Mark Kirk
Marlow and Blackwell dominated their regional tournaments to set up another battle between the Class 3A powers, with this one to decide the 2024 state championship. Marlow advanced 12 to the State Tournament, crowning an amazing eight champions out of their 11 finalists. Blackwell advanced 13 to state with 11 placing in the top three, including seven regional champions.
How dominant were they? Both teams broke the Class 3A Regional Tournament scoring record. Prior to last year, the record stood at 315 by Perry in 2009. Blackwell became the record holder last year, scoring 324.5 points. They held the record for one year as they scored 338 this year, but Marlow outscored them by four points and is now the record holder with 342 points.
Taking a look at the power-packed lineups Marlow and Blackwell are sending to the State Tournament show that it going to be a great battle that may come down to who can sneak an extra finalist or state placer into the mix. As always, in close battles, the all-important bonus points could also come into play. Regional finish in parentheses following the names.
- 106 Marlow –Justin Choate (2). Blackwell – 3rd place state placer Jaxson Brown (1)
- 113 Marlow – state champion Tommy Miller (1). Blackwell – 2X state placer (3-3) Louden Wolfe (1)
- 120 Marlow – 3X New Mexico state champion Marcus Williams (1). Blackwell – JH state placer Madden Edgar (1)
- 126 Marlow –Jaxson Murray (2). Blackwell – Sabon Batton (4)
- 132 Marlow – state runner-up Keller Kizarr (1). Blackwell – Payton Head (3)
- 138 Marlow – void. Blackwell – Laker Ingram (3)
- 144 Marlow – 2X state placer (2-3) Brantz Bateman (1). Blackwell – 3rd place state placer Grant Rowe (1)
- 150 Marlow – 3X state placer (2-2-3) Zach Dawson (1). Blackwell –Andrew Young (2)
- 157 Marlow – state champion and runner-up Cade Gilbert (1). Blackwell – JH state placer Kelby Ingram (2)
- 165 Marlow –Jase Hunt (2). Blackwell – void
- 175 Marlow – 2X state placer (4-2) Lawson Knox (1). Blackwell – 2X state qualifier Lawson Lusk (1)
- 190 Marlow –Gage Hixon (4). Blackwell – 2X state runner-up Jason Osgood (1)
- 215 Marlow – 2023 state qualifier Brock Smith (1). Blackwell – 2X state champion Kruz Goff (1)
- 285 Marlow – void. Blackwell – Stoney Hutson (5)
Leading the way in the battle for the individual state titles, is Sperry’s Brady Benham. Benham is looking to join a very illustrious group as a 4X state champion. Benham is 37-1 this season with his only blemish, an injury default in the finals of the Sand Springs Tournament and has a 131-12 career record.
The premier match of the East Regional finals took place at 126 lbs. as two state champions battled it out for the regional title. Vinita state champion Zane Donley won 6-5 over 2X state champion, Colt Collett from Checotah. Donley, 32-1 record this year, enters the State Tournament with state finishes of 4-2-1 and a career record of 140-14. Collett, a junior, stands 41-2 on the year with a career record of 107-5.
The premier match of the West Regional finals took place at 150 lbs., where Marlow’s 2X state runner-up and 3X state placer, Zach Dawson won his third match this season over Pawnee state champion Grady Mittasch. Dawson is 40-4 this season with a 113-16 career record. Mittash, a junior, is 40-3 this season with a 114-9 career record.
Blackwell junior Cruz Goff is already a 2X state champion as he looks to stay on the path of becoming a 4X state champion. Goff is 34-1 this year with his only loss a 3-2 TB loss to the nation’s number one ranked wrestler from Wyoming Seminary, PA. Goff’s career record stands at 110-6.
Salina’s Maverick Williamson is a 2X state champion and 3X finalist, looking to close his career as a 3X state champion. Williamson is 38-1 this year and carries…
