OSSAA Wrestling: 6A State Tournament Preview
/This Friday marks the beginning of the 98th annual OSSAA State Tournament and the eleventh 6A tournament.
Of the 140 wrestlers competing in the tournament, seventeen are freshmen, 23 are sophomores, 51 are juniors, and 49 are seniors. 68 are returning State Qualifiers, fifteen are returning Finalists, and eight are defending State Champions.
Cade Nicholas, Carter Young, Laif Jones, Reece Witcraft, and Drake Vannoy each hold one title apiece. Gavin Potter has two titles. Zane Coleman and Zach Marcheselli have three titles each. Nicholas and Young both won their titles as freshmen.
Location
Jim Norick Arena - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds
333 Gordon Cooper Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Schedule of Events
Friday - Session I
8:30 a.m. Doors Open.
9:30 a.m. Wrestle-In Matches.
11:00 a.m. First Round.
Friday - Session II
4:30 p.m. Doors Open.
5:15 p.m. Academic State Champion Presentations.
5:30 p.m. First Round Consolations.
7:45 p.m. Semifinals
Saturday - Session III
9:30 a.m. Doors Open.
10:30 a.m. Consolation Semifinals.
12:45 p.m. Consolation Finals.
Saturday - Session IV
4:30 p.m. Doors Open.
5:15 p.m. Open Ceremonies.
5:45 p.m. Final Warm-Ups.
6:00 p.m. Finals and Award Presentations.
106
Sand Springs Junior Brendon Wiseley (36-11, 50-19) is top ranked at 106. He has wins over Colby Strachan, Ethan Kemble, Bryce Cockrell (31-9), and Jared Campbell (33-7). He’s not unbeatable, however. He split wins with Campbell this season.
On the west side of the bracket are Edmond Memorial junior Cruz Aguilar (22-3) and Westmoore sophomore Cooper Evans (31-2) who both boast better records than Wiseley, but with less ranked wins.
Evans is the only returning State Qualifier.
Cruz Aguilar v. (Colby Strachan v. Clayton Knapp).
Cooper Evans v. Bryce Cockrell.
Cooper Mahaffey v. Jared Campbell.
Brendon Wiseley v. (Shelton Chastain v. Ethan Kemble).
113
Mustang Sophomore Tucker Owens (26-1) is the returning State Runner-Up and already has mostly dominant wins over Jason Gilbert (27-8), EJ Tecson (28-9), Garrett Johnson (27-8), Jackson Cockrell (33-7), and Dominic Derr. His only loss this season was to nationally-ranked No. 4 Anthony Ferrari of New Jersey.
Cockrell, a Broken Arrow junior, is Owens’s top challenger, holding wins over Gilbert, Tecson, and Johnson. While Owens blew out most of his ranked competitors, he only beat Cockrell 6-4.
Derr, Gilbert, Johnson, and David Boucher (30-9) are also returning State Qualifiers.
Tucker Owens v. (Caleb Nahmahpeah v. Hayden Brown).
Jason Gilbert v. EJ Tecson.
Garrett Johnson v. David Boucher.
Jackson Cockrell v. (Dominic Derr v. Isaiah Smith).
120
Bixby freshman Zach Blankenship (40-1) won Junior High Allstate and every other tournament he’s been in with one of the best pin records in the state. He has wins over Nate Becker, Landon Valenzuela, Cade Nicholas (35-7), Jared Hill (28-11), and Corwin Strachan (34-6).
Strachan, a Bartlesville senior, has more mat experience and could give Blankenship a run for his money. Blankenship has two wins over Strachan, but both were only 5-4 decisions. Strachan has wins over Becker and Hill.
Edmond Memorial freshman Jake McCain (22-5) won the West Regional and has wins over Valenzuela, Nicholas, and Manny Rogers (26-6). Nicholas (35-7) is a 3A State Champion transfer from Perry and Stillwater sophomore. Becker is the only other returning State Qualifier.
Jake McCain v. (Nate Becker v. Landon Valenzuela).
Cade Nicholas v. Jared Hill.
Romanual Rogers v. Corwin Strachan.
Zach Blankenship v. (Jacob Zimmer v. Jordan Lomeli).
126
Three State Champions will converge at 126. Stillwater sophomore Carter Young (40-3), Bartlesville senior Laif Jones (32-3), and Choctaw freshman Junior High Allstate Champion Shawn Muse (29-9). Shayden Trant and Seth Jones (25-8) are also returning State Qualifiers and Cade Manion (34-6) placed fourth last year.
There’s a mess of circular losses at this weight. Young has wins over Manion, Bam West (13-4), Muse, and John Wiley. Laif Jones has wins over Seth Jones and Blazik Perez (27-9). West has wins over Muse and Wiley. Wiley has wins over Manion, Perez, and West. Perez has wins over Laif and Seth Jones, Manion, Muse, and Shayden Trant. Manion has wins over Muse and Young.
Carter Young v. (Shayden Trant v. Shaun Muse).
Bam West v. Blazik Perez.
Cade Manion v. Seth Jones.
Laif Jones v. (John Wiley v. Ahmad Alserafei).
132
Oklahoma State-committed Broken Arrow senior, nationally ranked No. 3 Reece Witcraft (34-2) is the returning State Champion. His only losses are an injury default and a fall to No. 2 Shayne Van Ness from Blair Academy. Witcraft holds wins over Colt Newton (29-5), Keegan Luton (33-10), Zeke Washington (34-4), and Ethan Gilkey.
Washington, an Owasso senior, and Newton, a Choctaw senior, are both returning State Finalists. Luton placed fourth last year, Jake Wright is a returning Qualifier, and Blake Jones (26-12) recently won the Junior High Allstate title.
Edmond Memorial junior Jackson Oplotnik (20-5) won the West Regional title and has a win over Newton, but split wins with Luton.
Jackson Oplotnik v. (Ethan Gilkey v. Jake Wright).
Keegan Luton v. Zeke Washington.
Colt Newton v. Blake Jones.
Reece Witcraft v. (Bobby Robinson v. Caleb Rogers).
138
Edmond Memorial senior Peter Rolle (30-5) won the West Regional. He’s a returning State finalist with wins over Spencer Schickram (39-2), Josh Parks, Cam Picklo (41-3), and Bryce Petering.
Mustang Senior Cameron Picklo is a returning State Qualifier and settled for second in the west, but has pinned Rolle in the past and also has wins over Parks, Brayden Strachan (37-6), Blake Gonzalez (21-7), Parker Wright (32-8), and Brandon Elrod.
Wright, Strachan, Schickram, Elrod, Petering, and Parks are all returning State Qualifiers and Gonzalez placed third last year.
Schickram is a Ponca City senior and East Regional Champ with wins over Wright, Rolle, Strachan and Gonzalez.
Peter Rolle v. (Branden Elrod v. Bryce Petering).
Parker Wright v. Blake Gonzalez.
Cameron Picklo v. Brayden Strachan.
Spencer Schickram v. (Traylon Jackson v. Josh Parks).
145
Choctaw junior Gabe Johnson (37-2) is a returning State Finalist and the top-ranked wrestler at 145. He has wins over Micah Lugafet (23-1), Ja’len Hernandez (35-5), and Enrie Chavez. His only losses this season were to three-time Oregon State Champion Legend Lamer and four-time Utah State Champ Zak Kohler.
Enid freshman Chance Davis (21-5) recently placed second at Junior High Allstate. Lugafet placed third at State last year, Hernandez placed fourth, and Bryce Corona, Christian Webb, and Roarke Simpson are all returning qualifiers.
Hernandez, a senior from Union, has wins over Webb, Chavez, Chance Davis, and Jaxon Randall (24-11).
Gabe Johnson v. (Christian Webb v. Roarke Simpson).
Tanner Robinson v. Jaxon Randall.
Micah Lugafet v. Chance Davis.
Ja’len Hernandez v. (Bryce Corona v. Enrie Chavez).
152
Jenks junior Drake Vannoy (33-11) is the returning State Champion with wins over Jayden Villalobos, Joseph Sylvester (26-14), and Diego Maturino (32-12). He’s not the favorite, however.
Sand Springs senior and returning State Qualifier Scott Patton (29-1) hasn’t lost since the second match of the season and has wins over Maturino, Villalobos, and two decisions over Vannoy.
Sylvester and Kyle Knowles (28-6) are also returning State Qualifiers.
Joseph Sylvester v. (Jayden Villalobos v. Brett Black).
Kyle Knowles v. Drake Vannoy.
Tim Trigg v. Diego Maturino.
Scott Patton v. (Joe Stover v. Johnny Villa).
160
Mustang sophomore Tate Picklo (40-0) is a returning State Finalist and the heavy favorite with dominant wins over Charles Floyd (26-7), Tye Rozel (24-7)l, Decklin Nagel, and Rene Martinez (26-2).
Killian McGrew placed third last year, Chris Kirby (34-12) placed fourth, and Chandler Holman (26-11), Martinez, and Floyd are all returning State Qualifiers.
Tate Picklo v. (Nate Jacobson v. Colby Simpson).
Chandler Holman v. Tye Rozell.
Rene Martinez v. Chris Kirby.
Charles Floyd v. (Decklin Nagel v. Killian McGrew).
170
Nationally ranked No. 14 Choctaw senior Zane Coleman (38-1) is a three-time defending State Champion and Arizona State commit, whose only loss came to No. 16 Peyton Craft of Blair Academy. He has wins over Bryce Mattioda (25-6), Christian McCutcheon (24-5), and Jonathan Sutter.
Mattioda, a Broken Arrow junior, is a State Finalist and Neko Macias and Tyrome Denton (20-7) are also returning qualifiers.
Zane Coleman v. (Laken Clowdus v. Neko Macias).
Tyrome Denton v. Braden Bowman.
Christian McCutcheon v. Mason Seth.
Bryce Mattioda (v. Jonathan Sutter v. Tre Harley).
182
Broken Arrow sophomore Emmanuel Skillings (38-3) didn’t compete in the post-season last year but did win the Junior High Allstate title. Two of his three losses are to State Champions, and he holds wins over Taylor Fleming (31-6), Brannigan Reyes (30-12), and Dylan Ward (27-14).
Norman North senior JT Stambeck (29-1) placed third last season and his only loss this year is to defending State Champion Dustin Plott. He has wins over Reyes and Ward.
Thatcher Hall placed third at the 3A State Tournament last year, and Fleming, Reyes, and Trey Bowman (27-14) are all returning qualifiers.
JT Stambeck v. (Jake Rogers v. Antione Thomas).
Dylan Ward v. Taylor Fleming.
Brannigan Reyes v. Trey Bowman.
Emmanuel Skillings v. (Noah Kenney v. Thatcher Hall).
195
Broken Arrow senior Gavin Potter (16-3) is the defending two-time State Champion with wins over Kaden Glass (31-9), Judson Rowland (17-7), and Christian Cantu, but he’s not the favorite this year.
Deer Creek senior Carson Savage (35-2) defeated Potter 9-2 in a dual, and also boasts wins over Tristan Ashford (20-7) and Rowland. Savage placed third last year.
Trent Owens, Ashford, and Rowland are also returning State Qualifiers.
Another tough challenger for the title is Sand Springs freshman Kaden Glass who won the Junior High Allstate title this year. Potter has beaten Glass twice, but the Sandite scored takedowns in both meetings, and the defending Champ only won 3-2 with a trio of escapes at Regionals and needed overtime to do it.
Carson Savage v. (Christian Cantu v. Conner Columbus).
Tristan Ashford v. Kaden Glass.
Judson Rowland v. Elijah Tomlin.
Gavin Potter v. (Trent Owens v. Ethan Felts).
220
Broken Arrow senior Zach Marcheselli (23-2) is a three-time State Champion ranked ninth in the nation. He holds dominant wins over Jared Galli, Micah Walker (36-6), Jack Kitchingham (21-16), and Jake McCoy (30-3).
Edmond North senior Jake McCoy was second in the East and has wins over Rowland, Corbin Gordon (31-8), Galli, and Walker. He placed fourth at State last season. Walker also placed, Galli placed fourth, and Gordon and Tony Opichka (28-14) are both returning qualifiers.
Tony Opichka v. (Jared Galli v. Carson Cottrill).
Jack Kitchingham v. Jake McCoy.
Corbin Gordon v. Micah Walker.
Zach Marcheselli v. (Hudson Hollander v. Yemi Oyesanya).
285
Heavyweight has four major contenders with a circle of wins.
Choctaw junior Marquon Journey (33-6) and Yukon senior Ashton Aldridge (32-7) have split wins. Aldridge won a 3-2 decision, but Journey has a fall and 5-0 decision in their most recent meeting.
Aldridge has a 3-2 win over Jenks senior Caleb Orr (24-6). Orr has a 3-2 win over Broken Arrow senior Noah Cortes (3-2). Cortes has a 3-2 decision over Journey and a 3-2 win over Orr.
Journey, Cortes, Aldridge, Samontai Scott (10-2), and Juan Macedo are all returning State Qualifiers.
Marquon Journey v. (Devion Williams v. Jaylin Parker).
Samontai Scott v. Noah Cortes.
Ashton Aldridge v. Colten Dodd.
Caleb Orr v. (Kobe Shawver v. Juan Macedo).
Teams
No. 1 Broken Arrow - thirteen qualifiers - nine State titles, last won in 2015.
No. 3 Mustang - ten qualifiers - one State title in 1983.
No. 8 Edmond Memorial - ten qualifiers - one State title in 1988.
No. 4 Edmond North - nine qualifiers - one State title in 2013.
No. 2 Choctaw - eight qualifiers - six State titles, last won in 2018.
No. 6 Deer Creek - eight qualifiers.
No. 7 Jenks - eight qualifiers.
No. 13 Bartlesville - seven qualifiers.
No. 5 Sand Springs - six qualifiers - two State titles, last won in 2017.
No. 10 Stillwater - six qualifiers - eight State titles, last won in 2014.
No. 15 Del City - six qualifiers.
Southmoore - six qualifiers.
No. 9 Owasso - five qualifiers - one State title in 1978.
No. 11 Union - five qualifiers - two State titles, last won in 2009.
No. 12 Yukon - four qualifiers.
Westmoore - four qualifiers.
No. 14 Ponca City - three qualifiers - eight State titles, last won in 2006.
Norman North - three qualifiers.
Enid - three qualifiers.
Muskogee - three qualifiers.
Putnam North - three qualifiers.
Midwest City - two qualifiers - sixteen State titles, last won in 2008.
Shawnee - two qualifiers - three State titles, last won in 1989.
Moore - two qualifiers.
Putnam City - one qualifier - three State titles, last won in 1978.
Bixby - one qualifier - one State title in 1987.
Norman - one qualifier.
Sapulpa - one qualifier.
