The Guthrie wrestling program nearly had a complete team for the first time this season in tournament action, and despite four individual champions in the Duncan Southern Oklahoma Invitational, the BlueJays finished second overall.
Guthrie freshmen Alex Nelson, Timothy O’Connor, Bryan Dutton and Devin Bilyeu each collected tournament wins in their weight class. The four wins was the most by any school in the field.
The tournament host, Duncan, took top honors with 235 points followed by Guthrie (188) and Comanche (169.5). In the latest tournament rankings, Duncan is ranked fourth and the Jays sixth.
Nelson, claimed his first varsity tournament win, was a perfect 3-0 in the 106 pound division with one fall and two decisions.
Dutton, at 145 pounds, also needed three matches to pick up the win with a fall, major decision and a decision. Dutton, who is now 71-6 in his high school career, got some redemption after not winning the Duncan SOI last year and dropping his only match in his state championship season.
O’Connor picked up two falls and two major decisions to win the 126 pound weight class while Bilyeu needed a little more work with three major decisions and a fall to claim the 152 pound weight class.
Conner Howard fell short in the finals, but finished the two-day tourney with a 3-1 record, including two falls and a decision. Howard returns to the mat this season after sitting out last season with an injury.
Guthrie’s Austin O’Connor and Blake Finley each place third and finished with 4-1 records. O’Connor, wrestling at 138 pounds, collected a fall, two major decisions and by an injury default. Finley, at 285 pounds, collected two falls, one decision and one injury default.
Andrew Toney picked up the most falls for the Jays with three and finished 3-2 overall to place fifth in the 170 pound class.
At 120 pounds, Dylan Marshall went 2-2 with a fall and a decision, and at 160 pounds Travis Hudson finished 1-2 with a decision.
The BlueJays did not have the services of 2011 state champion Landry Chappell and state qualifier John Davidson.
Also in action, Forrest Stegner, 120 pounds, was 2-2 (1 fall, 1 dec.), Tyler Mahan, 138 pounds, was 1-2 (1 dec.), Jared Ball, 145 pounds, was 1-1 (1 major dec.) finished second, Brent Berryhill, at 220 pounds, was 1-2 (1 dec.), Henry Hornsby, at 285, was 0-2 and Dusty Cotton was 0-2 at 285 pounds.
The Jays will have the rest of the 2011 season off on the competitive mat, and will return January 5th when they host Southeast and Capitol Hill inside the GHS gymnasium. Mat time begins at 6:00 with the junior high.
2011 Duncan SOI Tournament Standings:
1. Duncan 235
2. Guthrie 188
3. Comanche 169.5
4. Shawnee 146.
5. Weatherford 145
6. Durant 99.5
7. Azle, Tx 95.5
8. Noble 90.5
9. Lawton 87
10. Marlow 80
What’s wrong with Davidson and why isn’t Chappell on the mat yet? Injuries??
What was the results of the Perkins dual?