OHS Wrestling State
By Lizzy Petersen
Photo of Sidney Milligan in finals match taken by Lizzy Petersen
Oklahoma Wrestling State is an event that athletes work to prepare for all year. There are numerous tournaments that prepare these young wrestlers for the ultimate competition at the end of the season. At Owasso High School there were nine talented athletes that were able to qualify and compete at this state tournament. Seniors: Sidney Milligan, Chad Herbert, Tyler Rich, Braxton Bacon and Micaiah Russell. Juniors: Bryson Humphries, Jaxon Humphries and Lizzy Petersen. Sophomore: Mak Gregg.
The first round of the tournament started on Feb. 24 with the “wrestle in” matches, this is when wrestlers that placed either 4th or 5th in the regional tournament have to face each other to earn a spot in the final bracket. Russell, unfortunately, lost his match in the first period to Hawkins-Hinson from Norman North. Jaxon Humphries won his match against Edmond Memorial with a pin in the second quarter. Herbert lost to Putnam City North by a fall in the second period and Petersen lost her match to Lexington by a fall in the first period.
Wrestlers who placed 3rd or higher at regionals and those who won their wrestle in matches advanced to the next round: quarterfinals. Bryson Humphries was defeated by Yukon with a decision of 11-9. Jaxon Humphries lost to Bixby by a major decision of 15-3. Bacon won by pin over Piedmont in the first quarter. Rich had an incredibly fast pin against Choctaw with a pin only 17 seconds into the first period. Gregg had a nail-biting match but won by a decision in the end with a score of 5-4. Milligan won her match by a decision of 5-0 against Chickasha.
The wrestlers who lost their quarterfinal match then advanced to the consolation side of the bracket. Bryson Humphries in his first round of cons, won his match by a pin against Westmoore in the second quarter, then in round 2 of cons, he won by decision against Broken Arrow 2-0. Jaxon Humphries in round 1 cons won by a close decision over Choctaw 3-2, but unfortunately, he lost his second-round match against Edmond North in the last period. Bacon had advanced to the semifinal round where he lost against Edmond North with a close decision of 5-3. Following this, he advanced to the cons, where he won against Stillwater by a decision 8-4.
The athletes still competing continued on to the semifinals. Rich defeated Sand Springs with a decision of 7-0. Gregg hastily defeated Hinton with a fall in the first minute of the first period. Milligan pinned Union in the last period, a highly anticipated match since they had gone back and forth with wins throughout the season.
Finally, the wrestlers made it to the placement matches. Bryson Humphries lost to Yukon with a decision of 7-1, which placed him 4th place in the tournament. Bacon won his match by decision 9-6 against Yukon and placed 3rd. Rich made it to finals and lost against Edmond North by a sudden victory 6-4 in the first period of overtime — which placed him 2nd. Gregg lost to Moore in the second period, ultimately placing her 2nd in the tournament and Milligan lost to Bixby in the last period of her match, resulting in 2nd place.
These athletes all foughthard and deservingly earned their spot in the State Tournament. It is an exceptional achievement to make it to Wrestling State due to the necessary effort and drive the wrestlers must be putting forth. Those who made it as far as they did are actively building the foundation for future Owasso wrestlers to come.