Youth Wrestling ends season with medals

The youth wrestling season is a long and grueling one with hundreds of hours of practice and competition needed in order to be successful.  After starting the season out in October with 50 plus youth wrestlers, Team Guthrie finished the season this past weekend with the best overall season, on record, with three Novice Division State Champions and the team’s first ever Open Division State Champion. 

On February 4^th and 5^th Team Guthrie wrestled in the Novice State Championship Tournament in Choctaw.

“The Novice Division Tournament consists of wrestlers who are primarily first or second year wrestlers.  This is especially meaningful for Guthrie Wrestling because our kid’s success in this tournament underscores how bright the future is for the sport in our community,” coach Asa Nelson said.

Results for the Novice State Tournament:

6 and Under Division: Coal Madison 3^rd place 43 lbs, Hayden Simpson 2^nd place 60 lbs

8 and Under Division: Dean Madison 6^th place 52 lbs.

10 and Under Division: Adam Baker State Champion 61 lbs, J.B. Simpson State Champion 131 lbs

12 and Under Division: Austin Flurry State Champion 105 lbs, War Mothershed 3^rd place 120 lbs

Both Mothershed and Flurry are first year wrestlers and also wrestled for the GJHS squad.

The weekend of February 11^th and 12^th,  eighteen youth wrestlers competed in the OKWA Central Region Tournament held in Tuttle.  In order to move on to the state tournament the kids must medal at the regional tournament.  Qualifying for the state tournament were Jordan Campbell, Justin Pyle, Marcus Ballard, D.J. Branson, Zane Wanzer, Caleb Nelson, Kurgan Cornwell and Brent Wilson.  Team Guthrie also had several GJHS kids qualify for state including Cory Douglass, Blake Finley, Josiah Sisco, Alex Nelson, Andrew Toney, and Shane Cantrell.  Cantrell suffered a shoulder injury in his final match at regionals and was not able to compete in the state tournament despite qualifying.

This past weekend the thirteen wrestlers competed in the OKWA State tournament held at the Tulsa Expo Center.  This tournament is an Open Division tournament and features the elite youth talent in the state.  Out of the thirteen attending, four came away with a medal which included one State Champion in Finley. 

“Blake is an incredibly tough wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight Division.  Despite only being in his third year, Blake has really broken out this year and has only one loss on his record this year to a National Champion,” coach Curtis Jurina said.

The other three state placers are as follows:

10 and Under Division: Caleb Nelson 6^th Place 64 lbs

 15 and Under Division: Brent Wilson 4^th Place 102 lbs and Andrew Toney 3^rd Place 185 lbs.

Team Guthrie would like to thank all the parents and coaches who put in the hours necessary to make the team successful.  The coaches include, Curtis Jurina, Kelly Wanzer, Joe Musil, Brandon Watson, Johnny Simpson, Asa Nelson, Ryan Campbell and Kent Wilson.  The team will begin the 2011-2012 season in October.