Guthrie wrestling ended its 2024-25 dual slate with a head-to-head battle against twelfth-ranked Blanchard on Thursday.
Unfortunately for coach Jaden Davenport’s team, the Bluejays couldn’t pull out the win on homecoming night, falling 37-34 in a dual that came down to the final seconds.
Pre-dual homecoming festivities commenced with senior wrestler Laila Griffin winning homecoming queen. The dual then kicked off with Joel Landry losing by fall in the 106-pound match to Blanchard’s Cooper Keely. Urijah Sisk was also pinned in the 113 by Brentley Jobe to give the Lions an early 12-0 lead, but defending state champion Kaedin Herendeen brought it back to six with a pin over Hayden Heatley in the 120.
Herendeen pinned his opponent in just 49 seconds on a night in which he and Bryson Hall were each honored for 100 career wins.
The next match was another quick pin for Guthrie as Ayden Smith won the 126 in 47 seconds to tie the dual at 12-12. Blanchard took the lead right back as the 132-pound match made five-straight falls to start the dual after top-ranked Tyler Misenheiner pinned Matt Mihalik in the second period.
The night’s first non-fall result came in the 138-pound bout, where Guthrie’s Luke Lyons and Blanchard’s Cotton Cosley needed overtime to decide a winner. Lyons secured the takedown to win by 7-4 decision and bring the Bluejays to within three points at 18-15. Colton Stevens followed it up with a 9-0 major decision victory over Parker Robertson halfway through the dual in the 144.
Guthrie found themselves in a hole down 12 after losing the next three matches in-a-row. Aiden Hardin fell in the 150 by major decision, 11-2, to Anthony Cox, then Trevor Engles gave Blanchard a 28-19 advantage by pinning Rowan McHone in the 157. Broady Curliss made it 31-19 after winning by 12-5 decision over Clayton Carey, but the Bluejays got some of those points back after Blanchard forfeited the 175.
After exploding out of the gate with a 14-1 lead over Tyson Stiner, Guthrie’s Roston Uselton tied the dual at 31 apiece with a second period pin at 190 pounds. Uselton is having an impressive senior season, coming into Thursday’s dual as the No. 4-ranked wrestler in Class 5A.
The 215-pound match saw Bryce Dennis make his varsity debut for the Bluejays due to injuries to usual starter Wyatt Silvis. He faced Ash Foster in the penultimate match, who pinned Dennis in the first period to give Blanchard a 37-31 lead heading into the final weight.
Sir William Morgan battled the sixth-ranked heavyweight in Class 5A, Christian Young, for a chance to tie and determine the dual with criteria. Morgan fought hard and pulled off the upset victory by decision, 9-4, but couldn’t get the fall to catch Blanchard in points. The Lions won the dual, 37-34, in what is their third win this season over a higher-ranked opponent. Guthrie finishes with a dual record of 11-5.
The night concluded with Guthrie’s Ilamae Smith winning her girls’ exhibition match by pinning her opponent in just 37 seconds.
Coach Davenport’s team now travels to Blackwell to wrestle in their final regular season action of the season at the Big 4+4 Tournament on Saturday. After that, they’ll be off until Dual State kicks off on Feb 15.