Mark Kirk
The Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association (OWCA) held their annual fall business meeting Thursday morning at Shawnee High School. Approximately 80 coaches attended the meeting with the focus of the meeting being the discussion of new business, election of new officers, and the selection of new Advisory Board members and All-State Selection committee members.
To create more consistency, it was voted to make all the officers’ positions three-year terms, with the three-year rotation beginning in 2024-2025 for the boys positions. Listed below are the 2023-2024 officers.
- President – Danny Jefferson (Union)
- Vice-President – Zach Hale (Newcastle)
- Secretary – Andy Schneider (Edmond North)
- Treasurer – Ty Bowling (Sand Springs)
OWCA Girls
- President – Paul Mayfield (Bixby)
- Vice-President – Charles Jones (Edmond North)
Boys Advisory Board
- 6A – Andy Schneider (Edmond North)
- 5A – Ashton Cooper (Duncan)
- 4A – Bobby Williams (Tuttle)
- 3A – Colby Robinson (OCS)
Girls Advisory Board
- East – Bryan Wilson (Perry)
- West – Justin DeAngelis (Norman North)
- All-State Selection Committee
Large West – Andy Schneider (Edmond North), Archie Randall (Putnam City West), Ashton Cooper (Duncan), Zach Hale (Newcastle)
Large East – Ty Bowling (Sand Springs), Justin Hughes (Jenks), Isaac Wilson (Glenpool), Shea Jefferson (Pryor)
Small West – Riley Williams (Tuttle), Stephen Wilson (Kingfisher), Andy Howington (Marlow), Cory Duncan (Watonga)
Small East – Kaleb Furr (Mannford), Matt Kennedy (Poteau), Laddie Rupp (Perry), Tyson Hume (Warner)
Following the voting, new business was discussed. The first item discussed was the proposed State Tournament schedule. Coaches had recently received the first draft of the schedule which is based on the “Iowa Model.” Still allowing for minor adjustments, the tournament will be a three-day tournament with two sessions per day and six mats in use for most of the tournament. The first session on Thursday AM will include two boys classes and one girls class. The PM session on Thursday will include the remaining three classes (two boys and one girls). Again, wrestling in two sessions, Friday’s action will include the championship semifinals. Saturday morning, again divided into the two separate groups, the consolation semifinals will be wrestled. Saturday afternoon, all six classes will wrestle their consolation finals match. The championship finals are scheduled for Saturday night with all six classes competing at the same time.
Citing increased expenses for T-shirts, Regional runner-up plaques, and All-State expenses, it was discussed and then approved to increase the annual dues from $35 to $40.
The possibility of the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) adding a Girls All-State Dual was discussed. OWCA has been working diligently with the OCA in meeting their requirements to add the Dual. President Jefferson noted that the OWCA has been in constant contact with the OCA and continues to provide resources to help keep things moving (such as the purchase of singlets, t-shirts and shorts for the All-State participants), but that there is a process that must be followed before approval from the OCA. Once approved by the OCA, the OWCA will then create a Girls All-State Selection Committee.
There was discussion but no action taken regarding adding something to the All-State uniform (such as a decal on the headgear) to help identify which school the wrestler is from.
With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned.
