Guthrie High’s wrestling team jumped right into the fire last week after the holiday break. The Bluejays lost to No. 10 Duncan 39-30 and to No. 1 El Reno 51-21 in dual meets before traveling down the road and finishing eighth in the Cushing Tiger Invitational.
Eli Kirk recorded his 100th career win with a first-period fall on Senior Night against Duncan and also posted another fall against El Reno before winning all five matches at Cushing to extend his record to 15-0.
Kirk started his weekend with a fall over Landon Dodd (Skiatook) in 1:27; followed by a 17-5 major decision over Kolby Brasher (Perkins-Tryon); a 17-1 tech fall at the 4:27 mark over Zarion Kraft (Bridge Creek); and another 11-2 major decision over Gabe Romans (Allen, Texas). In the championship match, Kirk needed just 1:48 to record the fall over Tucker Collinsworth (Catoosa).
Braden Hall (17-3) also brought home a championship from Cushing, going 5-0 over the weekend. Hall started with a 19-4 tech fall over Zander Furrow (Hinton) at the 4:23 mark; followed by a 20-5 tech fall at 3:29 against Cole Beier (Chickasha); a 6-2 decision against Caleb Hunter (McLoud); and a 9-4 decision over Jaiden Johnson (Fort Gibson). In the final, Hall beat Caden Brown (Allen, Texas) 5-4 to claim the title.
In the Duncan dual, the Bluejays got wins from Kaedin Herendeen, Braden Hall, Bryson Hall, Wesley Silvis and Eli Moroney for their 30 points. But, the Bluejays forfeited two weights for 12 points and lost four falls for another 24 points. Guthrie Junior High’s team got wins from Kyler Wilder, Colton Stevens, Clayton Carey, Rowan McHone, Alston Uselton, Tate Simmons and Max Chavez in a 36-31 loss to Duncan. While each team won seven matches, Duncan posted five falls.
In the El Reno dual meet, Kaedin Herendeen, Kirk, Silvis and Nick Herendeen won for the Bluejays for their 21 points. El Reno, meanwhile, posted eight falls in the 12 matches that they won.
Other Guthrie finishers in the Cushing meet: Kaedin Herendeen (143) placed third at 106 pounds, going 4-1. After getting a bye, Herendeen won by 12-1 major decision over Morgan Duke (Sallisaw); beat Jaxson Brown of Blackwell 104; lost to Jaegen Jones (Skiatook) 5-2; posted a 2:04 fall over Landon Earp (Chandler); and then beat Brown for the second time with a sudden victory-1 overtime win, 8-6, for third place.
Allyn Orndorff (120 pounds) went 2- 2; Mathew Jirous (132) went 1-2; Luke Lyons (132) went 2-2; and Hayden Ross (138) went 1-2.
Ryan Miller (150) went 0-2, and Bryson Hall lost a hard-fought 2-1 decision in the second round that forced him 50 pounds) with a 3-2 record on the weekend.
In the upper weights, Tyler Gettings (175) went 1-2; Silvis (190) went 3-2 with three falls but finished short of placing in the tournament; Moroney (215) went 2-2; and Nic Herendeen (285) was 1-0 before withdrawing from the tournament.