Stockton, Scruggs claim wins before bowing out at state
Stockton, Scruggs claim wins before bowing out at state![CASHION SENIOR Matthew Stockton (pictured on the right in the left photo) and Hennessey freshman Kason Scruggs (right) were able to gain wins in their respective weight classes at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. [Photos by Anjelica Newcomer]](https://www.kingfisherpress.net/sites/kingfisherpress.etypegoogle10.com/files/styles/article400/public/ecf2b1ef02_Ar00703018.jpg?itok=Ti7V8Xd1 "CASHION SENIOR Matthew Stockton (pictured on the right in the left photo) and Hennessey freshman Kason Scruggs (right) were able to gain wins in their respective weight classes at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. [Photos by Anjelica Newcomer]")
CASHION SENIOR Matthew Stockton (pictured on the right in the left photo) and Hennessey freshman Kason Scruggs (right) were able to gain wins in their respective weight classes at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. [Photos by Anjelica Newcomer]
Hennessey’s Kason Scruggs and Cashion’s Matthew Stockton and Carlos Martinez battled well into the third day of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament.
All three wrestlers made their respective consolation semifinals before being eliminated from the tournament.
A senior, Stockton was making his second state appearance for the fledgling program at Cashion.
Stockton defeated Kaynan Wilson of Wyandotte with a fall at 4:30 to earn a spot in the semifinals.
There, he was pitted against Garritt Hunt of Vian, who was the east regional champion the weekend before.
The two squared off late Friday night and Hunt was able to pull out a narrow 3-2 win in an ultimate tie-breaker.
That sent Stockton into the consolation semifinals Saturday morning.
He was defeated there by Jasiah Raines of Anadarko. Raines went on to finish third in the weight class.
Stockton finished the year with a 36-11 record.
Like his teammate, Martinez was also back at state for the second time.
He was pinned at 5:47 of his 165-pound quarterfinal by Seth Elam of Salina.
Martinez came back Friday evening to pick up a 6-2 decision over Victory Christian’s Ethan Uyetake, which landed him in the consolation semifinals on Saturday.
Andrew Kukuk of Perry edged Martinez 4-2 in that semifinal and went on to place third in the weight class.
Martinez was 26-7 on the year.
Only a freshman, Scruggs was making his first appearance at state.
After winning Thursday night’s wrestle-in match at 138 pounds, he was downed by Luke Prince of Vinita in the weight class’ quarterfi nal.
Scruggs bounced back from that defeat to pin Gage Pruitt of Salina at 3:30 of their consolation quarterfi nal.
In the consolation semifi nal, Scruggs was pinned at 4:00 by Saben Batten of Blackwell.
Batten also went on to place third.
Scruggs was 35-9 on the season.
Kingfisher sophomore Jaxon Sheppard wrestled his way into the main bracket at 132 pounds after a Thursday night win.
Sheppard was defeated in the quarterfinals by Marlow’s Tommy Miller via technical fall.
Miller went on to win the state title and finished 38-0 on the season.
In the consolation quarterfinals, Sheppard faced Oklahoma Christian School’s Jace Lillie, who had narrowly defeated Sheppard the week before in the regional.
This time Lillie was able to work out a 16-3 major decision.
Sheppard wrapped up his sophomore campaign with a 30-6 record.