Six Sulphur wrestlers advanced to the state tournament last week at regionals, as the Dogs will look to leave their mark at the Big House this weekend.
The Dogs competed at the very tough Clinton regional last weekend, featuring top teams like Tuttle and Clinton.
“We had super tough regionals with Cushing and Tuttle being there,” said Sulphur head coach Conner Webb. “We didn’t wrestle well as a team overall. I had some guys have a bad weekend against some tough competition and didn’t get in the state tournament.”
Justus Gilliam (HWT) continued his undefeated season by winning the regional title and moving his record to 29-0 as he looks to take home an individual state title.
Baer Webb (165) also won a regional championship, as he is now 21-1 on the year.
Kaleb Madron (150) wrestled well and finished in 3rd place to punch his ticket to state.
Landon Jones (113) was also 3rd and continued his strong season.
Madron is 21-13 on the year, while Jones’ record sits at 21-11.
Jonah Cole (132) came in 4th to advance to state, while Landy DeArman (126) was 5th.
“Some of my guys showed up and wrestled extremely well like Kaleb Madron, Landy DeArman, Landon Jones, and Jonah Cole,” Webb said. “They were at really tough weights and had a good weekend giving them an opportunity for a spot on the podium at state.”
Gilliam pinned Anthony Enriquez of Bridge Creek in the quarterfinals and followed that up with a 5-0 decision victory over Avry Nailon of Weatherford in the semis.
He beat Jace Warren for the 3rd time this season in the regional championship, winning a 1-0 decision.
Webb won all three of his first matches by fall, pinning Kristian Lewellen of Harrah, Logan Carr of Cache and Brody Curliss of Blanchard to advance to the finals. In the championship match, he advanced over Darin Stewawrt of Cushing to take home the regional title.
Madron won a 6-4 decision over Cody McLaughlin of Pauls Valley in the opening round, before falling to Jacob Hadden of McLoud in his next match.
Madron battled back through the consolation bracket, winning a 13-7 decision over Bryce Ward of Cushing, Christian Robledo of Madill, and Brelynn Macomb of Fort Gibson to make the 3rd place match.
In the 3rd place match, Madron got revenge on Hadden, winning a 5-4 decision to bring home bronze.
Jones pinned his first two opponents, moving past Jessee McCullar of Bridge Creek and Christian Bernea of Clinton.
He would fall in the semis to David Farmer of Fort Gibson, but battled back in the consolation semifinals, pinning Triston Barnes of Madill to make the 3rd place match.
There, Jones pinned Liam Russell of Harrah to win 3rd.
Cole (23-14) beat Reese Robbins of Elk City in the opening round, winning by fall.
He fell in the quarterfinals, losing to Trenton Bell of Fort Gibson but battled back through the consolation side to punch his ticket.
Cole won a major decision (10-2) over Cayden Britt of Pauls Valley, and pinned Jason Blocker of Cushing to make the consolation semis.
There, Cole won a 7-5 decision over Cotton Cosby of Blanchard to advance to the 3rd place match. Cole would end up 4th at regionals, as he fell to Bell in a 3-2 decision.
DeArman opened his tournament with a 2-1 win over Tristan Cash Cardenas of Clinton, before falling in the quarterfinals to Zarion Kraft of Bridge Creek.
He beat Michael Christen of McLoud and won a major decision (13-0) over David Undaunted of Fort Gibson to make the consolation semis.
DeArman would fall there to Rylend Slover of Tuttle, but bounced back in his final match, winning the 5th place contest in a 9-7 decision over Brody Byers of Harrah.
Noah Heitland (106) and Eathin Kennedy (175) each placed 6th but just missed on advancing to state.
Webb is looking forward to seeing what these six can accomplish this weekend at the Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament, hosted at Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City at the fairgrounds. “I’m excited to see how we wrestle this weekend and compete overall. I believe we will have a great tournament,” he said.
Class 4A will get going Thursday at 9:30, as the wrestle-in matches will begin, followed by the first round at 11 a.m.
Friday will see the consolation action get underway at 10 a.m., followed by the semifinals kicking off at noon.
On Saturday, the consolation semifinals will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the finals at 6 p.m. that evening.
