Five Sandites win at Bedlam Battle

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Seventeen Sandites traveled to Stillwater last month to participate in the Junior High Bedlam Battle tournament. Zane Swafford, Jaxon Trotter, Mitchell Smith, Colton Luker, and Dylan Luker each claimed first place in their respective divisions.

Division 1: Ages 6 & Under

Kasen McAfree - 55 - 3rd Place

• lost to Caden Johnson (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 0:43 pin
• lost to Jaedan Adams (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 10-1 major decision
• defeated Wyatt Nisbett (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 1:39 fall
• defeated Graeden Demario (Creek Elite) by 2:50 fall

Division 2: Ages 8 & Under

Jaxon Grigsby - 46 - 3rd Place

• defeated Zane Filtz (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 3:33 pin
• lost to Jaxon Kennedy (Yukon Youth Wrestling Club) by 8-4 decision
• lost to Maxon Burnham (Catoosa Wrestling) by 11-0 major decision

Zane Swafford - 61 - 1st Place

• defeated Jackson Vaught (Team NEO) by 0:20 pin
• defeated Jakoby Petree (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 11-0 major decision
• defeated Hayden Wright (Yukon Youth Wrestling Club) by 2:38 pin

Jaxon "Scout" Trotter - 83 - 1st Place

• defeated Jake Nisbett (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 0:36 pin
• defeated Jake Miller (Oologah Youth Wrestling) by 6-2 decision
• defeated Joseph Stanley (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 8-3 decision

Division 3: Ages 10 & Under

ackson Martin - 52 - 3rd Place

• lost to Cavin Peper (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 2:28 pin
• defeated Ryker Ernce (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 0:35 pin
• lost to Iziah Tusler (Cushing Wrestling) by 0:51 pin

Zander Grigsby - 55 - 2nd Place

• defeated Carter Thomas (Yukon Youth Wrestling Club) by 15-0 tech fall
• defeated Kristopher Taylor (Little Axe Wrestling) by 1:46 pin
• lost to Javin Douglas (Yukon Youth Wrestling Club) by 3:57 pin

Mitchell Smith - 64 - 1st Place

• defeated Elijah Green (Catoosa Wrestling) by 0:28 fall
• defeated Angel Tiscareno (Perry Maroon Wrestling) by 4:18 fall

James Winn - 120-131 - 4th Place

• lost to JaKobe Sanders (Cowboy Wrestling Club) by 0:33 fall
• defeated Lyric Wheeler (Owasso Wrestling Club) by 8-2 decision
• defeated Colt Carr (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 5-2 decision
• lost to Blake Raglin (Pryor Tigers) by 1:14 fall

Division 4: Ages 12 & Under

Owen Martin - 64 - 2nd Place

• defeated Blaten Kemble (Wildcat Wrestling) by 4-0 decision
• defeated Caydon Miller (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 11-2 major decision
• lost to Christian Forbes (R.A.W.) by 7-5 sudden victory

Colton Luker - 73-76 - 1st Place

• defeated Danny Green (Catoosa Wrestling) by 2:57 fall
• defeated Frankie Garcia Jr. (Bluejay Pride Wrestling) by 0:27 fall
• defeated Landon Gregory (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 2:14 fall
• defeated Allison Hynes (Broken Arrow Wrestling Club) by 4-2 sudden victory

Sammy Naugle - 80 - 3rd Place

• lost to Parker LeCoqkeeley (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 18-3 tech fall
• defeated Ethan Norton (Sand Springs Junior High) by 4-3 decision
• lost to Ethan Kemble (Wildcat Wrestling) by 12-0 major decision

Ethan Norton - 80 - 4th Place

• lost to Ethan Kemble (Wildcat Wrestling) by 1:55 fall
• lost to Sammy Naugle (Sand Springs Junior High) by 4-3 decision
• lost to Parker LeCoqkeeley (Sapulpa Youth Wrestling) by 17-2 tech fall 

Blake Jones - 92 - 3rd Place

• defeated Noah Smith (Team NEO) by 15-0 tech fall
• defeated Adin Hill (Broken Arrow Wrestling Club) by 14-5 major decision
• lost to Nathan Dekker (Cleveland Takedown Club) by 6-5 decision
• defeated Noah Smith (Team NEO) by 7-0 decision
• defeated Dregen Murray (Little Axe Wrestling) by 1:41 fall

Bryce Fisher - 100 - 2nd Place

• defeated Cameron Jackson (Wildcat Wrestling) by 7-3 decision
• lost to Cade Manion (Deer Creek) by 3-1 decision
• defeated Chase White (Team Big) by 19-5 major decision

Chase White - 100 - 4th Place

• lost to Cade Manion (Deer Creek) by 15-0 tech fall
• lost to Cameron Jackson (Wildcat Wrestling) by 15-2 major decision
• lost to Bryce Fisher (Sand Springs Junior High) by 19-5 major decision

Division 5: Ages 15 & Under

Dylan Luker - 76 - 1st Place

• defeated Dakotah Allen (Cushing Wrestling) by 5-0 decision
• defeated Dakotah Allen (Cushing Wrestling) by 15-0 tech fall

Seth Jones - 113 - 2nd Place

• defeated Alec McDoulett (Little Axe Wrestling) by 4-2 decision
• lost to Alec McDoulett (Little Axe Wrestling) by 6-3 decision
• lost to Alex McDoulett (Little Axe Wrestling) by 4-2 decision

Sandite of the Week: Daton Fix

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This week Sandite Pride would like to recognize Daton Fix as Sandite of the Week for his 1st place finish at the prestigious Kansas City Stampede. This is Fix's third win at the annual event, making him only the sixth contender to win it 3 or more times. He won it the last two years at 113 and 126, and this year at 132.

Fix is a two-time state champion and has an undefeated high school record of 86-0 with a 13-0 record this year. He's claimed 15 National Championships, 2 Pan-American Championships, a Junior Olympics Silver Medal, and a World Championship Bronze Medal. 

In the last two years he has wrestled in Bosnia, China, Colombia, Slovakia, and Brazil. He is currently ranked 1st in Oklahoma at 132, 3rd in America at 126, and 9th in America pound-for-pound.

Sandites headed to national caliber tournament at Kansas City

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This weekend the Charles Page High School varsity wrestling team will travel to the 10th annual Kansas City Stampede at Hale Arena. 

The event will include 40 teams from 11 states, 28 of which placed in the top 4 in their state tournaments last season. More than 150 state medalists and over 40 state champions will participate; several of which have international experience, including our very own Daton Fix.

Fix is the only Sandite to finish first in this tournament, and is one of only 17 wrestlers in the 9 years the event has been held to win it twice. He's also an Olympic silver medalist and World Championship bronze medalist. 

Last year the Sandites came in 6th with four wrestlers finishing top-8. Stillwater and Tuttle were the only Oklahoma schools to finish ahead of Sand Springs. This year the Sandites are ranked 25th nationally by FloWrestle. Tuttle is the only other Okie school on that list and they are ranked 18th. 

Other teams participating this year include #8 Archer, GA and #19 Neosho, MO from the FloWrestling rankings, and #41 Platte County, MO. 

Last year Jack Karstetter placed 9th, Beau Bratcher placed 6th, and Zane Basma took 10th.

Daton Fix leads Sandites to 2nd Place finish at Perry Tournament

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sandites were in good position going into day two of the annual Perry Tournament of Champions with 7 semi-finalists, but only one pulled off the win. The Sandites were missing 5 starters and 6 total wrestlers that Coach Smith wants to rest after football season and forfeited three weight classes.

Sand Springs took 2nd in the event last year as well.

This week the Sandites are ranked 2nd in state by the OSSAA and 25th in the nation by FloWrestling.

106 Riley Weir (4-2) - 4th Place

• defeated Jimmy Arbuckle (Blackwell) by 17-2 tech fall
• defeated Alex Valencia (Perry) by 2-1 decision
• Lost to Wyatt Adams (Lawton MacArthur) by 1:09 fall
• defeated Dylan McGrew (Perry) by major decision
• lost to Colt Newton (Choctaw) by 3:19 fall

113 Michael Ritchey (5-2) - 5th Place

• Lost to Marcus Robinson (Ark City) by 5-3 decision
• defeated Caron Watson (Union) by 7-2 decision
• defeated Karson Bellmard (Ponca City) by 3-0 decision
• defeated Adam Baker (Guthrie) by 5-1 decision
• Lost to Marcus Robinson (Ark City) by 2-1 decision
• defeated Irwin Portillo (Sand Springs) by 5-0 decision

113 Irwin Portillo (3-3) - 6th Place

• Lost to Conner Holman (Choctaw) by 4:27 fall
• defeated Deven Harrison (Blackwell) by 18-3 tech fall
• winner by forfeit over Tyler Ritchie (Claremore)
• defeated Taylor Holman (Midwest City) by 4-3 decision
• Lost to Cale Betchan (Perry) by 10-0 major decision
• Lost to Michael Ritchey (Sand Springs) by 5-0 decision

120 Blake Sargent (5-1) - 3rd Place

• defeated Tyler Musil (Guthrie) by 0:28 fall
• defeated Dylan Schickram (Ponca City) by 12-10 decision
• lost to Garrett Rowe (Choctaw) by 12-3 major decision
• defeated Dakota Taylor (Ark City) by tech fall in 4:43
• defeated Stetson Baker (Blackwell) by 2:38 fall

Also placed 3rd in 120 last year.

126 Jack Karstetter (4-2) - 4th Place

• defeated Jesse Gomez (Owasso) by 2:56 fall
• defeated Tracy Reeder (Claremore) by 4-3 decision
• lost to Andrew Nieman (Stillwater) by 3-1 sudden victory
• defeated Montez Robinson (Ark City) by 2-1 sudden victory
• lost to Drew Wilson (Midwest City) by 1-0 decision

Took 3rd in 113 last year.

132 Daton Fix (5-0) - 1st Place

• defeated Zane Everett (Yukon) by 25-10 tech fall
• defeated Corbin Ballard (Claremore) by 23-8 tech fall
• defeated Derek Davis (Sand Springs) by default
• defeated Dylan Wright (Pryor) by 3:12 fall

Took 1st in 113 in 2013 and 1st in 126 in 2014.

132 Derek Davis (3-2) - DNP

• defeated Marquez Edwards (Midwest City) by 5-0 decision
• defeated Kaden Ogee (Choctaw) by 3:01 fall
• lost to Daton Fix (Sand Springs) by default
• defeated Riley Cinnamon (Perry) by 5-3 decision
• lost to #2 Baylor Smith (Owasso) by 3-2  decision

138 John Jiminez (2-3) - DNP

• defeated Cade Gattuso (Midwest City) by 2:26 fall
• defeated Brandon Conrad (Owasso) by 9-6 decision
• lost to Seth Graves (Edmond Memorial) by 3-2 decision
• lost to Dayton Moreno (Union) by default

145 Beau Bratcher (4-1) - 2nd Place

• defeated Jacob Mitchell (Owasso) by 1:14 fall
• defeated Blake Johnson (Blackwell) by 0:39 fall
• defeated Kendon Lee (Stillwater) by 7-2 decision
• lost to Chase Vincent (Yukon) by 4-1 decision

Took 5th Place last year in 138.

152 Cody Mathis (3-2) - DNP

• defeated Calvin Vincent (Kingfisher) by 2:49 fall
• lost to Christian Mayhue (Union) by 15-6 major decision
• defeated Karsten Schuessler (Stillwater) by 1:40 fall
• lost to Christian Gabriel (Edmond Memorial) by 5-1 decision

160 Zane Basma (4-1) - 2nd Place

• defeated Tyler Heffley (Edmond Memorial) by 1:10 fall
• defeated Gabe Evans (Union) by 14-0 major decision
• defeated Zeke Rubio (Ponca) by 2:18 fall
• lost to #1 Christian Bahl (Stillwater) by 3:40 fall

170 Bryton Beck (2-2) - DNP

• defeated Trent Crowl (Chanute) by 3:03 fall
• lost to Kendall Biddle (Ark City) by 17-2 tech fall
• lost to Sam Hensley (Edmond Memorial) by 9-0 major decision

182 - No Contestant

195 Zack Sims (4-2) - 4th Place

• defeated Dalton Collins (Ark City) by 1:24 fall
• defeated Bradyn Pressnall (Ponca City) by 3-2 decision
• lost to Imani Woodley (Edmond Memorial) by 3:23 fall
• defeated Stevon Crogan (Pryor) by 10-7 decision
• lost to Easton Rendleman (Choctaw) by 3:35 fall

220 - No Contestant

285 - No Contestant

Team Standings

1. Choctaw (200 points)
2. Sand Springs (174.5)
3. Yukon (160.5)
4. Ark City (153.5)
5. Stillwater (151.5)
6. Union (136)
7. Blackwell (109)
8. Lawton MacArthur (105.5)
9. Perry (103)
10. Pryor (96)
11. Ponca City (79.5)
12. Edmond Memorial (78.5)
13. Catoosa (74)
14. Owasso (70)
15. Harrah (69.5)
16. Claremore (66)
17. Midwest City (45)
18. Muskogee (38)
19. Kingfisher (35)
20. Chanute (31)
21. Guthrie (19)

Sandite Gold Junior High wrestlers wipe the mat with Owasso

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The high school wrestlers are the ones who normally get the headlines, but they all had to start somewhere, and one day they'll be replaced by the junior high and middle school. Luckily for the future of Sandite athletics; Coach Earl Shockley has the young guns whipped into great shape already.

If your eyes were too drawn to the varsity mat, you may have missed what was going on at the other side of the room, and it was impressive.

Nine Sandites pinned their Owasso Ram opponents for a stellar 58-19 win.

80 pound Dylan Luker scored a 14-3 major decision over Leyton Warne to kick things off. Then 98 Caden Vaughn, 106 Scott Patton, 113 Colten Roberts, 120 Irwin Portillo, 126 Tyler Ash, 150 Jake Wright, 162 Luke Bratcher, 170 Jasanee Harjo, and 200 Hayden Cramer all pinned their opponents.

Only four Sandites were defeated. 89 Cody Spaan was pinned by Jared Head, 285 Austin Ritledge was pinned by Hilton Moseby, 132 Braden Dahl was defeated 8-0 by Joey Gomez, and 140 David Cooper was edged 7-5 by Landon Carter

The Junior High also had time to wrestle a series of exhibition matches while they waited on varsity to finish. Kyler Clark, Brenden Wiseley, Hunter Carter, Seth Jones, Jacob Reed, Tyler Rush, Preston Medlin, Josh Fincannon, Riley Magee, and Colton Sanders all won.

• 80: Dylan Luker (7th grade) 14-3 decision over Leyton Warne
• 89: Cody Spaan (7th) pinned by Jared Head
• 98: Caden Vaugn (7th) pinned Kellen Pokoski
• 106: Scott Patton (9th) pinned Caden Zellner
• 113: Colten Roberts (9th) pinned Foster Thaxton
• 120: Irwin Portillo (9th) pinned Enrique Hernandez
• 126: Tyler Ash (9th) pinned Zack Conrad
• 132: Braden Dahl (8th) 8-0 decision to Joey Gomez
• 140: David Cooper (9th) 7-5 decision to Landon Carter
• 150: Jake Wright (9th) pinned Herubey Magallon
• 162: Luke Bratcher (9th) pinned John Ashby
• 175: Jasanee Harjo (9th) pinned Oscar Mendez
• 200: Hayden Cramer (9th) pinned Devin Harris
• 285: Austin Rutledge (9th) pinned by Hilton Moseby

#2 Sandites dominate Owasso Rams in season-opener

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity wrestling team easily overcame the Owasso Rams Thursday night in their first competition of the season, and they did it without five starters. 

The unranked Rams entered their match with a 1-1 record, beating Enid 47-24, but losing to #1 Broken Arrow 54-14. 

Sand Springs is starting a bit later than many schools, and the anticipation has been building since Flowrestling listed Sand Springs as the #25 team in the nation.

Several starters are also starting players on the Charles Page State Runner-Up football team and Coach Smith wanted to give them extra time to get in wrestling shape after a long season. 

Those missing links didn't even slow down the Sandites who only lost two matches on the mat, and forfeited two others due to not having anyone at that weight. 

Up first was 106 freshman Riley Weir who shut down his opponent Eric Merida (2-5) with a 10-0 major decision for 4 team points.

113 Michael Ritchey (1-0) expanded that lead to 7-0 with a 3-0 decision over Wyatt Johnson, then 120 Blake Sargent pinned Gavin Damilao in 0:53 for a 13-0 lead.

126 junior #6 (in 113) Jack Karstetter scored a 17-2 tech fall in 3:35 against Jesse Gomez, then his 132 cousin #1 (in 120) Daton Fix pinned #1 Baylor Smith in 3:05.

The Rams didn't put points on the board till Brandon Conrad managed a narrow 5-4 defeat of 138 John Jiminez. Jiminez took a brief 1-point lead on an escape and nearly won it before he was taken down with 10 seconds left and was unable to escape or reverse. Jiminez was a state runner-up two years ago but missed last season due to a pretty serious back injury. Though he's back at 100% physically, this was his first match in over a year and a half.

With a 24-3 lead, 145 junior #4 (in 132) Beau Bratcher pinned Jacob Mitchell in a team best 42 seconds and 152 Cody Mathis ran up the highest scoring match of the dual with a 17-8 major decision over Nolan Miller. 

160 junior (#2 in 145) Zane Basma scored a 1:12 fall against Jalen Johnson and 170 Bryton Beck was right there with him with a pin in 1:08 of Zach Mitchell. 182 John Houston was pinned by JD Johnson, but 195 Zack Sims finished the night off with a 3:09 pin of Harrison Moseby for a 52-9 lead. 

The Sandites didn't have any wrestlers available at 220 and heavyweight so the Rams were awarded 12 points for a final score of 52-21. 

While technically #1 Broken Arrow edged the Rams by slightly more than Sand Springs, the Sandites won it without state qualifier Delvin Jordan, state placer Trace Fleischman, starters Cole Dixon and Gage Fain, and state qualifier Lane Lettich who are all healthy and will be joining the wrestling ranks in the coming weeks. 

Needless to say, it looks like that #25 ranking is well deserved, and Broken Arrow may soon be toppled.