OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mustang Broncos made plenty of noise on Thursday, but it was never louder than the pop Van Smith received as his hand was raised inside Jim Norick Arena.
After drawing even at 5-5 with top seed Madden Skidmore (18-8) from Edmond North, the Mustang freshman shot for a takedown to start overtime and latched onto his opponent’s left leg.
The two rolled over three times before Smith gained position, scored two points, and advanced to the 6A semifinals at 113 pounds.
Smith is now 30-5 on the season and will face Ponca City’s Jimmy Swenson (30-13) tomorrow night. Swenson finished runner-up in the 6A East regional where Smith finished third.
VIDEO: Mustang’s Van Smith (Fr.) scores two points for a 7-5 sudden victory over Edmond North’s Madden Skidmore in the first round of the 6A State Tournament at 113 points. (By Trey Hunter)
BRONCOS SEND FIVE TO SEMIFINALS
Five Mustang wrestlers won their opening matches and advanced to the semis on Thursday, including Smith’s win over Skidmore.
Sophomore Kady Theriot (25-4) followed Smith’s match with a 6-0 victory over Ponca City’s Marli Lieb at 110 pounds in the first round of the 6A Girls State Tournament. She will face 6A East top seed Mariah Robbins (42-6) from Westmoore in the semis.
Senior Javin Douglas (31-8), making his third and final appearance in the state tournament, defeated Sand Springs’ Jaxon Grigsby (22-11) 6-0 at 126 pounds. Douglas will take on 6A East top seed Gage Walker (37-5) from Bixby on Friday.
Junior Daegan Reyes (33-6) continued the team’s win streak by pinning Deer Creek’s Barrett Weathers (22-14) in the second period at 157 pounds. Reyes, who is making his second appearance at state, will face 6A West top seed Kody Routledge (38-2) from Edmond North on Friday.
Kady Theriot (So.) advanced to the 6A State Tournament semifinals with a 6-0 win over Ponca City’s Marli Lieb on Thursday at Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Trey Hunter)
Senior Sam Pritz (29-11) capped the night for Mustang, pinning Western Westmoore’s Devin Lacroix (37-12) in the first period at 215 pounds. Pritz squares off against 6A West top seed Oscar Williams (40-3) from Edmond North in the semis.
Freshman Trusten Douglas (29-9) started the day with a 9-0 major decision win over Sand Springs’ Dawson Briscoe (16-10) in the Wrestle-In session. But a first-round loss by fall to 6A West top seed Jake Goodin (29-5) from Edmond North puts Douglas in the consolation bracket, starting at 5 p.m.
Senior Nevaeh Kent (11-13), who wrestled her way back into the state tournament after a crazy turn of events at regionals, dropped her “Pigtail” match to Sand Springs’ Laila Mirza (40-11).
Freshman Jace Reed (22-16), who finished fifth at regionals, dropped his Wrestle-In match as well, losing a 7-4 decision to Sand Springs’ David Ritchey (25-9).
After one day of action, Mustang sits in fifth place with 12 points. Edmond North is in first with 46 points followed by Bixby with 28.5 and Stillwater with 21.5.
