CPHS Wrestling: Sandites win 22nd-straight dual 63-9 over Stillwater

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The defending State Champions from Sand Springs won their 22nd-straight dual Tuesday night, dominating Stillwater 63-9 and losing only two matches. 

The Class 6A No. 4 ranked Sandites improved to 2-0 on the season against the No. 15 Pioneers (0-5). Sand Springs and Stillwater were coming off 34th and 40th Place performances, respectively, at the Kansas City Stampede this past weekend.

The Sandites recently lost defending State Champion Payton Scott to a hand injury, and their remaining lineup is riddled with injuries. That didn't stop them from recording eight pins in the lopsided victory.

The Pioneers forfeited the opening match to undefeated freshman Carter Young (14-0) and proceeded to lose their next five matches before getting on the scoreboard with a 9-8 decision by Collyn Murrell over Colby Heckenkamp (1-1). By that point they were already down 27-3. The Sandites retaliated with six-straight pins before Sam Smith took down Austin Rutledge (0-1) at heavyweight.

Seth Jones, Scott Patton, Chris Kirby, Kaleb Tabor, Dayvon Taylor, Riley Magee, Josh Fincannon, and Gage Fain all pinned their foes. Brendon Wiseley, Colten Roberts, and Irwin Portillo also won their matches.

The Sandites will get a much-needed two week break before traveling to No. 6 Ponca City (2-1) Tuesday, January 2nd. The Wildcats outperformed Sand Springs by nearly a hundred points at the Kansas City tournament, placing 21st. However, Sand Springs only sent wrestlers to compete in ten of fourteen weight classes. 

106 - Carter Young (SS) forfeit.
113 - Brendon Wiseley (SS) 7-1 Henry Warren.
120 - Seth Jones (SS) p. Skyler Lancaster.
126 - Colten Roberts (SS) 4-3 Tanner Robinson.
132 - Irwin Portillo (SS) 7-4 John Ritchey.
138 - Scott Patton (SS) p. Kyle Pratz.
145 - Collyn Murrell (ST) 9-8 Colby Heckenkamp.
152 - Chris Kirby (SS) p. Josh Norris.
160 - Kaleb Tabor (SS) p. Christian McCutcheon.
170 - Dayvon Taylor (SS) p. Kyle VanDeventer.
182 - Riley Magee (SS) p. Joe Vick.
195 - Josh Fincannon (SS) p. Cougar Hendricks. 
220 - Gage Fain (SS) p. Raven Soap.
285 - Sam Smith (ST) p. Austin Rutledge.

CPHS Wrestling: Undefeated freshman Carter Young wins prestigious Kansas City Invitational

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An injury-ridden and heavily depleted Charles Page High School wrestling team headed to the prestigious Kansas City Stampede this weekend and crowned an individual champion for the fifth-straight year at one of the toughest tournaments in the country. 

Freshman Carter Young (13-0) continued his undefeated varsity career with a first place finish at 106 pounds. He breezed through pool play with two pins and two technical falls. In the gold bracket he pinned Sammy Dickey in 1:20, teched Nick Cambria (Buford) 22-7 in 4:00, and scored a 13-7 decision over Zach Keal before shutting out Kansas State Qualifier Jason Henschel 7-0 in the finals. This is his second-straight tournament championship after sweeping the Perry Tournament of Champions last weekend.

Riley Weir (8-6 season, 70-24 career) lost his opening match at 120 pounds to Park Hill’s Ethen Miller, but snapped back with three straight pins before falling to Alabama State Champion Sam Latona in the gold bracket. In consolation he scored a 16-0 tech fall against Logan Adamson before falling in a rematch with Miller. He finished in twelfth place overall. Kai Orine (Seckman) defeated Latona 5-0 for first place.

Kaleb Tabor (4-4) pinned three of his pool opponents at 152 pounds, falling only to Kansas State Champion Cade Lindsey by a close 5-0 decision. In the gold bracket he won his opening match 6-5 over Joe Tyson, but fell 4-2 to Kansas State Qualifier Trevor Dopps and took twelfth place. Mill Valley’s Jarret Bendure won the bracket 8-6 over Edmond North’s Kruz Simons.

Gage Fain (7-4, 46-42) placed thirteenth at 220 pounds. He won two of his pool matches, falling to Tenenssee State Runner-Up Grayson Walthall, to earn his way to the gold bracket. He fell 9-3 to State Runner-Up Blake Minnick from Edmond North and 3-1 to Trenton Willert before pinning Zane Collinsworth in 48 seconds. Zach Elam (Staley) pinned Perry Ganci (Jesuit) in 26 seconds in the finals. 

Brendon Wiseley (6-5) went 3-1 in pool play to make the gold bracket where he took fifteenth place at 113 pounds. He won his first three matches, including a 7-0 decision over Kansas State Qualifier Austin Keal, before falling 15-2 to Missouri State Qualifier Trey Crawford. He lost his first bracket match to State Runner-Up Garrett Steidley and fell 2-0 to Kansas State Qualifier Silas Pineda but snapped back in the placement round. He took a 12-0 lead over Kansas State Qualifier Ethan Hill before pinning his foe at the 3:42 mark. Logan Ashton (Buford) defeated Park Hill’s Trey Crawford 8-6 for first place.

Dayvon Taylor (7-8) won his first match by pin and received a forfeit before falling to a Missouri State Qualifier and a Georgia State Runner-Up. In the silver bracket he won three-straight, including two pins, before falling in the finals. He was runner-up in silver, or eighteenth overall at 170 pounds. Troy Fisher (Goddard) won the bracket 3-1 against Rocky Elam (Staley).

Scott Patton (8-8, 15-10) got off to a tough start at 138, losing his first two matches to a pair of Missouri State Qualifiers, but won his next four matches. In the silver bracket he defeated Mason Hedgecorth 8-5 and pinned Gunner Murphy in 21 seconds before falling 6-2 to Cayleb Atkins. He took fourth place in silver, or twentieth overall.  Luke Surber (Tuttle) won the gold bracket 8-3 against Kyle Prewitt (CBC).

Irwin Portillo (8-7, 14-12) competed at 132 pounds and took 23rd Place overall. He went 2-2 in pool play and 3-2 for seventh place in the silver bracket. He only lost to State Qualifiers, and defeated Christian Robinson 4-2 in the placement match. Jevon Parrish (Olathe North) won the bracket 3-2 against Thompson’s Gabe Hixenbaugh.

Seth Jones (8-7, 10-10) competed at 126 pounds and went 2-2 in pool play, placing him in the silver bracket where he went 2-3. He forfeited his final two matches and settled for eighth place in silver, or 24th Place overall. Cameron Fusco (Seckman) won the gold bracket with a 5-2 decision over Whitfield’s Mike McAteer.

Mill Valley’s Conner Ward won the 145 bracket 7-0 against Blaine Bergey of Buford. Tuttle’s Dustin Plott won the 160 bracket 7-4 against Mason Reinche (Baylor). Park Hill’s Devin Winston pinned Joseph Williams (Neosho) in the 182-pound finals. Donovan Benetti (Nixa) won the 195-pound bracket 7-6 against Zach Hazen (Blue Springs). Max Darrah (Whitfield) defeated Neosho's Adrian Hitchcock in an ultimate tiebreaker for the heavyweight title.

Sand Springs senior and defending tournament champion Payton Scott was unable to defend his title and will likely miss the entire season due to a hand injury. 

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday when they travel to No. 14 Stillwater (0-4) in their last dual before Christmas Break.

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.

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. 

CPHS Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith presented with Pacesetter Award

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Charles Page High School Head Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith was recognized by the Sand Springs Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Smith led the 2016-2017 Sandites to their most successful season in program history.

"We are blessed with superstar teachers," said board-member Mike Mullins. "Kelly Smith is a wonderful wrestling coach. But he's not as good a wrestling coach as he is a teacher. It's a blessing to have you as part of the Sand Springs community and Sand Springs schools. We appreciate not just what you did but what you do."

Last year's Sandites won the State and Dual State Championships with five individual champions in their weight classes. He was recently named the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) Coach of the Year. 

In addition to the Pacesetter Award, Smith also received a Coin of Excellence inscribed with "Think Right, Challenge Minds, Inspire Hearts." 

"We don't give these out very often," said Mullins. "We give these out when somebody goes above and beyond. Kelly does that every day."

Eleven Sandites Take First Place at Coweta Wrestling Tournament

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Abraham Flores was one of eleven Team Big wrestlers to take first place at the Coweta Open. (Photo: Scott Emigh)

Nearly a dozen members of the Sand Springs Team Big elementary wrestling program took first place at last weekend's Coweta Open.

Abraham Flores (7-1) took first place in Division 4 at 110 pounds, scoring a 9-0 major decision against Cameron Braswell and a 16-1 tech fall against Joseph Robbins. Adrian Flores (2-6) took second place, beating Robbins 6-2 and Braswell 5-0.

Balance Johnson (3-0) took first place in Division 4 at 140 pounds, pinning Connor Gough in 0:53 and Cameron Ford in 2:07. He also scored a 16-7 major decision against Micco Jones.

David Ritchey (4-2) took first place in Division 3 at 73 pounds, scoring a 16-0 tech fall against Braxton Cook and pinning Cruz Morrison in 1:47.

Nation Johnson (4-0) took first place in Division 3 at 85 pounds, pinning Bow Rush in 1:10, Daniel Gruenwald in 0:16, and Riley Hicks in 0:46. In the finals he defeated Ty Thrasher by 6-3 decision.

Jaxon Trotter (3-1) won a best-of-three series against Lance Arbona for first place in Division 3 at 100 pounds. He pinned the Ponca City wrestler in 2:40, then won a 9-6 decision. He also took second place in Division 4, pinning Mathew Franklin in 1:16 and Brice Chitwood in 3:00. He scored a 4-0 decision against Cael Eremita, but fell in 1:55 to Catoosa’s Tyler McCall.

Jayden Bussell (3-2) won a best-of-three series against Evan Luna for first place in Division 2 at 67 pounds, pinning the Wagoner wrestler in 3:25 and 3:30.

Ethan Starks (4-2) won the seventy-pound bracket in Division 2, receiving a forfeit from Braxton Floyd and scoring a 12-1 major decision against Glenpool’s Colton Treat.

Promised Johnson (3-0) won the 75-pound bracket in Division 2, pinning Eli Montgomery in 0:35 and Jake White in 2:45. In the finals he scored a 17-2 technical fall against Berryhill’s Max Harland.

Ramone Sparks (4-0) won the 88-pound bracket in Novice 4, scoring an 18-4 major decision against Kaden Boucher and pinning Avery Richey in forty seconds.

Connor Beals (6-1) won his third-straight tournament in Novice Division 3 at 73 pounds. He scored a 10-0 major decision against Braxton Cook and defeated Aeleyah Mumau 9-2 in the finals.

Tyler Feigenbaum (7-0) won his second-straight tournament in Novice 2 at 67 pounds. He pinned Mason Denison in 1:29, Walter Black in 0:39, Jaxon Steel in 2:25, and Laike Barnhart in 1:22.

Kaden Pope (1-1) took second place in Division 3 at 64 pounds, scoring a 15-0 tech fall against Jimmy Groden, but falling 6-2 to Collinsville’s Cayden Cupps. Matthew Moore (5-2) placed third, falling to Cupps in the opening round. He won his way through the consolation bracket with a 7-0 decision against Caleb Thompson, an 11-1 major decision against Groden, and a 6-2 decision against Connor Cox.

Aiden Wilkerson (2-1) took second in Novice 4 at eighty pounds, pinning Drake Blue in 0:21 and Rylie Brown in 0:49, but falling 10-8 to Isaac Valencia in sudden victory overtime.

Brody Wilson (2-1) took second in Novice 3 at 67 pounds, defeating Brody Stevenson 5-2 and William Laffoon 6-4, but falling 3-0 to Ethan Oglesbee in the finals.

Bently Furr (7-3) placed second in Novice 2 at 64 pounds, pinning Jake Weaver in 1:23 and Amos Wright in 1:16, but falling 14-4 to Conlee Curry in the finals.

Chase Kelley (2-4) placed third in Novice 4 at 110 pounds. He pinned Aundray Waller in 1:42 and Rhyley Tripp in 0:13, but fell 6-2 to Joseph Robbins and was pinned in 1:49 by Cooper Thomas.

Blayton Collins (10-6) competed in Novice Division 2 at two different weight classes. He placed fourth at 61 pounds and third at 64 pounds. In the 61-pound bracket he defeated Mikaili Lee 7-5 before getting pinned by Glenpool’s Landon Barber in 2:48. In the consolation bracket he pinned Dylan Cook in 1:59 and Riley Holman in 0:57, and won a 4-1 decision over Hunter Belcher before meeting Barber once again in the finals. This time his opponent came out on top of a 7-1 decision. At 64 pounds Collins pinned Ty Holly in 0:39, Jake Weaver in 1:47, and Amos Wright in 1:42, but fell to Conlee Curry from Jay.

Wes Wilson (5-1) took third place in Novice Division 1 in the forty-pound weight class. He majored Jacob Lonewolf 10-2 but was pinned in 2:44 by Mylum Ache. In the consolation bracket he pinned Ryker Romine in 1:42, majored Brayden Otero 10-0 and Larry Blevins 17-6, then pinned William Thompson in 1:38 in the finals.