Huskie dual season nears end
The Pawhuska High School wrestling team continued its preparations for the Class 3A Regional Tournament with tough home-and-away dual matches last Tuesday and Thursday.
Over the weekend, six PHS grapplers took part in an open tournament at Pryor. Also, the Huskie junior high mat squad traveled to Inola on Friday and Saturday for the Will Rogers Conference tourney.
Pawhuska eighth-grader Price Perrier won the conference championship in the 113-pound division at Inola. Ryan Parks of the Junior Huskies placed fourth at 98 pounds in the tourney.
PHS sophomore Brycen Swan continued his outstanding season by taking fourth in the Pryor event’s 132-pound competition — which included a pair of defending state champions in a 25-man bracket.
Two other Huskies — 126-pound junior T.J. Finn and sophomore 152-pounder Caleb Bruce — came within one victory of placing at the tourney. Other PHS entries at Pryor included Logan Trammel, Mathew Taft and Warren Graves.
Swan posted a 15-0 technical fall for the Pawhuska’s lone victory in last Tuesday night’s dual against perennial Class 3A powerhouse Perry. The match with the No. 3-ranked Maroons marked the final home appearance of the season for the Huskies, who had another rugged dual Thursday at Tonkawa, where the sixth-ranked Bucs allowed the PHS varsity just two triumphs.
Pawhuska senior Jayden Higgins won by fall in his 182-pound bout at Tonkawa. Swan earned a victory by major decision at 132 pounds. Tonkawa finished second behind Pawnee in Pawhuska’s 3A district dual standings.
Head coach Brian Edwards’ PHS mat team was scheduled for a Tuesday dual match in Tulsa against the Hale High School Rangers. On Friday and Saturday, the Huskies are to take part in the Will Rogers Conference’s high school tournament — which also is to be held at Inola.
State contender Levi Youngwolfe of Pawhuska is expected to be returning to the mat in time for the 3A East Regional, which will be held Feb. 20-21 at Sperry High School. Youngwolfe, a sophomore 120-pounder, has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a hip injury. Other top Huskie grapplers who have been contending with injuries include sophomore Daniel Nightengale at 113 pounds, sophomore 145-pounder Jonathan Moody and 285-pound senior Dakota Jester.
