CPHS Senior Daton Fix attains #1 ranking in USA pound-for-pound

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Four-time undefeated State Champion Daton Fix hasn't lost a match in the U.S. since October of 2015.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Daton Fix is a household name in Sand Springs by now. Every serious high school wrestling fan in the United States is at least somewhat aware of him, and every year his name-recognition increases worldwide as he racks up the hardware at junior and senior level freestyle events across the globe.

Fix has held the #1 ranking from FloWrestling in the 132-pound weight class since June, but after finishing his high school career undefeated as a four-time State Champion, he has now climbed to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings as well.

The previous #1 was Iowa University-signed senior Spencer Lee.

Fix and Lee have held very similar careers these past four years. The two first met in May of 2013 at the Cadet Freestyle Nationals in the 110-pound weight class. Lee rolled to a 13-2 technical fall for the National title.

Two years later it was Fix's turn, winning a 9-6 decision for the Championship. Since then, the Pennsylvania State Champion has won a pair of gold medals at the World Championships while the Oklahoman won bronze the past two years. 

So what pushed Fix past Lee in the rankings? How he finished in high school. While Fix concluded his undefeated career with a 168-0 record and four State Championships, Lee lost his final match to end as a three-time State Champ and four-time finalist with a 144-1 record.

Lee could still easily make his case to remain number one, however. His loss was to a no-joke opponent in Drexel-signed senior Austin Desanto, who was then ranked fourth in the nation at their weight class. Furthermore, though he refuses to use it as an excuse, Lee was wrestling with a torn ACL in his right knee. 

In the latest Flo rankings, Fix moved from third to first, while Lee dropped from first to third. Second-ranked Cornell-signed senior Yianni Diakomihalis held his spot. Diakomihalis and Fix have split decisions in the past. Diakomihalis defeated Fix 5-0 in the 2014 Super 32 finals, but Fix won a 3-1 overtime decision for the FloNationals Folkstyle Championship in 2015. Diakomihalis finished his career with a 243-3 record but didn't compete for the State Championship due to a broken elbow. 

While the odds of meeting the 145-pound Diakomihalis is college is unlikely, it's very likely we could see Fix and Lee meet again, either at the collegiate level or in national/international freestyle competitions.

For now, the only four-time State Champion in Sandite history has certainly lived up to his Twitter handle of "Greatest Ever." At least, greatest ever in Sand Springs. But the State Championships were just small stepping stones in his ultimate quest for Olympic Gold. He'll get his first shot in Tokyo in 2020, but till then he'll have to be content with being the #1 wrestler in America, and maybe win a few NCAA Division One titles for Oklahoma State University along the way.

Daton Fix titles:

2X Oklahoma Junior High State Champion
2X USAW Schoolboy Freestyle National Champion
2X USAW Schoolboy Greco-Roman National Champion
2012 USAW Preseason Middle School National Champion
2013 USAW Cadet Greco-Roman National Champion
2013 USAW Cadet Freestyle National Champion
2014 USAW Cadet Folkstyle National Champion
2014 Cadet Greco-Roman Pan American Champion
2014 Cadet Freestyle Pan American Champion
2014 Youth Olympics Freestyle Silver Medalist
2015 Junior Folkstyle FloNationals Champion
2X UWW Cadet Freestyle National Champion
2015 USAW Junior Freestyle National Champion
2016 Cadet Worlds Freestyle Bronze Medalist
2X Jay Hancock Memorial Champion
2X UWW Junior Freestyle National Champion
2016 Junior Worlds Freestyle Bronze Medalist
4X Perry Tournament Champion
4X Kansas City Stampede Champion
2X Geary Invitational Champion
4X Jerry Billings-Bobby Lyons Champion
4X OSSAA 6A-East Regional Champion
4X OSSAA 6A State Champion

Sand Springs City Council recognizes Sandite Wrestling for State Championship wins

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs City Council met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening and started the session with a series of mayoral proclamations recognizing the Charles Page High School Wrestling team for their outstanding season that saw two team State Championships and five individual State Champions.

SEE RELATED: Sand Springs Sandite Wrestling wins 6A State Championship with 5 Champions

The 2016-2017 Sand Springs Wrestling team (20-0) is the most successful team in the history of the school, going undefeated in duals, winning five tournaments, including the OSSAA 6A State and Dual State tournaments. They are the first team to bring a State title home since the 1992 Girls' Basketball team. Mayor Mike Burdge read mayoral proclamations recognizing them for both State Championships.

Five members of the squad capped their seasons with first-place finishes at the State Tournament. Seniors Beau Bratcher (45-7 season, 136-30 career) and Jack Karstetter (32-1, 105-16) ended their careers as State Champs, and Daton Fix (47-0, 168-0) finished as a four-time undefeated State Champ. Junior Payton Scott (40-3, 61-11) and sophomore Riley Weir (41-6, 62-18) both won their first State titles and will get the opportunity to defend them next year. Fix will continue his career at Oklahoma State University, while Karstetter and Bratcher have yet to announce any college decisions. They were each presented with mayoral proclamations for their accomplishments.

Four Sandite Seniors compete in All-Star showcase, dominate Arkansas State Champs

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Four Charles Page High School seniors haven't slowed down a bit since concluding their high school careers last month at the OSSAA 6A State Tournament.

Daton Fix, Jack Karstetter, Zane Basma, and Delvin Jordan competed for Team Oklahoma at the Battle of the Bad in Miami, Oklahoma, and won seven of their eight matches.

In the semifinal dual Oklahoma handily defeated Arkansas 57-10 and all four Sandites won their matches. Fix wrestled at 126 pounds and pinned two-time State Champion Michael Crockett in 4:08 for an 18-0 team lead. Karstetter scored a 21-8 major decision against State Champion Chance McCrary at 138 pounds for a 25-0 team lead. Basma wrestled at 160 and pinned three-time State Champion Jimmy Noel for a 31-10 team lead. Jordan competed at heavyweight and scored a 10-1 major decision over two-time State-placer Tim Wooten. 

The Sandites are currently raising funds for State Championship rings to commemorate their perfect season. Click HERE to donate.

In the Championship round Kansas took a 10-0 lead against Oklahoma before Fix teched three-time State Qualifier Darion Bailey 22-7. Karstetter cut the deficit to 10-8 with a 9-5 decision over three-time State Qualifier Levi Green. Kansas went on a run from there with four-straight victories including a close 8-4 decision by State Runner-Up Brandon Mlekus over Basma for a 28-8 advantage. Oklahoma won three-straight and the Okies trailed 28-20 with two matches left. Jordan won his match against State Runner-Up Deveron Duncan, but the 6-5 decision wasn't enough to keep Oklahoma in contention. Ultimately it didn't matter, as Kansas won the heavyweight match for a 34-23 victory. 

From there, Fix and Karstetter joined up with Team Border at the Missouri Border Brawl in St. Louis. Fix pinned Northwestern University-signed State Champion Colin Valdiviez in 3:46, but Karstetter fell 20-9 to Army-signed State Champion Taylor Brown.

Fix and Karstetter both won State Championships this past month, while Jordan was a Runner-Up and Basma also qualified for the tournament. Fix is signed to wrestle for Oklahoma State University, while Jordan will play football for Pittsburg State University. 

Sand Springs Sandite Wrestling wins 6A State Championship with 5 Champions

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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 splits consolation round, guaranteed seven placers

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Senior Tanner Ward won his consolation semifinal match, guaranteeing his spot as a four-time State-placer. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Top-Ten Team Scores: 

  1. Sand Springs (107.5)
  2. Broken Arrow (101)
  3. Choctaw (94.5)
  4. Edmond North (54)
  5. Stillwater (47)
  6. Yukon (33)
  7. Mustang (30)
  8. Ponca City (30)
  9. Midwest City (28.5)
  10. Norman North (28)

Consolation Finals:

106: Fowler (Yukon) vs Long (Union)
113: Ward (CPHS) vs Picklo (Mustang)
120: Lupton (Mustang) vs Jones (Bartlesville)
126: Holman (Choctaw) vs Schickram (Ponca)
132: Edwards (Mustang) vs Schickram (Ponca)
138: Simons (EDN) vs Mattioda (BAHS)
145: Gilmore (Yukon) vs Johnson (Westmoore)
152: Walker (MWC) vs Rubio (Ponca)
160: Wise (BAHS) vs Messer (NNHS)
170: McBride (Mustang) vs Hensley (EDM)
182: Carnes (Sapulpa) vs Johnson (Owasso)
195: Jones (Putnam) vs Johnson (Owasso)
220: Lancaster (Putnam) vs Poole (Choctaw)
285: Austin (Choctaw) vs Haff (Owasso)

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team is still in good position to win their first State Championship since 1971 with seven competitors still in contention and guaranteed to place. But they haven't clenched it yet.

With six finalists waiting to wrestle this evening, the Sandites had only two matches in the Saturday morning consolation semifinals. Seniors Michael Ritchey and Tanner Ward split wins, and Ward will wrestle for third place this afternoon around 12:45 p.m. 

Ward (34-11 season, 110-23 career) breezed through Bartlesville sophomore Brayden Strachan (33-9) with a pair of takedowns and a trio of nearfall points for a 7-1 first period lead in the 113-pound consolation semifinals. He started the second period on bottom and reversed in the first twenty seconds. Strachan reversed immediately after, and Ward reversed once again near the end of the period. The Sandite added a takedown to start the third, cut his foe loose, and repeated to try for a technical fall. Strachan got the final score however, and Ward settled for a 15-7 major decision. The four-time State placer will take on Mustang sophomore Cameron Picklo (31-7) in the placement round. 

Ritchey (36-12, 65-36) scored first against Mustang junior Joe Lupton (30-7) and held a 2-0 advantage to start the second period on top. Lupton failed to escape and Ritchey elected to start the third period on top as well. This time the Bronco got the upper hand for a reversal with 50 seconds left and sent the match into overtime, scoring a takedown for the 4-2 sudden victory decision. 

Sand Springs has lots of opportunity to score points, with sophomore Riley Weir (113), senior Daton Fix (132), senior Jack Karstetter (138), senior Beau Bratcher (145), junior Payton Scott (152), and senior Delvin Jordan (220) all wrestling for State titles.

Broken Arrow and Choctaw are still nipping at the heels of the Sandites, however. The third-ranked Tigers also have seven wrestlers in contention, with five finalists and two consolation finalists. The defending State Champions from Choctaw have seven in contention with four finalists and three consolation finalists.

The tournament is being held at Jim Norick Arena in the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Consolation finals are slated to begin at 12:45 p.m., with the Championship matches scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Team and Individual awards presentations will be held at the conclusion of all wrestling. 

No. 1 CPHS sends six wrestlers to State Championship finals, sitting in first place as team

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Top-Ten Team Scores: 

  1. No. 1 Sand Springs (101.5)
  2. No. 3 Broken Arrow (89)
  3. No. 2 Choctaw (78.5)
  4. No. 4 Edmond North (49)
  5. No. 8 Stillwater (47)
  6. Midwest City (23.5)
  7. No. 13 Norman North (23)
  8. No. 9 Westmoore (21)
  9. No. 5 Yukon (19)
  10. No. 11 Edmond Memorial (18)

Finals Matches:

106: Weir (CPHS) vs Steidley (Ed Memorial)
113: Randall (Westmoore) vs Newton (Choctaw)
120: Rosen (Ed North) vs Lawley (BAHS)
126: Wilson (MWC) vs Cole (DC)
132: Fix (CPHS) vs Bright (Ed North)
138: Karstetter (CPHS) vs Dieringer (Stillwater)
145: Bratcher (CPHS) vs Lee (Stillwater)
152: Scott (CPHS) vs Loza (Enid)
160: Curry (Choctaw) vs Vincent (Yukon)
170: Coleman (Choctaw) vs Bahl (Stillwater)
182: Rendleman (Choctaw) vs Potter (BAHS)
195: Minnick (Ed North) vs Marcheselli (BAHS)
220: Jordan (CPHS) vs Haynes (BAHS)
285: Johnson (NNHS) vs Lieurance (BAHS)

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team is in good position to clench their first State Championship since 1971, placing six wrestlers in the Championship finals Friday night at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

The Sandites have already won the Perry Tournament of Champions, the Sapulpa Jerry Billings Invitational, and the 6A-East Regional Championship, and are currently first in the team standings at the OSSAA State Tournament.

Sand Springs qualified eleven wrestlers for the State Tournament. Three have been eliminated, two are still in the running for third place, and six have the potential to be State Champions. The last time the Sandites won State they sent seven to the finals and came out with three Champions.

Broken Arrow is currently sitting in second place with five finalists and nine total wrestlers in still in contention. Choctaw is in third place with four finalists and eleven total qualifiers still in contention.

Sophomore Riley Weir (40-6 season, 61-18 career) took on Choctaw freshman Gabe Johnson (34-7) in the 106-pound semifinals and prevailed by 6-2 decision. He will take on Edmond Memorial freshman Garrett Steidley (30-3) in the Championship finals. Steidley is ranked fifth in 106, but upset No. 4 TJ Long and No. 2 Braden Fowler in his path to the finals. This will be their first meeting. Weir also qualified for State as a freshman but struggled with an elbow injury and failed to place. 

Oklahoma State University-signed senior Daton Fix (46-0, 164-0) easily handled Ponca City junior Dylan Schickram (38-13) in the 132-pound semifinals with a 42-second pin. Fix is looking to become the first four-time State Champion in Sand Springs history. He will face Edmond North senior Brandon Bright (36-4) in the Championship finals. The two last met in the 2015 State semifinals when Fix prevailed with a pin in 2:53.

Senior Jack Karstetter (31-1, 104-16) faced off against Ponca City senior Dawson Hunt (29-15) in the 138-pound semifinals and easily rolled to an 18-3 technical fall in 3:05. Karstetter qualified for State his sophomore and junior years as well, and placed second last season. He will square up with Stillwater senior Tyler Dieringer (26-5) in a rematch of the 6A-East Regional finals when Karstetter won a 3-2 decision in ultimate tie-breaker overtime. 

Senior Beau Bratcher (44-7, 135-30) met defending State Champion Jaxen Gilmore (27-3), a junior from Yukon, in the 145-pound semifinals and won a narrow 5-4 decision to avenge his finals loss last season. Bratcher is a four-time State Qualifier, placing second last season after getting pinned by Gilmore. This year he will face Stillwater senior Kendon Lee (35-3) in a rematch of the Regional finals. He has face Lee three times this season, each time losing by a single takedown. Lee prevailed 4-2 in sudden victory over time at the KC Stampede, then won 4-2 during regulation in a regular season dual. Last week they went into sudden victory yet again and Lee came up with the 3-1 decision.

Junior Payton Scott (38-3, 59-11) squared off with Midwest City senior Robert Walker (28-6) in the 152-pound semifinal and won a close 3-2 decision. Scott also qualified for State as a sophomore and placed fourth. This time he will take on Enid senior Austin Loza (36-8) in the championship finals. The two have met only once before and Scott came out with a fall in 2:33 at the District Duals Quadrangle.

Senior Delvin Jordan (43-2, 74-14) topped Choctaw junior Caulin Poole (25-10) in the 220-pound semifinals with a 17-5 major decision. He will face defending State Champion Skyler Haynes (12-2), a senior from Broken Arrow. The two have already met twice this season. The Sandite won a 4-3 decision in the Dual State finals, then won a 3-2 tie-breaker in the East Regional finals. Jordan also qualified for State his freshman and junior years, but missed his sophomore year with an injury. Junior year he pinned the defending State Champion to win the Regional bracket, but was unable to participate in the State tournament.

Senior Tanner Ward (33-11, 109-23) faced Westmoore senior Canon Randall (37-4) in the 113-pound semifinals but forfeited with an injury four minutes into the match. If he is cleared to wrestle on Saturday, he will face Bartlesville sophomore Brayden Strachan (33-8) in the consolation semifinals. This will be their first meeting. Ward was already a three-time State Qualifier and two-time finalist at the 3A level before transferring from Berryhill.

Senior Michael Ritchey (36-11, 65-35) battled Edmond North senior and defending State Champion Paxton Rosen (37-2) in the 120-pound semifinal and was majored 11-2. Saturday he will face Mustang junior Joe Lupton (29-7) in their first-ever meeting. Ritchey qualified for State last year but didn't place.

Junior Blake Sargent (37-11, 89-25) suffered a close 2-1 loss to Ponca City sophomore Spencer Schickram (38-9) in the consolation quarterfinals and was eliminated from contention. Sargent previously took third place as a sophomore.

Sophomore Noah Almy (24-19) was eliminated after a close 3-1 decision to Edmond Santa Fe junior Williams Depona (17-13) in the 160-pound consolations.

Senior Zane Basma (26-5, 88-30) was eliminated in a 10-8 shootout decision to Ponca City junior Lane Newlin (32-14) in the 170-pound consolations. Basma previously qualified for State his sophomore and junior years and placed third last season.