Senior grappler felt need to return to competitive action (UPDATED WITH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE CHANGE)

After her freshman season three years ago, Sallisaw Lady Diamonds wrestler Lana Petree decided to step away from the competition. After two years away from it, the senior decided it was time to return. She said it was hard getting back into the old routine.

“It was hard coming back, and the hardest thing I’ve had to do is wrestle with (state qualifier) Emilie (Robbins),” Petree said. “I didn’t stop wrestling. I just stopped competing.”

There was one, and only one, thing that was the motivating factor in Petree’s return to competitive wrestling.

“I came back so I could help (Sallisaw Lady Diamonds) Coach (Darrel) Hume win his 200th dual,” she said. “It was exciting knowing we got him his 200th win. That was our main goal for that tournament (McLoud’s Redskin Rumble Girls Dual Championship on Jan. 2425).”

Now that the veteran coach hit his milestone coaching mark, it’s time for Petree to try to do something she didn’t do as a freshman — make the Class 5A State Tournament. Petree, along with her Lady Diamonds teammates and the four Vian Lady Wolverines — Aubrey Gant, Maddison Turman, Carmen Rautenberg and Kye Barnes — will try to qualify for state at the Class 5A Regional Tournament, which will be Monday in Jay. It’s been shortened to a one-day tournament due to threatening weather conditions on Tuesday.

“This would be my first time (to make state),” Petree said. “I would be shocked considering I sat out for so long. I’m pretty excited. This will be my first regional in a few years. My freshman year was my first regional. I sat out the last two years.”

Petree said that there would be no better way to end her prep wrestling career than ending it at the Class 5A State Tournament at the end of the month.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to end my career,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.”