Seniors propel KHS to mat win over Elk City

Coach Steven Wilson was expecting a win.

He wasn’t expecting it to be in dramatic fashion.

But that’s what he - and everyone else in attendance Tuesday at the Kingfi sher Heritage gym - got when KHS defeated Elk City 37-36 in a high school wrestling dual.

Jose Santoyo pinned Nate Leyja in the first period of their heavyweight match to complete a comeback that saw the Yellowjackets trailing 36-19 with three matches to go.

Kingfisher got in that position by losing two straight matches and three in a four-match span, all by falls.

Senior Mason Alig broke the streak at 190 pounds.

He was firmly in command of Cason Cobb throughout, then pinned him in the third period to bring the Jackets within 36-25.

Fellow senior Robert Barnett was next up at 215 and, after an early takedown and near fall, pinned Kolten Baker to make it a 36-31 margin in favor of the Elks.

Santoyo, yet another senior, saved the Jackets with his pin at heavyweight.

Elk City started the dual with a fall at 106 before both teams forfeited at 113.

Maliki Haynes put KHS on the board by pinning Michael Forester at 120.

The Elks got pins at both 126 and 132 to stake an 18-6 lead before KHS won three of the next four bouts.

Jaxon Sheppard pinned Austin Box at 138 pounds, then Brayden Kochenower picked up an 8-0 major decision over Ethan Nelson at 144.

That got KHS back within 18-16.

The Elks earned a pin at 150 before Abe Prieto’s 12-5 decision at 157 got the Jackets back to a 24-19 deficit.

Elk City’s pins at 165 and 175 put Kingfisher in its 17-point deficit entering the last three matches.

In girls’ high school matches, Kingfisher won two of the four contested matches as Rylee Hamil was victorious at 115 pounds and Delissa Evans at 140.