Mark Kirk
Looking at the upcoming wrestling season shows that Class 6A is once again loaded with incredible talent, including an amazing 15 returning or past state champions who have won a total of 21 state titles. Leading the way is Stillwater’s 3X undefeated state champion Cael Hughes. Committed to OSU, Hughes enters his senior season with a perfect 95-0 record. As listed in a previous article, Hughes has a chance to join a very elite group of wrestlers and become only the sixth wrestler in Oklahoma history go undefeated while winning four state titles (previously done by Kenny Monday, Jerry Best, Teyon Ware, Daton Fix and Kaden Gfeller).
Noticeable changes in Class 6A show Bixby adding two state champions to their roster, while Stillwater lost one state champion, but also added two state champs to their team. Junior Gage Walker (Greco All-American at Fargo this summer) compiled a 74-3 record while winning two state titles for Jay and 3X finalist and 2022 state champion Jace Caviness earned a 117-11 record for Stilwell. Both moved to Bixby over the summer. 2022 Stillwater state champ Angelo Ferrari moved to Texas, but 2X state champions Beric Jordan and AJ Heeg moved to Stillwater this past year. Jordan, a 2X state champion in Ohio was 80-1 while winning titles at 106 lbs. Heeg, a Fargo freestyle national runner-up this summer, compiled a 64-5 record while winning two state titles for Edmond Memorial.
Bixby’s multi-talented Jersey Robb is a 3X state finalist and 2X state champion. Robb, a key player on the powerhouse Spartan football team, went 30-0 last year and enters his senior year with a 92-4 career record. Stillwater sophomore LaDarion Lockett, recently selected to compete in the prestigious “Wranglemania” All-Star match, continues to build on his impressive résumé as he added a Fargo national title and Super 32 title to his 2022 state title.
Other returning state champions (all juniors) include Ponca City’s Christopher Kiser, Piedmont’s Cash Donnell, Hunter Hollingsworth (Edmond North), Jace Roller (Bixby), and Kael Voinovich (Stillwater). Donnell went a perfect 35-0 in claiming his title. Stillwater’s Sam Smith and JJ (Rogers) McComas and Bixby’s Clay Giddens-Buttram each earned runner-up finishes in 2022 after winning state titles in 2021.
Edmond North’s state placer Kody Routledge joined Lockett in winning a Fargo freestyle national title this summer while 2X state runner-up Layton Schneider (Edmond North), state placer Jake Goodin (Edmond North) and Aydan Thomas (Stillwater) earned All-American honors at Fargo. A freshman already making noise is Edmond North’s Joseph Jeter who won the CJS Open on November 5, including a big semifinal win over Tuttle state champion and Fargo All-American Beau Hickman.
Season records were taken from the OSSAA State Tournament brackets found on Track Wrestling. Career Records only include years that a wrestler competed at the State Tournament.
