SANDITES CROWN 2 CHAMPIONS, PLACE 3RD AT STATE

OKLAHOMA CITY – Four years ago, Daton Fix won a state title as a freshman. This year, Carter Young started the same near-impossible journey. Young, a freshman wrestler for the Sand Springs wrestling team won at 106 pounds, making it possible for three more state titles in the future. Riley Weir, the only returning state champion from last year’s state title team, won his second-straight championship at 113 pounds, helping the No. 5 Sandites to a third-place finish at the Class 6A state tournament Saturday, Feb. 24 at the OKC Fairgrounds. “It was a good weekend,” said head coach Kelly Smith. “The kids wrestled well.” Young, who has been compared to Fix, beat an 18-year old senior in the finals, showing he isn’t afraid to go against anyone. Blake Sargent (126) placed third and Chris Kirby (145) fourth, giving the Sandites three in the finals and five placers. Weir took a loss early in the season to a wrestler he should’ve beat handily, but Smith said it wasn’t really a wake-up call but more proof of how hard these kids have to work to stay at a high level. “Riley is a kid that gets better as the season goes on and he is an incredible competitor. They only thing harder than winning one state title is winning two, or even three. It’s a great accomplishment,” Smith said. Mannford transfer Kaleb Tabor made it to the finals but he got beat, earning second place at 152. Tabor had to sit out a year and wasn’t able to compete for the state championship team last season. This year, he was eligible and fighting through a nasty shoulder injury. If he had been 100 percent, Tabor might have been on the top of the podium with Weir and Young. He will undergo surgery soon. Choctaw edged Broken Arrow for the state championship and won dual state two weeks before. Sand Springs had to completely rebuild after last season’s state title team graduated four champions and senior Payton Scott retired after a hand injury. A lot of the younger kids from last year were thrust into starting roles. “I’m so proud of the way these young guys stepped up throughout the season and it shows what a great job Coach (Earl) Shockley did with them last year on (junior varsity). It speaks volumes about this town’s wrestling program,” Smith said.