berge 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 2, Johnson 2, Presnell 2, Burris 1, Mong 1.
Assists: Taber 2, Kersgieter 1, Regalado 1, Johnson 1, Presnell 1, Berge 1.
Blocks: Johnson 1.
Fouls: Taber 4, Kersgieter 3, Johnson 3, Regalado 2, Presnell 2, Burris 1, Berge 1, Bunch 1.

(Bishop Kelley Individual Stats)
Scoring: Cyr 6, West 6, Davie 4, Stecker 4, Easterling 4, Ritchie 4, Craig 2, Miles 1.
Fouls: Cyr 3, Davie 2, Ritchie 2, Stecker 1, Easterling 1, Craig 1.

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites win 21st-straight dual 50-20 over No. 11 Owasso

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In a stunning upset, Owasso's Zeke Washington defeated defending State Champion Riley Weir 11-5. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

It wasn't the kind of beatdown the Sandites have been scoring for the past two seasons, but the fourth-ranked defending State Champions pushed their win streak to 21 with a season-opening victory over No. 11 Owasso (0-2). The Sandites won eight matches, Owasso won four, and each team forfeited one. 

Freshman Carter Young (1-0) got off to a quick start against Leyton Warne, scoring five takedowns and two nearfalls for a 14-4 lead first period lead. He won by 22-5 technical fall at the 2:45 mark with six-straight near-fall points. 

Brendon Wiseley (1-0 season, 2-0 career) easily overpowered Killian McNichol with a first period takedown and maintained control till the buzzer, then added an escape and takedown early in the second period for a 5-0 lead. He spent most of the second and third period working on a cradle before sticking his foe with 20 second left for an 11-0 team lead. 

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (0-1, 62-19) saw his 27-straight win streak come to an end at the hands of Zeke Washington at 120 pounds. Weir scored the first takedown, Washington reversed, Weir escaped, then Washington got his first takedown. Weir tied it up with a backwards summersault and they entered the second period 4-4. Weir scored an escape halfway through the second period but Washington took him back down with twenty seconds left for a 6-5 lead. The Ram added another reversal early in the third, working Weir over for a trio of back points and an 11-5 decision.

Blake Sargent (1-0, 90-25) took a full minute before taking down Tristan Herrera, but he only needed fourteen more seconds before pinning him at 1:14.

Irwin Portillo (1-0, 7-5) scored first on Mark Turner but the Ram was quick to escape and the two were at a stalemate for most of the first period. Turner scored an escape in the second period to tie it and cut Portillo loose in the third to look for more points, but instead it was the Sandite with the takedown for the 5-3 decision.

Scott Patton (0-1, 7-3) took on Baylor Smith at 138 and gave up takedowns in the first and second periods. Smith added back points with seconds to spare and led 7-0 to start the final stretch. The Ram ultimately prevailed by 11-3 major decision to cut the deficit to 20-6.

Colbie Heckencamp (1-0) put the Sandites back on track, making his varsity debut with a pin of Bailey Vann in 1:15.

Chris Kirby (1-0) battled Nolan Miller at 152 and trailed 2-1 to start the second after nearly scoring a takedown half a second behind the first buzzer. He carried that momentum into the second period and pinned the Ram in 2:27 to push the lead to 32-7.

Defending State Champion Payton Scott (1-0, 62-11) continued the pin streak, sticking Caleb Davis in 1:07 to clinch the victory.

Noah Almy (0-1, 24-21) nearly had Nate Jacobson pinned early in the first period, but settled for a trio of near fall points before cutting the Ram loose. Jacobson took two of those points back and trailed 5-3 to start the second period. Two more takedowns and Owasso flipped the script for an 8-5 advantage to start the third period and ultimately prevailed 12-5.

Dayvonne Taylor (0-1) had his work cut out for him against J.D. Johnson, but after being taken down twice, he reversed on the Ram and trailed only 5-4 to start the second. The Ram went to work from there, expanding his advantage to 13-6 by the second buzzer. Johnson won the match with a 19-9 major decision.

The Sandites forfeited 195 to J.D. Johnson, Owasso forfeited 285 to Ethan Hooper (1-0), and Gage Fain (1-0, 40-38) had the last match of the night with a pin of Devin Harris in 1:01.

The Sandites will defend their title at the Perry Tournament of Champions this weekend and won't dual again till they host No. 12 Stillwater (0-2) on the 19th. Owasso will also travel to Perry and will host 5A No. 9 Skiatook (1-0) on the 12th. 

Sandite of the Week Destiny Johnson scores 31 points against Ponca City

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Charles Page High School junior Destiny Johnson was selected as our Sandite of the Week for her incredible 31-point performance in a game against Ponca City as well as a twelve-point performance against Bishop Kelley.

The Lady Sandites are ranked third in Class 6A after a State Tournament Semifinals appearance last season. They are undefeated at 4-0 thus far in 2017. Johnson was the third-highest scoring player on the team last year with 10.2 points per game. She was fourth in assists, third in blocks, and second in steals. She led her team in scoring on seven different occasions and scored a person-best twenty points in two games, once against No. 19 Sapulpa and once against No. 6 Booker T. Washington in the playoffs.  

She is off to a great start this year, averaging 16.25 points per game for second on the team behind University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter. Johnson has her own Division One offers from the University of Tulsa and the University of Texas at El Paso. She also has Division Two offers from Pittsburg State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. 

In the Lady Sandites' season-opener, Johnson exploded for a career-high 31 points and seven rebounds in a 77-61 victory against No. 11 Ponca City (2-1). In the Frontier Valley Conference opener against 5A No. 18 Bishop Kelley (1-2) she scored twelve points. Thus far in the season she is shooting 56% on field goals and 73% on free throws. 

The Lady Sandites are currently in the middle of the Bishop Kelley Invitational, in which they are the two-time defending tournament champions. They will play the host team Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals.