Sallisaw is regional runner-up, sending 9 to state; Vian, Gore grapplers also qualify
Sequoyah County will be well represented at this upcoming weekend’s state tournament.
At the Class 4A Regional Tournament last Friday and Saturday in Tuttle, the Sallisaw Black Diamonds came in regional runners-up as a team as they scored 209.5 points, coming in a distant second to regional-champion Tuttle (297 points), which won its 18th consecutive regional championship.
All total, the Black Diamonds qualified nine wrestlers to the Class 4A State Tournament, which will be Friday and Saturday at O.G.&E. Pavilion, a.k.a. “The ‘New’ Big House,” in Oklahoma City.
The Black Diamonds had two regional champions, Brody Mills at 165 pounds and Bodie Adams at 175.
Lucas McAllister (113 pounds) and Alex Reed (157) were regional runners-up, and Morgan Duke (126), Dawson Glover (138), Briar James (144), Cash Mayfield (150) and Drew Simpson (190) were third.
Hunter Smith was sixth at 215 pounds and is a state alternate. Should someone who made state at that weight class not be able to compete this weekend, Smith could be called up to take his spot.
At the Class 3A Regional Tournament in Blackwell, heavyweight wrestler Garritt Hunt won the regional title, while 138-pounder Adoff Stahl placed fifth to grab the final berth to state from that weight class.
The Gore Pirates wrestling team saw three of its members punch their tickets to this weekend’s Class 3A State Tournament.
At the Class 3A Regional Tournament, 215-pounder Kaydin McCartney was the regional runner-up, Devon Mannon was fourth at 157 pounds and Jaydan Gates was fifth at 165 pounds.
Bladin McCartney was sixth at 175 pounds and just missed out on qualifying for state as the top five placers in each weight class earn a berth to the state tournament. However, he is a state alternate should someone in the 175-pound bracket be unable to wrestle due to injury.
The Pirates finished ninth as a team with 90.5 points.
The Class 5A State Tournament for Vian’s 120-pounder Maddison Turman will begin Friday with a statequarterfinal match against Little Axe’s Brylee Mullican at O.G.&E. Pavilion.
Stahl, Mannon and Gates will have “wrestle-in” matches on Thursday to get into the main Class 3A State Tournament draw.
