Three Vian High School wrestlers will get to end their season at the most desired venue possible — the state tournament.
At the Class 5A High School Girls Regional Tournament Feb. 13 at Okmulgee, one of Vian’s two state qualifiers made it a fourpeat as a state qualifier as senior Avery Richey finished third at 135 pounds. Teammate Carissa Prock beat Sallisaw Bailie Hanshew in the fifth-place match at 125 pounds to grab the final state berth from that weight class.
“I’m especially happy for Avery on the four times (making state),” Vian coach Garett Willis said. “For Carissa, it’s her first time going. That’s always exciting. It’s kind of like reaching new grounds. Once you qualify, you know how to get there the next year. That’s a big stepping stone, nonetheless. Hopefully, we can go up next weekend and keep adding those (stepping) stones.”
Vian’s other regional participant was Carmen Rautenburg at 130 pounds, but she lost both of her matches to miss out placing at the regional tournament.
The Class 5A State Tournament will be Thursday through Saturday at Oklahoma City’s Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
At the Class 3A Regional Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Vinita, one Wolverine made state as Tristan Wiley was fifth at 175 pounds.
The other five Wolverines who competed at the regional tournament were Gunner Richey (138 pounds), Adoff Stahl (126), Lane Jameson (190), Garritt Hunt (215) and Clay Clark (heavyweight). Richey was trying to be a repeat state qualifier.
Wiley will be in the Class 3A State Tournament on Thursday through Saturday at Oklahoma City’s Jim Norick State Fair Arena.