3-time Sallisaw state wrestling champion falls to fellow state champ in All-State Wrestling Dual
Sallisaw wrestler Cole Mayfield was all stoked up about wrestling in the 2025 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Wrestling Dual on Wednesday night in Catoosa.
The three-time state champion represented Sallisaw one last time for the East squad in the Small School dual against the West. Mayfield, who is heading to wrestle collegiately at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, competed against the West’s Barry Wood of Sulphur, who was state runner-up at 165 pounds at the Class 4A State Tournament back in February.
Mayfield won state as a senior at 157 pounds in Class 4A this past season and also at 150 pounds as a junior in 2024 for the Black Diamonds, and at 150 pounds as a sophomore in Class 2A for Warner Eagles in 2023.
Unfortunately, despite a strong effort, the result did go in Mayfield’s favor as he finished on the receiving end of a 4-2 decision to Wood.
After a first period with both wrestlers locking shoulders, Mayfield scored first with an escape in the second period, taking a 1-0 lead.
Wood then applied a takedown to go up 3-1, and that made the difference.
Mayfield would escape Wood’s grasp and draw within 3-2 before the second period closed. Only an escape point from Webb accounted for the scoring in the third period.
After the match, the outgoing Black Diamond pointed to his defense and just staying sound as things he believed he could have done better that would have put the match in his favor.
“Definitely, my defense,” Mayfield said. “I’ve been coming down to scramble a little bit, and I think he (Wood) knew that. He stayed, stayed sound, and his finish, and I couldn’t defend it off. He’s strong, yet I can’t let him get to that position he wants to be in.
“He was a weight above me in the season. I wrestled 157 and he was at 165. I’m sure you can tell that’s a little bigger, but that’s not an excuse. You just got to go out there and wrestle him, and I got the opportunity to wrestle him — and he is a tough kid.”
Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity that prepared him for the next level of his mat career.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” the Sallisaw wrestler said. “These All-State matches, they don’t really matter. What matters is in the room, and how you’re growing as a wrestler. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to compete against guys like that who have won state. Even if they are a little bigger, it’s like a challenge.”
Mayfield’s coach, Mark Smith, was in attendance, near the mat.
“It means a lot knowing that I came from Warner and had him (Smith) for two years,” Mayfield said. “It means a lot that he wants to see me do good. (He’s) always interested to see what I’m doing and how I’m doing — not just as a wrestler, but as a person, too. He’s always checking in on me. It’s good to have him in the corner.”
Tattooed on Mayfield’s chest is the Bible passage, in which Jesus answers Peter.
“It’s John 13:7, ‘You may not realize now what I’m doing, but later you’ll understand,’” Mayfield said. “It’s just a constant reminder that God’s got a plan for you. Obviously, here’s an example now. I just lost. I’m asking ‘God, why are you already giving me this? Why did I lose?’ Later, I’ll understand that’ll give me something in the future to learn and get better off of. So, I have a strong belief that He’s always got something in store with me, whether it’s good or bad — but just keeps me going.”
With his high school career done and college career coming up, Mayfield said what he will most remember and what he looks most forward to.
“Definitely, the bonds, the friendships that I’ve made, along the way my teammates,” he said. “You’re in the rest of your war every day, whether it’s against your brother, or your brother’s going against somebody else. Once you’ve experienced that, that pain that you’re going through with each other, it creates a strong bond like no other. You’ve got sports like football and baseball, but nothing says intense as wrestling.”
