Wrestling: Daton Fix to take on defending Silver Medalist for ticket to World Championships

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Daton Fix concluded his high school career in 2017 as a four-time undefeated State Champion with a 168-0 record. 

Oklahoma State University freshman and Charles Page High School Class of 2017 graduate Daton Fix (15-3) is back in the spotlight as the Final X Senior World Team Trial approaches. On Saturday, June 9 Fix will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on Thomas Gilman in the last rung of the ladder to the World Championships.

In April Fix placed second at the U.S. Open, outscoring his first three opponents 24-0 with two first-period technical falls before falling 2-2 to University North Carolina assistant coach Tony Ramos. The former NCAA National Champion was awarded the win on criteria, but Fix got a rematch in May and made up for the loss.

At the Senior World Team Trials three weeks ago, Fix again made quick work of his pre-finals opponents. He teched former Oklahoma State All-American Eddie Klimara 14-2 in 2:07, topped former Illinois All-American Zane Richards 9-2, then teched former Minnesota All-American Zane 10-0 in 2:00. Fix won a best-of-three finals series against Ramos with 4-3 and 10-3 decisions.

On Saturday Fix will attempt to upset Gilman, who won Silver at the 2017 World Championship in Paris, France. While Gilman was coming in Runner-Up in France, Fix was going the distance for Gold at the Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland.

Fix has an extensive international resume at the Junior level, including Worlds Bronze in 2016, but is still relatively new to the Senior scene. He swept the Under 23 World Team Trials in October but was eliminated in the first round at Poland.

Fix made his debut at No. 15 in the FloWrestling International Freestyle rankings after topping Ramos. Gilman dropped from seventh to thirteenth in those same rankings after falling to Cuba’s Reineri Ortega in the Pan-American Championships.

The first round of the trials will kick off at 6:00 p.m. Central Time in Bob Devaney Sports Center at the University of Nebraska. Fix and Gilman will be the fifth of seven matches on the card. Round two will begin approximately at 7:15 and the final round will be at 8:30.

Also defending their spots on the Mens’ World Team are 70 KG Silver Medalist James Green, 74 KG Champion Jordan Burroughs, and 97 KG Champion Kyle Snyder.

This year’s World Championship will be held in Budapest, Hungary October 20-28.

In Other Wrestling News:

The Sand Springs Team Big wrestling club brought home ten gold medals from the OKUSA State Tournament last month in Cushing, finishing fourth out of seventy-seven teams in total standings.

The Sandites placed third in Schoolboy Freestyle and Cadet Freestyle, and secured a team State title in Schoolboy Greco-Roman.

Threestyle Wrestling, based out of Catoosa and Owasso, won the tournament overall with 667 points. Edmond’s Oklahoma Wrestling Academy came in runner-up with 332, Prodigy Wrestling scored 250, and Sand Springs scored 246.

Grady Mittasch (25-6 FS, 17-7 GR) took first place in both styles, competing in Novice at 78 pounds, with three technical falls.

Christian Forbes (11-0 FS, 8-0 GR) swept both styles for a pair of 94 pound Cadet titles with four tech falls and a pin.

Carter Young (38-6 FS) won both styles for a pair of 113 pound Cadet titles with five techs and a pin.

Ethan White (21-8 FS, 8-2 GR) won the Schoolboy Greco title at 136 pounds with a pin and a tech, and placed second in Freestyle with a pin and a tech.

Abraham Flores (14-3 FS, 10-3 GR) won the Schoolboy Greco title at 114 pounds with a pin and a tech fall, and placed third in Freestyle with a tech.

Clayton Giddens-Buttram (8-0) took first place at the Schoolboy Freestyle tournament at 77 pounds with a 10-0 technical fall and a 4-3 finals decision.

Bryce Fisher (25-2) won the Schoolboy Freestyle title at 149 pounds with a pin and two decisions.

Josey Jernegan (2-1 FS, 2-1 GR) placed second in Schoolboy in both styles at ninety pounds with three technical falls and a fall.

TJ Long (5-2 FS, 6-3 GR) placed second in Junior Freestyle and fourth in Greco with two tech falls.

Cameron White (9-9 FS) placed third in Schoolboy in both styles at 110 pounds with one pin and two tech falls.

Several Team Big wrestlers represented Team Oklahoma at the Southern Plains Regional in Dodge City Kansas this past weekend.

Mittasch won both styles at Novice 78 with three pins and a tech. Balance Johnson (3-1 FS, 4-0 GR) won both styles at Novice 160 with three pins. Long placed second in freestyle and third in Greco at Novice 126.

CPHS Wrestling: Head Coach Kelly Smith resigns for private sector job

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Charles Page High School lost its third Head Coach this school year when wrestling coach Kelly Smith announced his intentions to resign Friday.

Head Volleyball Coach Janna Green left Sand Springs Public Schools for a private sector coaching position after the fall season. Girls' Basketball Head Coach Dustin Morrow stepped down from coaching to spend more time with his family earlier this month, but will remain on staff as a science teacher. Now, Smith is leaving coaching and teaching to work in insurance.

Smith cited unreasonably low State teaching wages as a primary reason for his decision, along with a desire to spend more time with his family. The successful coach has spent years running a lawncare business to compliment his income, but after seventeen years as Head Coach, he has decided it's time to move on. "This is a young man's game," said Smith. "I don't have the time to be out mowing lawns all year while also putting in the hours to maintain a successful program. I have to put my family first."

Smith's family might keep him in the coaching business a little longer, at least on a part-time basis. His son, Mitchell, is a talented up and comer in the junior high circuit. But while he will still be around cheering on the Sandites from the stands, the district will have to find fresh blood to take the reigns. 

Smith led the Sandites to their first-ever Dual State Championship in 2017 and followed it up with their first State Tournament title since 1971. The pair of championships were the first for Sand Springs in any sport since 1994. Nine Sandites won individual titles under his leadership, including five in the 2017 season. Even after losing four of those five, the Sandites placed third in the 6A State Tournament this past season with a 13-4 dual record.

"I got to live the dream," said Smith. "I got to take over for my coach and mentor. It's been a dream."

CPHS Wrestling: 2017-2018 Season wrap-up

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Freshman Carter Young (40-1) completed a nearly perfect season, losing only one match en route to a 106-pound State Championship title. He won the Westmoore Open, the Perry Tournament of Champions, the Kansas City Stampede, the Bobby Lyons Invitational, and the 6A-East Regional along the way. He went undefeated in duals and lost only one match, falling 4-2 in overtime to nationally-ranked Ryan Miller in the Geary Invitational finals. He ends the season on a 23-straight win streak with fifteen pins, twelve tech falls, and five major decisions.

Junior Riley Weir (29-7, 91-25) became the tenth wrestler in Sandite history to win two State titles, ending the year on a seven-straight win streak with the 113 title. He won the Glenpool Warrior Classic, the Lyons Invitational and the 6A-East Regional, and placed third at Perry and twelfth at Kansas City. He finished the season with seventeen pins, two tech falls, and three major decisions.

Sophomore Chris Kirby (22-10) placed second at Inola, third at Sand Springs, second at Regionals, and fourth at State at 145 pounds. He went 13-4 in duals every single victory came by pin, a team-best.

Junior Kaleb Tabor (26-12) placed twelfth at Kansas City, then came in runner-up at Sand Springs, Regionals, and State at 152 pounds. He went 14-3 in duals and totaled nineteen pins.  

Blake Sargent (16-8, 105-33) concluded his high school career with a 126-pound third place finish at State. He placed third at the Union IceFighter Open, third at Sand Springs, and fifth at Regionals. He finished the season with three pins and two major decisions.

Gage Fain (20-10, 59-48) concluded his high school career with a 220-pound State Tournament appearance. He placed second at Perry, thirteenth at Kansas City, and third at Regionals. He went undefeated 12-0 in duals and recorded thirteen pins.

Junior Irwin Portillo (31-19, 37-24) placed sixth at Perry, 23rd at Kansas City, fifth at Geary, fourth at Sand Springs, and third at Regionals to qualify for State at 132 pounds. He went 13-5 in duals, recording two pins and seven major decisions.

Sophomore Seth Jones (26-16, 28-19) placed fifth at Perry, 24th at Kansas City, second at Sand Springs, and fourth at Regionals to qualify for the State Tournament at 120 pounds. He went 14-2 in duals and recorded fourteen pins, one tech fall, and three major decisions.

Sophomore Brendon Wiseley (13-9) placed fifteenth at Kansas City and went undefeated 8-0 in duals. He recorded four pins, one tech fall, and one major decision.

Junior Scott Patton (27-20, 34-22) placed sixth at Perry, twentieth at Kanas City, fourth at Sand Springs, and fourth at Regionals to qualify for State at 138 pounds. He went 13-5 in duals and recorded nine pins, two techs, and five major decisions.

Riley Magee (5-5) placed fifth at Sand Springs and went 3-3 in duals with four pins and a major decision.

Junior Dayvon Taylor (20-21) placed sixth at Perry, eighteenth at Kansas City, second at Sand Springs, and fifth at Regionals, qualifying for State at 170. He went 11-7 in duals and recorded twelve pins, one tech fall, and two major decisions.

Senior Colby Heckencamp (3-4) finished his career with two pins and a sixth place finish at Sand Springs.

Sophomore Josh Fincannon (13-18) placed sixth at Perry, ninth at Sand Springs, and sixth at Regionals. He went 8-9 in duals with five pins and one major decision.

Colten Roberts (3-6) went 3-4 in duals with one pin and one tech fall.

Jasanee Harjo (3-7) placed fourth at Sand Springs with one pin.

Braden Dahl (1-3) went 1-3 in duals with one pin.

Caleb Phillips (2-7) recorded one pin.

Robert Parrish (3-12) went 3-9 in duals with one pin.

Caden Vaughn (0-1), Jacob Rampy (0-1), and James Anderson (0-2) all saw varsity action.

The Sandites went 13-4 in duals and placed third at the Ram Duals, eighth at Perry, 29th at Kansas City, fourteenth at Geary, second at their home tournament,

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites place third at State Tournament with five placers

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In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Charles Page High School wrestling team finished the season with ten State Qualifiers, five placers, three finalists, and two champions for a third place performance in the OSSAA 6A State Tournament.

Of the ten Sandites to qualify for State, only two had previously qualified. Four had zero varsity experience before this season, one is a freshman, and three came from the JV squad.

Typically when you graduate four State finalists, lose a fifth to injury, and have a pair of starters quit the team, you spend a few seasons rebuilding before you’re a legitimate contender again. Instead, Sand Springs made a legitimate run at the title.

106-pound freshman Carter Young (40-1) completed a near-perfect debut season to become the thirtieth State Champion in Sand Springs history. 

SEE RELATED: CPHS Wrestling: Freshman Carter Young wins State Championship

113-pound junior Riley Weir (29-7, 91-25) became the tenth wrestler in Sandite history to win two State titles. 

SEE RELATED: CPHS Wrestling: Riley Weir wins second State Championship

152-pound junior Kaleb Tabor (26-12, 66-19) pinned Landis Scoon in 1:34 and Richie Lee in 3:49 before falling 5-3 to Drake Vannoy in the finals. Vannoy scored takedowns in each of the first two periods for a 4-1 lead to start the third. Tabor got a takedown and cut the Trojan loose, then took him down once again. The only problem was, time had already expired. The clear takedown was clearly half a second too late. Tabor concluded his first season on Sandite varsity as a State Runner-Up.

Senior Blake Sargent (15-8, 104-33) finished his high school career by coming in third at 126 pounds. He fell 12-3 to eventual champion Reece Witcraft in the opening round, but defeated Kyri Beasley, Cameron Picklo, and Cade Manion in consolation. He defeated Picklo 9-6 and went into sudden victory overtime against Beasley and Manion for 2-1 and 7-5 decisions, respectively.  

Sophomore Chris Kirby (22-10) placed fourth at 145, pinning Anthony DesVigne in 3:53 before falling to eventual champion Jaxen Gilmore. In consolation he pinned Hunter Skaggs in 3:26 but fell 11-0 to Micah Lugafet in the finals.  

Junior Irwin Portillo (31-19, 37-24) qualified at 132. He fell 4-2 to Trent Higginbotham, defeated Roarke Simpson 8-6, then fell 3-1 to Blake Gonzalez in sudden victory. 

Junior Scott Patton (27-20, 34-22) qualified at 138 and defeated Brett Pinkston 1-0 before falling 7-2 to Peter Rolle and 2-0 to Parker Wright.

Sophomore Seth Jones (26-16, 28-19) qualified at 120, falling 7-4 to Garrett Johnson and 12-4 to Caron Watson.

Senior Gage Fain (20-10, 59-48) finished his career as a first-time qualifier at 220. He fell 12-4 to Blake Minnick and 2-1 to Jared Galli.

Junior Dayvon Taylor (20-21) qualified at 170 but fell 3-2 to Rene Martinez in the first round wrestle-in. 

Choctaw won their sixth State Tournament Championship after picking up their fifth Dual State title two weeks prior. The Yellowjackets edged out Broken Arrow 138 to 129.5. The Sandites came in third with 78 points, topping Mustang with 69. They will return eight of their ten qualifiers next season. 

2018 6A State Champions

106 - Carter Young (Sand Springs)
113 - Riley Weir (Sand Springs)
120 - Laif Jones (Bartlesville)
126 - Reece Witcraft (Broken Arrow)
132 - Dylan Schickram (Ponca City)
138 - Connor Holman (Choctaw)
145 - Jaxen Gilmore (Yukon)
152 - Drake Vannoy (Jenks)
160 - Jaryn Curry (Choctaw)
170 - Zane Coleman (Choctaw)
182 - J.D. Johnson (Owasso)
195 - Gavin Potter (Broken Arrow)
220 - Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow)
285 - Christian Arriola (Putnam City)

2018 OSSAA 6A State Team Scores

138 - Choctaw
129.5 - Broken Arrow
78 - Sand Springs
69 - Mustang
56.5 - Owasso
44 - Jenks
38 - Ponca City
38 - Yukon
34.5 - Edmond North
33 - Putnam City
31 - Bartlesville
27 - Edmond Memorial
23 - Union
20 - Deer Creek
12 - Norman North
12 - Stillwater
11 - Putnam City North
7 - Westmoore
3 - Southmoore
2 - Midwest City
1 - Shawnee
0 - Moore
0 - Norman
(-2) - Muskogee
(-3) - Sapulpa

Sand Springs State Champions

Alonzo Elder (1925)
Tremont Scruggs (1929)
Oscar Baker (1934)
Ralph Parrish (1936, 1940)
David McGuire (1963-1965)
Bill Burcham (1963)
Steve Randall (1965)
Frank Peck (1971-1972)
Rick Warren (1971)
Eddie Sullivan (1971)
John Phillips (1972-1973)
Hall Williams (1974)
Wayne Sutterfield (1974)
Ronnie Luce (1974)
Kevin Newport (1976, 1978)
Brad Bridges (1977)
Craig Sanders (1978-1979)
Billy Boyd (1978)
Jay Fleischman (1988)
Brett Pennington (1991-1992)
Gabe Hodges (1994)
Josh Nicholson (2002)
David Jones (2005)
Znick Ferrell (2008-2009)
Daton Fix (2014-2017)
Riley Weir (2017-2018)
Jack Karstetter (2017)
Beau Bratcher (2017)
Payton Scott (2017)
Carter Young (2018)

CPHS Wrestling: Riley Weir wins second State Championship

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Three members of the Class 6A No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team made their way to the OSSAA State Championship finals Saturday evening at Oklahoma City's Jim Norick Arena. Two have now secured State Titles.

106-pound freshman Carter Young (40-1) took on Yukon senior and West Regional Champion Studd Morris (34-7) in the title match and won 3-0.

SEE RELATED: CPHS Wrestling: Freshman Carter Young wins State Championship

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (29-7, 91-25) wrestled Mustang freshman Tucker Owens (41-5) in the 113 Championship finals. Owens topped Weir 2-1 at Dual State, scoring in the final moments after Weir was injured in an escape. Weir repaid that loss with a 4-0 victory in the Regional finals and repeated at the State Tournament.

They went scoreless through the first period then Weir escaped ten seconds into the second. They started the final stretch neutral and Weir got a takedown thirty seconds in. He cut the Bronco with fifteen seconds left and dodged several shots for a 3-1 decision.

The junior joins an elite group of only ten wrestlers in Sand Springs history to win two State titles. The last Sandite to accomplish the feat was Daton Fix in 2015. Last year Weir became the 26th State Champion in Sand Springs wrestling history and was one of five Champions to help the Sandites win their first team title since 1971. 

This season he won the Bobby Lyons Invitational, the Glenpool Warrior Classic, and the 6A-East Regionals. 

Junior Kaleb Tabor (25-11) will wrestle Jenks sophomore Drake Vannoy (36-4) in the 152-pound finals.

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites send three to State finals, in 3rd Place as team

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Junior Kaleb Tabor made the State Championship finals in his first year on varsity. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Three members of the Class 6A No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team punched their ticket to the Championship finals match Friday night at the OSSAA State Tournament. Three others will compete in the consolation bracket, leaving a total of six still in contention at Oklahoma City's Jim Norick Arena.

106-pound freshman Carter Young (39-1) took on Mustang freshman Keegan Luton (33-9) in the semifinals. Young scored takedowns in each period for a 7-1 decision. He will take on Yukon senior and West Regional Champion Studd Morris (34-6) in the title match.

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (28-7, 90-25) wrestled Bartlesville junior Corwin Strachan (38-9) in the 113-pound semifinals and took a 4-1 lead with two first period takedowns. He escaped in the second and rode out the third for a 5-1 decision. He will wrestle Mustang freshman Tucker Owens (41-5) in the Championship finals. Owens topped Weir 2-1 at Dual State, scoring in the final moments after Weir was injured in an escape. Weir repaid that loss with a 4-0 victory in the Regional finals.

Junior Kaleb Tabor (25-11) defeated Owasso sophomore Richie Lee (23-7) in the 152-pound semifinals. They went scoreless through the first, Lee escaped in the second, then pinned the Ram in 3:49. He will meet Jenks sophomore Drake Vannoy (36-4) in the finals.

Sophomore Chris Kirby (21-9) fell in 25 seconds to Yukon senior Jaxen Gilmore (38-3) in the 145-pound semifinals. He will take on Sapulpa senior Hunter Skaggs (27-12) in the consolation semifinals. The two previously met in the Bobby Lyons Invitational consolation finals where Kirby pinned the Chieftain in 2:09. 

Senior Blake Sargent (14-8, 103-33) wrestled Muskogee senior Kyri Beasley (31-8) in the 126 consolation quarterfinals. They went scoreless through the first period, Beasley escaped in the second, then Sargent tied it up in the third to send the match into overtime where Beasley was given a technical for the 2-1 loss. Sargent will next take on Cameron Picklo (37-9) who he fell 4-2 to at Dual State.

Sophomore Seth Jones (26-16, 28-19) wrestled Union senior CaRon Watson (28-15) in the 120 consolation quarterfinals and fell by 12-4 major decision. Jones scored first but Watson escaped and took a lead that he never relinquished.

Junior Irwin Portillo (31-18, 37-23) took a 4-1 first period lead on Southmoore sophomore Roarke Simpson (25-12) in the 132 consolation quarterfinals, then gave it back with a trio of back points in the second. He reversed for the lead, then Simpson broke loose and trailed 6-5 to start the third. Simpson escaped again to tie it, but Portillo scored a takedown in the final moments for the 8-6 decision.

Junior Scott Patton (27-20, 34-22) wrestled Deer Creek junior Parker Wright (29-14) in the consolation quarterfinals and trailed 1-0 after the first period. He gave up an escape midway through the second and Wright rode out the third for a 2-0 decision.

Senior Gage Fain (20-10, 59-48) wrestled Jenks junior Jared Galli (25-14) in the consolation quarterfinals. The two went scoreless through the first period, Galli picked up a pair of back points in the second, then Fain escaped and started the third neutral. He took several shots, but was unable to score and lost 2-1.

The Sandites are the defending State Champions, but are currently sitting in third place with 55 points, trailing Choctaw (107) and Broken Arrow (91.5). 

Wrestling will continue Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with consolation semifinals, immediately followed by third-place matches. Championship finals will begin at 5:45 p.m.

6A State Finals Matches
106 - Studd Morris (Yukon) vs. Carter Young (Sand Springs)
113 - Riley Weir (Sand Springs) vs Tucker Owens (Mustang)
120 - Laif Jones (Bartlesville) vs Zeke Washington (Owasso)
126 - Colt Newton (Choctaw) vs Reece Witcraft (Broken Arrow)
132 - Gabe Johnson (Choctaw) vs Dylan Schickram (Ponca City)
138 - Pete Rolle (Edmond Memorial) vs Connor Holman (Choctaw)
145 - Jaxen Gilmore (Yukon) vs Tate Picklo (Mustang)
152 - Kaleb Tabor (Sand Springs) vs Drake Vannoy (Jenks)
160 - Jaryn Curry (Choctaw) vs Caleb Wise (Broken Arrow)
170 - Zane Coleman (Choctaw) vs Bryce Mattioda (Broken Arrow)
182 - J.D. Johnson (Owasso) vs Lane Newlin (Ponca City)
195 - Easton Rendleman (Choctaw) vs Gavin Potter (Broken Arrow)
220 - Mason Lancaster (Putnam City) vs Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow)
285 - Caulin Poole (Choctaw) vs Christian Arriola (Putnam City)

6A State Day One Team Scores
107 - Choctaw
91.5 - Broken Arrow
55 - Sand Springs
43 - Mustang
38 - Owasso
34 - Ponca City
33 - Yukon
23 - Jenks
22 - Edmond Memorial
19 - Bartlesville
17 - Putnam City
11.5 - Edmond North
8 - Union
6 - Deer Creek
4 - Stillwater
3 - Putnam City North
3 - Southmoore
2 - Midwest City
2 - Norman North
2 - Westmoore
1 - Sapulpa
1 - Shawnee