Blackwell Maroons head to State

The Blackwell High School wrestling team will take five wrestlers to this weekend’s Class 3A State Championships with three regional championships heading the Maroons participation.

Tanner Botts (28-14), Mikey Riley (23-7) and Drake Barbee (34-4) all claimed regional championships last weekend in Perry to make it to Oklahoma City. Sophomore Caleb Odell (27-12) finished in second place behind Perry’s Gabe Valencia (44-6) and will also make the trip. Senior Karston Loveall (26-15) will have to get through the wrestle-in match at 138 pounds against Comanche’s Trevor Cusurnane (28-11) early Friday morning to advance to a match-up with Pawnee’s Price Perrier (36-1) later in the day.

Botts (126 pounds) will face the winner of the 4-5 wrestle-in match between Newkirk and Comanche in his opening round match. Anthony Orum (31-4) of Marlow and Logan Patton (30-18) of Perry are on the other half of the draw. Kolton Smith (42-4) of Bridge Creek is the #1 seed on the other side of the bracket.

Riley (160 pounds) awaits the winner of the 4-5 match-up between Comanche and Pawnee for his first round match Friday afternoon. Tyler Lavey (38-3) and Brody Harbour (22-15) of Perry are on the other half of the draw. Cade Shropshire (31-1) is the #1 seed on the other side of the bracket.

Barbee (195 pounds) will face the 4-5 winner between Pawnee and Marlow in his first round match. Denver Dahlenburg (29-3) of Hinton and Brandon Speikers (44-8) of Perry are on the other half of the bracket. Speikers was pinned by Tonkawa’s Simeon Shepherd in the regional semi-finals in a huge upset and thus is on the same side of the bracket as Barbee. Caeden Guthary (30-5) of Little Axe is the #1 seed on the other side of the bracket. Shepherd will do battle with Jeston Gilliam of Plainview right before Barbee’s match.

Odell (106 pounds) will face off with Kaizyn Kraft (34-11) of Bridge Creek at 11 a.m. Friday in the first round. Tyler Lawson (38-6) of Marlow is the #1 seed in the bracket. With a win Odell will advance to a Friday night semi-final match. A loss will drop Odell into the 5:30 p.m. consolation round.

The Journal-Tribune will have a complete recap of the state tournament next week.