Published: March 02, 2007 09:19 am         

Williams takes first in state wrestling championships

OKLAHOMA CITY — Saturday evening found the State Fair Arena packed with wrestling fans from all over the State of Oklahoma. They were there to watch the 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A State Wrestling Championship Finals.

Tuttle sophomore Bobby Williams avenged his regional loss against Blanchard’s senior Zac McCloud to win the state title at 145 pounds.

McCloud won by decision over Williams, placing him in the consolation finals during the 3A western regional competition. Williams then placed third with a decision over Hugo Gomez of Weatherford during the regional consolation round. This win allowed Williams to “option-over” to wrestle the number one seat in the eastern division. As it turned out, the decision was the right one.

During first round of state competition, Williams won with a 4-2 decision over Corey Storey of Vinita. During the second round of state competition, Williams won by a 6-3 decision over Cody Johnson of Oologah.

Williams and McCloud would face each other again. This time it would be for the championship title.

After six-minutes of wrestling, the bout ended in a 1-1 tie with both wrestlers earning an escape point. It came down to the wire with 18 seconds left in sudden death overtime. Williams caught McCloud in a single leg cradle to earn 5 points winning the title with a 6-1 decision. Williams capped a remarkable win to bring home the first state wrestling championship title since 2004.

“I can’t wait to be running in the wrestling room and look up to see my name on the Wall-of-Fame Champion Board.” Williams said, “It will be there forever.”

Not only was it Williams’ first state title, it was head coach Matt Surber’s first time to award a state champion as head coach.

“I had two state runner-ups during my two years as head coach in Texas, with one kid who lost in overtime the first year and a runner-up the second year,“ Surber said. “Bobby has worked really hard this year and it paid off for him.”

There were seven other wrestlers who competed in State Competition with four placing during the consolation finals.

Tuttle’s only third place finish was in the 112 pound weight class when junior Adam Then began with a 7-6 decision over Holden Fuson of Berryhill in the first round of competition. During the second round, Then lost a 2-1 decision to Billy Burt of Wagoner.

In the consolation semifinals, Then won a 5-2 decision over Brian Smith of Bristow forging himself to the consolation round. Then capped his 24-6 season with a 7-4 decision over Cameron Young of Berryhill to take third.

This was Then’s first time to qualify for state competition and he brought home third place.

Tuttle brought home three fourth placers. Beginning with 135 pound weight class, Tuttle’s freshman Cole Gracey began his first round of competition not like he had planned as he fell to Cody Ellis of Jay during the first period. However, Gracey’s battle to the consolation round was sweet. He pinned both Clayton Schroeder of Bristow and Gipoundert Johnson of Blackwell landing him in the consolation finals only to fall to Tyler Evans of Cushing to bring home fourth place.

Next in 140 pound weight class, Tuttle senior Zac Simpson began first rounds with a 3-1 decision over Tucker Rutherford of Jay, then lost his next round to Marquise Satterwhite of Star Spencer. Simpson then won a 3-2 decision over Caleb Fichte of Ft. Gibson only to lose a 3-2 decision to Cody Hill of Blanchard to bring home fourth place.

In the 189 pound weight class, Tuttle’s Taylor Treadway began first rounds with a 16-2 major decision over Ralph Manous of Okmulgee, only to lose the next round by a 10-1 decision to Raymond Lane of Star Spencer. Treadway then won a 10-1 decision over Tyler Maple of Vinta in the semifinals to face Manous again the consolation finals. Treadway fell to Manous in the second period to bring home fourth place.

Three other state qualifiers this year included Justin Fancher at 103 pounds, Shane Woods at 130 pounds, and Zach Mincey at 152 pounds.

The Tuttle Tigers placed fifth in the 3A overall team standings.