Henryetta junior Tayler Hamric came away with a fourth-place finish at last weekend’s Class 3A state wrestling championships at the Jim Norick State Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City.
Hamric was one of three Knight grapplers to compete at the 3-day event, being joined by fellow juniors Jason Powders and Jordyn Miller. Last weekend was the first-ever state tournament appearances for Hamric and Powders, while Miller was making his second-straight trip to the ‘Big House’.
Miller began the state tournament action for the Knights, competing in a Wrestle-In Match in the 215-pound weight division. Miller made quick work of his opening-round foe – Tallon Moiser of Lone Grove – pinning the Longhorns’ shoulders to the mat in 42 seconds.
In the quarterfinal round, all three HHS grapplers suffered defeats with Powders falling to Pawnee’s Kolbe Novotny by a 16-0 technical fall decision in the 157-pound weight division, Hamric dropping a 6-2 decision to Comanche’s Kanon Clift in the 175-pound weight division, and Miller suffering a technical fall decision (16-1) to Marlow’s Brock Smith.
Powders overcame his quarterfinal loss with a pinfall victory over Joe Fixico of Prague at the 1:24 mark, while Hamric advanced with a sudden victory win over Vian’s Tristan Wiley by a 7-5 margin.
Miller had his state tournament appearance come to a close in the consolation first round with a pinfall loss to Oklahoma Christian School’s Ryder Gray at the 3:49 mark.
In the consolation semifinal round, Powders saw his state tournament appearance end with a pinfall loss to Blackwell’s Kelby Ingram at the 2:49 mark, while Hamric advanced to the third-place match with a 3-0 decision victory over Salina’s Jayce Glass in his consolation semifinal match.
Hamric’s bid for a Top 3 finish at his first-ever state wrestling tournament was derailed by another decision loss (6-4) to Clift in the third-place match.
— Oklahoma State Wrestling Championships Boys Class 3A
157 lbs. – Jason Powders (Henryetta)
Quarterfinal: lost by technical fall to Kolbe Novotny (Pawnee); 16-0 Consolation Quarterfinal: won by pinfall over Joe Fixico (Prague); 1:24 Consolation Semifinal: lost by pinfall to Kelby Ingram (Blackwell); 2:49 — 175 lbs. Tayler Hamric (Henryetta)
Quarterfinal: lost by decision to Kanon Clift (Comanche); 6-2 Consolation Quarterfinal: won by sudden victory over Tristan Wiley (Vian); 7-5 Consolation Semifinal: won by decision over Jayce Glass (Salina); 3-0 Third Place Match: lost by decision to Kanon Clift (Comanche); 6-4 — 215 lbs. Jordyn Miller (Henryetta)
Wrestle-In Match: won by pinfall over Tallon Moiser (Lone Grove); 0:42 Quartefinal: lost by technical fall to Brock Smith (Marlow); 16-1 Consolation First Round: lost by pinfall to Ryder Gray (OCS); 3:49