The Sulphur wrestling team had another strong showing at the dual state tournament, finishing as state semifinalists for the second straight season.
Sulphur edged out Catoosa in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals, as sophomore Maddax Mobly won a 3-1 decision to give the Dogs a 39-35 win.
The Dogs would match up with Tuttle in the semis, who eventually won its 15th straight dual state championship.
Sulphur fell to Tuttle 59-15 in the semifinals.
Sulphur head coach Conner Webb was proud of the effort to pick up a win and the fight his team showed.
“We didn’t wrestle great against Catoosa,” he said. “We started really strong then we slowed down, let them close the gap and turn it into a tight dual. I’m still proud of their efforts to never give up and battle back even when at times it looked grim.”
In the win over Catoosa, Baer Webb (165) started things off with a pin of Devon Johnson at the 3:01 mark.
The Dogs got another pin in the following matchup, as Eathin Kennedy (175) pinned Jacy Richardson near the end of the match at the 5:49 mark.
Camron Brown (190) fell to Catoosa’sAiven Robbins in a tech fall, 17-1, but Sulphur bounced back with three straight victories.
Brody Wallace (215), Justus Gilliam (275) and Noah Heitland (106) all three won by fall to put the Dogs in front comfortably at 30-5.
But Catoosa would rally, as the Indians won five straight matches.
Morgan Brown (113), Landy DeArman (126), Jonah Cole (130), Kaden Seitz (138) all were pinned, while Landon Jones (120) lost an 8-2 decision to give Catoosa the lead at 32-20.
But the Dogs rallied late.
Jayden McClure (144) got a big pin late over Seth Charles to go up 36-32 before Catoosa answered back.
The Indians won the second to last match, as Cael Eremetia won a 7-2 decision over Kaleb Madron (150) to cut the lead to 36-35.
With the match in the balance, Mobly got a takedown near the end of the match to go up 3-1, giving the Dogs the decision and the win.
“We have wrestled well for the most part. We still have lots to improve on as the kids get more comfortable wrestling high level
PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE opponents,” Webb said.
In the match against Tuttle, McClure and Webb each won by fall, while Gilliam won a 1-0 decision over Jace Warren.
“We are a dual state semifinalist again and it’s tough to deal with being that close to the top and not getting it done,” Webb said. “Hopefully we can peak out just right before regionals and the state tournament.”
The Dogs will be at regionals this Friday and Saturday at Clinton. Blanchard, Bridge Creek, Cache, Clinton, Cushing, Douglass, Elk City, Ft. Gibson, Harrah, Lexington/Purcell, Madill, McLoud, Pauls Valley, Plainview, Poteau, Tuttle, Weatherford and Woodward will round out the teams at the regional.
PHOTO BY LIZ COLE
