Collinsville runs away with regional crown
BY JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2/17/13 at 6:39 AM
The only drama left in the Class 5A regional wrestling tournament Saturday night was which team would finish second to runaway winner Collinsville.
The Cardinals gained their third straight regional championship with 283 points in matches contested in the Edison Athletic Center. Coweta edged Piedmont for second with 150. Piedmont was third by one point over Edmond Deer Creek 141-140.
The two-time state champion Collinsville crew advanced 11 to the regional finals and won six of those matches. Christian Moody (106), Davion Jefferies (113), Will Steltzen (132), Gary Wayne Harding (138), Dylan Helm (145) and Keenan Priddy (195) were all crowned champions.
"We won six of the 11 (finals), but we've got a lot of work next week (at the state tournament)," Cardinal coach Weston Harding said. "We lost too many close matches (tonight)."
Three Collinsville wins came by falls with Moody, Jefferies and Priddy taking care of business in two periods or less.
Priddy, however, took nothing for granted.
"I didn't want to overlook any opponent," said Priddy, who is a junior. "The last two years at state I've been two (matches) and out. I will be trying to get on the (state) podium and not just getting my first win."
There were many good matches, but the most intriguing one came at 126. State-ranked No. 1, Mark Carter of East Central, met No. 2, Ryan Heiden of Collinsville. It was a tough match, but Carter prevailed 6-2.
"I was expecting to win," Carter said. "It's the first time I've wrestled him, but I wrestled terribly. I was flat in the first and second periods."
The longest match of the night came at 160.
Edmond Deer Creek's Chad Draper outlasted Collinsville's Jake Barton 2-1 in three overtimes. Barton made a late move that could have tied the match, but officials declared time had run out.
Another exciting finish came at 120 between McAlester's Donald Cannon and Collinsville's Jacob Findley. Cannon scored a late takedown in the final seconds to win 3-1.
The Cardinals led the regional champions list with six while Edmond Deer Creek posted three winners. East Central, McAlester, Piedmont, Western Heights and Durant each had one titleist.
The state tournament is scheduled next week in Oklahoma City.
