Sallisaw's Grant Daffin and Jeromy Davenport proved that point once again on Saturday night as both won individual championships at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament inside State Fair Arena.
Daffin's title at 140 pounds was the third in a row for the senior, while freshman Davenport won his first high school state championship moments earlier in the final at 135. The two have been pushing each other on a daily basis in the wrestling room and Daffin said that it paid off for both of them.
"I told him all these years that to win a state tournament is the best feeling you've ever had in your life," said Daffin. "I work out with him all day, every day. Without him as a workout partner I wouldn't be where I am, and he wouldn't be there without me."
Davenport agreed.
"Grant's helped me so much," said Davenport. "He pushes me so hard. When I'm tired and want to relax, he makes me get up and keep going."
The two state titles, plus a fourth-place showing from Shane Flashner, gave Sallisaw a seventh-place finish in the team standings. Three other Black Diamonds-Ryan Harwell, Nick Copeland and Derrek Branham-also competed at state but did not place.
Daffin, who has never been beaten in his three appearances at state, earned a 6-2 decision over Tucker Rutherford in the championship bout. The Jay wrestler was a familiar opponent for Daffin, who had previously defeated him in the finals of the Paul Post Classic and regional tournament.
"He stalled a lot and was real defensive," said Daffin. "The first time we wrestled, I barely beat him in overtime because I didn't push the pace enough. At regionals, I pushed the pace more and I did that again tonight."
Daffin felt his previous experience at state was beneficial.
"I was nervous, but once I get on the mat it goes away. (The experience) definitely helped me, because I knew what to expect and what it feels like. It was easier to handle the pressure than the first time," he said.
Daffin opened with a 5-1 decision over Bobby Wiley of McLoud in the first round before winning a 3-1 decision against Paul Vance of Blackwell in Friday night's semifinals. None of the points scored against Daffin were earned and his victory on Saturday night pushed his record to 40-1 on the season.
"It's the greatest feeling on earth. I can't even describe it," said Daffin, who has signed to wrestle for Cornell. "It's finally here. Twelve years I've been in the wrestling room and it's finally paid off."
Sallisaw head coach Darrel Hume said he's proud of what Daffin has done.
"What Grant has accomplished is amazing. He was too sick to wrestle at regionals his freshman year, but he hasn't lost a regional or state match in the three years since then. To win three in a row is unbelievable," said Hume.
Daffin becomes Sallisaw's first three-time state champion since Jason Holmes. Davenport is now the first SHS freshman to win a state title since Holmes won his first back in 1995. Davenport said his ultimate goal is to eclipse both Daffin and Holmes and eventually become the school's first ever four-time state champ and earn a prominent place on the Wall of Champions in the SHS wrestling room.
"I want to win four and I want to be in the record books in Sallisaw. I want to have my name up on that wall and all that great stuff," Davenport said after his 5-2 decision against Cushing's Brannon Frank in the finals on Saturday night.
It was a rematch of the Paul Post Classic final, which was also won by Davenport.
"I was ready for him tonight and I was psyched for the rematch," said the freshman standout. "He did the same stuff but he actually tried to tie with me, which is the way I like to wrestle. Last time he didn't do that."
Davenport had advanced to the final by pinning Weatherford's Nate Hunt in the first round and earning a 5-1 decision against Cody Sodowsky of Blackwell in the semifinals. His three wins at state pushed his record to 37-1 for the season.
Like Daffin, Davenport is a nationally-accomplished wrestler. He said competing in big tournaments around the country helped him prepare for the atmosphere of the state tourney.
"It made me not as nervous, so I didn't mess up. I felt the environment and I knew what I had to do. It helped me a lot," said Davenport.
Hume said he's hoping this is just the first of many state titles for Davenport.
"He has a chance and the ability win four in a row. But he'll have to work harder every year because there's going to be a big target on his back," said Hume.
Despite crowning two individual champions, Hume was somewhat disappointed that Sallisaw wasn't among the top teams at the tournament. Grove won the state championship with 90 points, Cushing was second with 84 and Tuttle third with 81.5.
"I'm happy to be in the top-10, but I'm not really thrilled because the instinct in me is that I wanted to win it all," said Hume. "I feel like we could have done better because our kids are better, but at state everybody faces disappointments."
Flashner became a three-time state placer for Sallisaw after getting fourth at 171 pounds. The senior won a 3-1 decision against Tim Steeds of Piedmont in the first round, but suffered a close 2-1 loss to Zack Ellis of Elgin in the semis.
"That was a heart-breaking match because I wanted Shane in the finals so bad. He's a senior and he deserved to be in the finals," said Hume.
In the consolation final, Flashner was pinned in controversial circumstances by Grove's Darlus Hopper in the third period of their match.
"The controversy was because we were on the line and the line is out of bounds-you can't be pinned on the line. I'm not saying we would have won, but Shane can pin people in a hurry and he might have been able to come back," said Hume.
Sallisaw's other three qualifiers all lost first-round matches to eventual state champions.
At 125 pounds, Harwell was defeated by Jared Wynn of Blackwell in the first round, but bounced back with a 5-4 decision over Trent Shadid of Weatherford in the first round of consolation matches. He was one win away from placing, but lost a 3-0 decision to Cushing's Garrett Evans in the consolation semifinals. Harwell, a junior, closed his season with a record of 23-19.
Copeland (22-19) wrestled at 145 pounds and the sophomore went 0-2 with losses to state champ Cole Gracey of Tuttle and Star Spencer's Marquise Satterwhite.
The consolation loss to Satterwhite was a close 10-9 match.
"Nick Copeland wrestled the returning state runner-up in the consolation round and he only lost by one point in the last few seconds. I'm really proud of him and I wanted him to win so bad because he really deserves it," said Hume.
Branham, a junior heavyweight, came into the tournament with a knee injury and went 0-2 in his second trip to state. He lost to state champ Zack Allison of Blackwell in the first round and Frank Ambriz of Jay in the consolation bracket.
"Derrek's hurt and he did the best he could," said Hume. "In the consolations we were tied 0-0 after the first round. I was hoping he could defend him off, but he was wrestling on one leg and got turned."
