BA takes second as Edmond North wins wrestling tournament
BY JOSH HALEY World Correspondent
Sunday, January 13, 2013
1/13/13 at 5:38 AM
SAPULPA - When the state wrestling tournament arrives in late February, it will be expected to settle a lot of debate.
Until then, fans will have to wait to find out who will come out on top of a quiet rivalry between Broken Arrow and Edmond North that has suddenly become very noisy.
Broken Arrow was unable to make up a large deficit on the final day of the Jerry Billings Invitational, finishing 29.5 points behind champion Edmond North on Saturday night.
"That's the second weekend in a row we've seen them, and we knew they were going to be tough before that," said Broken Arrow head coach Shawn Jones. "They've got a great team, but to win state championships you have to beat great teams."
Last weekend, it was defending three-time Class 6A state champion Broken Arrow that earned an impressive victory over Edmond North at the prestigious Geary Invitational.
"This is all practice for Oklahoma City (state tournament site)," said Jones. "That's where all our efforts are pointed, and we have to get better."
Markus Simmons (120), Paden Bailey (152), Brock Warren (170) and Carlos Taylor (285) picked up wins for Broken Arrow, who had more champions than any other school.
Warren was the only Tiger matched up with an Edmond North opponent in a final, and the senior seized the opportunity, earning a 5-2 decision over Derek White.
"I just tried to think of it as practice," said Warren of the final match. "If you put too much pressure on yourself, you might not wrestle as well."
Warren hopes to be a key factor in Broken Arrow winning another team championship by capturing his first individual state title.
"If I don't win a state title, I won't be satisfied," said Warren. "That's just how wrestlers are."
Warren lost in last year's state semifinal, but rebounded to win his final match and place third.
"It's all about preparation," said Warren. "It's (losing in state tournament) the worst feeling, but it's the best thing that could've happened."
Berryhill's Davey Dolan (145) was named outstanding wrestler, defeating Muskogee's Dawaylon Barnes 8-0 in the championship final. Dolan, a senior and a three-time state champion, has not lost a match since his freshman year and has won more than 100 consecutive matches.
Triplets Andrew (220), Joel (195) and Lance Dixon (182) picked up championship finals victories to help fuel Edmond North.
Luke Wolfenberger (126) picked up a win and Michael Billups (132) finished second to help Union finish third.
Notebook
106: Vinita's Dustin Hayes won every match by at least five points, including a 13-7 decision over previously undefeated Kennedy Monday of Stillwater in the championship final.
113: Stillwater's Kaid Brock recorded technical falls in his first three matches before defeating Edmond North's Cy Trindle 11-6 in the championship final.
120: Broken Arrow's Markus Simmons took an early 1-0 lead and held off Sand Springs' Cody Karstetter to win the championship final in a rematch of last year's state championship, which Simmons won.
126: Trailing 3-2 in the first period of the championship final, Union's Luke Wolfenberger took a 7-3 lead on Edmond North's Josh Breece with a near fall and never looked back on his way to a 15-9 victory.
132: Defending state champion Joe Smith of Stillwater pinned three of his four opponents, including Union's Michael Billups in the championship final.
138: After recording falls in his first three matches, Berryhill's Jonce Blaylock scored the final 11 points in the championship final to defeat Tahlequah's Reece Davis 18-6.
145: Tournament outstanding wrestler and three-time state champion Davey Dolan of Berryhill, who has won more than 100 straight matches dating back to his freshman year, moved to 18-0 on the season with a convincing 8-0 win over Muskogee's Dawaylon Barnes in the championship final.
152: Broken Arrow's Paden Bailey pinned all four of his opponents, including a first-period fall of Bristow's Chris Smith in the championship final.
160: Muskogee's Jacobe Smith registered a fall and a pair of shutouts, including a 10-0 victory over Ponca City's Brandon Hunt in the championship final.
170: Broken Arrow's Brock Warren pinned his first opponent before winning his final three matches by a combined score of 20-6 to be crowned champion.
182: After suffering a narrow semifinal loss, Berryhill's Tyler Hudson rallied for a pair of decision victories to finish third.
195: After a tough one-point loss in the semifinals, Sand Springs' Paden Ayers earned a 2-1 win over Union's Chance Wenglewski in the consolation final to finish third.
220: Vinita's Kaleb Phillips picked up a second-place finish with a pin and a decision before losing to defending state champion Andrew Dixon of Edmond North in the championship final.
285: Broken Arrow's Carlos Taylor pinned his first three opponents to reach the championship final where he defeated Sand Springs' Nick Bearshead 5-0.
