Jays capture first-ever wrestling regional championship

For the second time this season, the Guthrie High School wrestling program did something that no other Bluejay team has ever done before.

With a 35-plus point win in the Class 5A West Regional, Guthrie captured the program’s first ever regional championship. Last week, the Jays competed in their first ever Dual State championship. Related article: Guthrie falls to Collinsville in Dual State championship

The Jays made their way back into Guthrie Saturday night with a police escort as they entered the city limits. Families, students, members of the community and the GHS band welcomed the team in the high school parking lot.

Guthrie piled up 211 points to distance themselves from El Reno, who finished second at the Duncan Regional.

Guthrie was paced by three regional champions, including Eli Kirk (120 pounds), Braden Hall (138 pounds) and Hayden Simpson (220 pounds). All three will be the top seed at this week’s state tournament inside the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City.

Kirk joins his two sisters as a regional champion.

Jake Carey (145 pounds) and Coal Madision (195 pounds) finished runner-up, while Kaedin Herendeen and Spade Pool (182 pounds) took third place.

Finishing in fourth place was freshmen Bryson Hall (152 pounds).

Qualifying for state was Gabriel Sanders and Riley Boyster with fifth place finishes.

The 10 grapplers will be joined with three Lady Jays at state.

Earlier in the week at the 5A West girl’s regional in Noble, Khaleah Kirk (120 pounds) and Klaribel Kirk (100 pounds) won their bracket to claim regional championships.

Cheli Hernadez will represent the west side as the fifth seed at state.

The state tournament gets started on Friday with session one’s 136 wrestle-in matches at 10 a.m. and the first round (272 matches) starting at 11:30 a.m. Session two will begin at 6 p.m. with first round consolations and the semifinals at 8:15 p.m.

On Saturday, the consolation finals start at 10:30 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.