Winning a state title is the goal of all of the wrestlers competing at the State Tournament. An added bonus is when a wrestler is selected as the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Decided by a vote of the coaches, the award was first presented in 1947, with Byron Todd from Tulsa Rogers winning the award.
There is no set criteria for selecting the State Tournament Outstanding Wrestler (OW), it usually goes to someone who does one of the following: recognizing a wrestler for an outstanding career (3 or 4 time state champion), a wrestler who dominates his opponents, a wrestler who pulls a major upset or a wrestler who wins a loaded weight class.
While being named the OW is a very special award, there have been 14 wrestlers who have claimed more than one OW Award. You will recognize some very familiar names on the list, but leading the way is the incredible Matt Grice from Harrah who was named the OW three times! Listed below are wrestlers who won the OW Award more than once.
- Matt Grice, Harrah – 1998, 1999 and 2000
- David McGuire, Sand Springs – 1963 and 1965
- David McQuaig, Tulsa Memorial – 1973 and 1974
- Ray Miller, Marlow – 1987 and 1988
- Pat Smith, Del City – 1988 and 1989
- Michael Lightner, Marlow – 1994 and 1996
- Josh Cruzan, Choctaw – 1995 and 1996
- Jeff Henning, Tuttle – 1997 and 1998
- Matt Bean, Mustang – 1997 and 1999
- Teyon Ware, Edmond North – 2001 and 2002
- Chris Perry, Stillwater – 2008 and 2009
- Kyle Garcia, Choctaw – 2011 and 2012
- Keilan Torres, Altus – 2011 and 2013
- Boo Lewallen, Yukon – 2014 and 2015
- Wyatt Sheets, Stilwell – 2014 and 2015
- Daton Fix, Sand Springs – 2016 and 2017
Two interesting stories relating to the OW Award include 1970 Class 4A OW Everett Gomez of U.S. Grant and 1985 Class A OW Andy Howington from Comanche.
In 1970, Larry Owings shocked the wrestling world when he beat the unbeatable Dan Gable in the finals of the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma high school wrestling experience their own version of that upset just a few weeks earlier when U.S. Grant’s Everett Gomez stunned Gary Breece from Tulsa Memorial. Gomez was undefeated on the season, but few gave him a chance against Breece who was a 2X state champion and sported a perfect 72-0 career record going into the match. Gomez scored the first takedown and never looked back in taking the totally unexpected 6-2 win to claim the state title and OW Award.
As a side note, at that time the State Tournament was held at different sites for each class. Class 4A was the largest class and the tournament took place in the Tulsa Edison gym. Seating capacity was listed as 2,400, but estimated attendance for the finals was an incredible 3,500.
In 1985, Andy Howington from Comanche became the only known wrestler to win the OW Award but not win a state title. Howington, now the head coach at Marlow, was enjoying a stellar senior season including winning the West Regional title with a win over Casady’s Derek Taaca. Howington was a strong favorite to win the title but in his semifinal match was called for a questionable illegal hold and lost a very controversial match when his opponent did not finish the match. His opponent wrestled in the finals the next night, losing 13-5 to Taaca while Howington came back to claim the 3rd place medal and was selected by the coaches as the OW of the tournament.
Compiling the OW list from past years usually involves researching newspaper archives. Unfortunately, some years the OW was not named in the articles. While in some years, it may look obvious on who should have won the award, without proper verification, those years are incomplete. If you have proof of an OW award winner that is not on the following list, please email this writer at [email protected] so the list can be corrected.
Year/Class | Name | School | Weight |
1947 | Byron Todd | Tulsa Rogers | 133 |
1948 | Billy Borders | Tulsa Webster | 112 |
1949 | Frank Marks | Edmond | HWT |
1950 | Gene Nicks | Ponca City | HWT |
1951 | Leon Stafford | Blackwell | 133 |
1952 | David Bowlin | Tulsa Rogers | 106 |
1953 | Doug Blubaugh | Ponca City | 141 |
1954 | Phil Kinyon | Stillwater | 168 |
1955 | Paul Aubrey | Tulsa Webster | 136 |
1956 | Sid Terry | Edmond | 148 |
1957 | Ted Ellis | Blackwell | HWT |
1958 | John Willingham | Sapulpa | 115 |
1959 | Joe Blair | Edmond | 115 |
1960 | Jack Brisco | Blackwell | HWT |
1961 AA | Eddie McQuarters | Tulsa Washington | HWT |
1961 A | Dick Turnbull | Sapulpa | 141 |
1962 AA | Sandy Harris | Putnam City | 141 |
1962 A | Grady Sells | Geary | 130 |
1963 AA | Dickie Haxel | John Marshall | 130 |
1963 A | David McGuire | Sand Springs | 115 |
1964 AA | Wayne Wells | John Marshall | 141 |
1964 A | Ellison Beasley | Perry | 157 |
1965 AA | Gene Miles | Edmond | 141 |
1965 A | David McGuire | Sand Springs | 130 |
1966 AA | Parker Sneed | Edmond | 157 |
1966 A | Larry Maib | Geary | 141 |
1967 AA | Gerald Winnard | U.S. Grant | 183 |
1967 A | Fred Hoffman | Geary | HWT |
1968 AA | Ray Morrison | Tulsa Webster | 152 |
1968 A | Lawrence Spottedbird | Hobart | 106 |
1969 AA | Sam Allen | Sapulpa | 115 |
1969 A | David Richards | Altus | 115 |
1970 4A | Everett Gomez | U.S. Grant | 106 |
1970 3A | Bill Ree | Stillwater | 106 |
1970 2A | Steve Randall | Perry | 130 |
1971 4A | Tony Buck | John Marshall | 157 |
1971 3A | Danny Cue | Sapulpa | 123 |
1971 2A | Les Carmen | Pawhuska | 123 |
1972 4A | Gary Mikawa | Putnam City | 98 |
1972 3A | Rod Kilgore | Tulsa Webster | 157 |
1972 2A | David Brack | Geary | 115 |
1973 4A | David McQuaig | Tulsa Memorial | 178 |
1973 3A | Corwin Lumley | Blackwell | 130 |
1973 2A | Rick Vasek | Perry | 178 |
1974 4A | David McQuaig | Tulsa Memorial | 168 |
1974 3A | Mark Gilpin | Tulsa Kelley | 136 |
1974 2A | Bill Busby | Perry | 115 |
1975 4A | Bryan Evans | Norman | 115 |
1975 3A | Jim Clark | Tulsa Kelley | HWT |
1975 2A | Gary Yingst | Collinsville | 115 |
1976 4A | Lee Roy Smith | Del City | 136 |
1976 3A | Howard Aufleger | Stillwater | 115 |
1976 2A | Jeff Robinett | Perry | 108 |
1977 4A | Richard Evans | Midwest City | 157 |
1977 3A | Thomas Landrum | Tulsa Washington | 136 |
1977 2A | Glenn Rhees | Collinsville | 108 |
1978 4A | Roger Frizzell | Midwest City | 148 |
1978 3A | Eddie Hibbs | Tulsa Webster | 141 |
1978 2A | Brad Reed | Bixby | 136 |
1978 A | Cecil Beisel | Perry | HWT |
1979 4A | Mike Clevenger | Tulsa Hale | 115 |
1979 3A | Cliff Redding | Sapulpa | 141 |
1979 2A | Mike Sinor | Catoosa | 141 |
1979 A | David Massey | Heritage Hall | 148 |
1980 4A | Kenny Monday | Tulsa Washington | 141 |
1980 3A | Brett Hinchey | Tulsa Webster | 168 |
1980 2A | Greg Patnaude | Harrah | 148 |
1980 A | Harris Casey | Eufaula | 136 |
1981 4A | David Rynda | Midwest City | 115 |
1981 3A | Leonard Bailey | Bixby | 141 |
1981 2A | Leon Hughes | Perry | 115 |
1981 A | Joey Arnold | Sperry | 115 |
1982 4A | John Laviolette | Midwest City | 157 |
1982 3A | |||
1982 2A | Speedy Thomas | Newcastle | 157 |
1982 A | Bryron Hau | Okarche | 148 |
1983 4A | John Smith | Del City | 136 |
1983 3A | Jeff McAllister | Bixby | 115 |
1983 2A | John McMahon | Vinita | 130 |
1983 A | Troy Reed | Hobart | 178 |
1984 4A | Cory Baze and | Putnam North | 115 |
Shawn Davis | Shawnee | 136 | |
1984 3A | Danny Branham | Sallisaw | HWT |
1984 2A | Junior Meek | Vinita | 141 |
1984 A | Rusty Crockett | Crescent | 136 |
1985 4A | |||
1985 3A | Jeff McAllister | Bixby | 141 |
1985 2A | Brett Gray | Stillwell | 136 |
1985 A | Andy Howington | Comanche | 157 |
1986 4A | |||
1986 3A | |||
1986 2A | Scott Chenoweth | Perry | 168 |
1986 A | Derrick Teague | Heritage Hall | 157 |
1987 5A | |||
1987 4A | |||
1987 3A | Ray Miller | Marlow | 148 |
1987 2A | Rick Holt | Pawhuska | 157 |
1988 5A | Pat Smith | Del City | 148 |
1988 4A | |||
1988 3A | Ray Miller | Marlow | 148 |
1988 2A | Darrell Bowles | Comanche | 141 |
1989 5A | Pat Smith | Del City | 157 |
1989 4A | Carl Belford | Western Heights | 130 |
1989 3A | Gary Gramm | Bristow | 108 |
1989 2A | Todd Smoot | Pawhuska | 115 |
1990 5A | T.J. Jaworsky | Edmond | 123 |
1990 4A | Shawn Harrison | Tulsa Webster | 123 |
1990 3A | Trent London | Tuttle | 123 |
1990 2A | Richard Elix | Hobart | 123 |
1991 5A | Miguel Spencer | Del City | 157 |
1991 4A | Bubba McClary | Tulsa Webster | 123 |
1991 3A | Shane Head | Tuttle | 136 |
1991 2A | Jerry Best | Chandler | 136 |
1992 5A | |||
1992 4A | |||
1992 3A | Keith Kizarr | Marlow | 115 |
1992 2A | |||
1993 5A | Robert Lord | Enid | 148 |
1993 4A | Cassidy Presgrove | Duncan | 148 |
1993 3A | Steven Schmidt | Tuttle | 136 |
1993 2A | Brad Payne | Kingfisher | 108 |
1994 5A | Mark Smith | Del City | 189 |
1994 4A | Chris Dupuis | Tula Webster | 119 |
1994 3A | Michael Lightner | Marlow | 125 |
1994 2A | Michael Scallion | Hobart | HWT |
1995 5A | Josh Cruzan | Choctaw | 172 |
19954A | Sedric Jones | Altus | 215 |
1995 3A | Clint Loyd | Marlow | 106 |
1995 2A | Steve Elkins | Madill | 142 |
1996 5A | Josh Cruzan | Choctaw | 171 |
1996 4A | Jacob Collinsworth | Duncan | 119 |
1996 3A | Michael Lightner | Marlow | 130 |
1996 2A | Waymon May | Perry | 189 |
1997 5A | Matt Bean | Mustang | 140 |
1997 4A | Dustin Sanders | Lawton Mac | 135 |
1997 3A | Matt Brown | Bristow | 112 |
1997 2A | Jeff Henning | Tuttle | 152 |
1998 5A | Skyler Holman | Broken Arrow | 119 |
1998 4A | Shane Roller | Bixby | 160 |
1998 3A | Matt Grice | Harrah | 140 |
1998 2A | Jeff Henning | Tuttle | 171 |
1999 5A | Matt Bean | Mustang | 145 |
1999 4A | Tyrone Lewis | El Reno | 171 |
1999 3A | Matt Grice | Harrah | 140 |
1999 2A | Nathan Barnes | Hobart | 119 |
2000 5A | Wes Roberts | Westmoore | 171 |
2000 4A | Matt Grice | Harrah | 152 |
2000 3A | Josh Hooker | Locust Grove | 125 |
2000 2A | Clark Shouse | Morrison | 140 |
2001 5A | Teyon Ware | Edmond North | 135 |
2001 4A | Bo DeArmon | Tulsa East Central | 140 |
2001 3A | |||
2001 2A | Jake Parker | Sperry | 119 |
2002 5A | Teyon Ware | Edmond North ` | 135 |
2002 4A | Derrick Fleenor | El Reno | 119 |
2002 3A | Erick Dabbs | Anadarko | 160 |
2002 2A | |||
2003 5A | |||
2003 4A | |||
2003 3A | |||
2003 2A | Colby Heppler | Perry | 130 |
2004 5A | |||
2004 4A | |||
2004 3A | |||
2004 2A | Davey Mason | Perry | 112 |
2005 5A | Jared Roshalt | Ponca City | 215 |
2005 4A | |||
2005 3A | |||
2005 2A | Mike Bizzle | Cascia Hall | 130 |
2006 5A | |||
2006 4A | |||
2006 3A | Derek Ward | Locust Grove | 135 |
2006 2A | Greg Cannon | Cascia Hall | 125 |
2007 5A | Trey Branscum | Ponca City | 130 |
2007 4A | |||
2007 3A | Jarrod Patterson | Cushing | 112 |
2007 2A | Ladd Rupp | Perry | 103 |
2008 5A | Chris Perry | Stillwater | 189 |
2008 4A | Travis Quintero | Harrah | 135 |
2008 3A | Bobby Williams | Tuttle | 152 |
2008 2A | Jacob Peck | Marlow | 140 |
2009 6A | Chris Perry | Stillwater | 189 |
2009 5A | Casey Rowell | Duncan | 130 |
2009 4A | Dallas Bailey | Catoosa | 171 |
2009 3A | Stephen Swan | Perry | 160 |
2010 6A | Justin DeAngelis | Jenks | 152 |
2010 5A | Cory Dauphin | El Reno | 160 |
2010 4A | Ty Fittje | Cushing | 125 |
2010 3A | Ian Fisher | Perry | 130 |
2011 6A | Kyle Garcia | Choctaw | 125 |
2011 5A | Keilan Torres | Altus | 145 |
2011 4A | Jeromy Davenport | Sallisaw | 152 |
2011 3A | Matt Kennedy | Geary | 140 |
2012 6A | Kyle Garcia | Choctaw | 126 |
2012 5A | Calib Freeman | Claremore | 120 |
2012 4A | Tyler Tustin | Poteau | 132 |
2012 3A | Jon Townsend | Comanche | 132 |
2013 6A | Keegan Moore | Putnam City | 132 |
2013 5A | Keilan Torres | Altus | 160 |
2013 4A | Zach Beard | Tuttle | 170 |
2013 3A | Davey Dolan | Berryhill | 145 |
2014 6A | Boo Lewallen | Yukon | 126 |
2014 5A | Gary Wayne Harding | Collinsville | 138 |
2014 4A | Wyatt Sheets | Stilwell | 138 |
2014 3A | Jonce Blaylock | Berryhill | 145 |
2015 6A | Boo Lewallen | Yukon | 138 |
2015 5A | Cameron Loving | Altus | 160 |
2015 4A | Wyatt Sheets | Stilwell | 152 |
2015 3A | Ross Shawnee | Geary-Watonga | 145 |
2016 6A | Daton Fix | Sand Springs | 126 |
2016 5A | Beau Wooden | Skiatook | 195 |
2016 4A | Jet Taylor | Sallisaw | 120 |
2016 3A | Trent Monk | Locust Grove | 195 |
2017 6A | Daton Fix | Sand Springs | 132 |
2017 5A | Garrett Wild | Glenpool | 132 |
2017 4A | Tanner Litterell | Tuttle | 138 |
2017 3A | Kaden Gfeller | Heritage Hall | 138 |
2018 6A | Jaxen Gilmore | Yukon | 145 |
2018 5A | Jerome Townsell | Edison Prep | 182 |
2018 4A | Jacob Butler | Elgin | 138 |
2018 3A | Dan Baker | Sulphur | 220 |
2019 6A | Zane Coleman | Choctaw | 170 |
2019 5A | Josh Heindselman | Piedmont | 285 |
2019 4A | Thaddeus Long | Tulsa McLain | 126 |
2019 3A | River Simon | Vian | 182 |
2020 6A | Tate Picklo | Mustang | 182 |
2020 5A | Josh Taylor | Skiatook | 138 |
2020 4A | Luke Surber | Tuttle | 182 |
2020 3A | Konner Doucet | Comanche | 220 |
2021 6A | Zac Blankenship | Bixby | 132 |
2021 5A | Jordan Williams | Collinsville | 152 |
2021 4A | Cougar Anderson | Skiatook | 170 |
2021 3A | Eli Griffin | Cascia Hall | 126 |
2021 Girls | Kearanie Johnson | Claremore | 127 |