March 4, 2023 Issue, Page 7 of 8

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March 4, 2023 The Elk City News - 7 Merritt Oilerettes win Regional 1 Championship earning to Do, Doing By Shonda Little team’s greatest asset is that, on a any given night, one of about The Merritt Oilerettes con- 8 players might be the top tinued this march to the Big scorer. His deep bench is full of House last weekend after multiple secret weapons. clutching the District 1 Re- ‘The weekend's top scorer was gional Championship. Ella Porter, who knocked out In a dominating performance against Fairview, the Merritt 14 points. Madie Mong fol- girls won 60-26. lowed with 13 points. Breegan ‘The Oilerettes go into the over- Barnett and Chloe Stout both all Regional Championship on contributed 6. Ashlee Sosa put Friday in Enid with a 24-1 re- up 5 points, Riley Hartman cord. knocked out 4, and Myleigh Head Coach Jeff Daughtery Flowers and Peyton Fite both has said multiple times that his tipped in 2 points. Merritt Oilers a Spring Blue and Gold Sale. Pictured are Dillon Baker, Ava McCollum, and Evan Putnam with the win one and lose Blue and Gold products for sale by Elk City FEA chapter. Courtesy photo. one at District Cowboy wrestling coach can’t make 1 Regionals for sense of seeding for Big 12 tournament tournament Jason Elmquist, Stillwater Oklahoma State has six wres- fied ... just seems to me they weights. The Big 12 only quali- elimination NewsPress John Smith is none too pleased tlers seeding in the top four of their respective weights came to a conclusion and had fies the top four at 184 pounds to get some information from — leaving little margin of error someone.” with Daton Fix (133 pounds), for Wittlake to lock up an au- By Shonda Little with the seeding committee One of the biggest bones to tomatic bid — while Doucet is Kaden Gfeller (157) and Dustin for this weekend’s Big 12 Con- Plott (174) with the highest pick for Smith was conference seeded right at the total allot- ‘The Merritt High School Oilers ended their 2022-2023 basketball ference Wrestling Champion- seeds among Cowboy wrestlers wrestlers dodging competition season during last weekend's District 1 Regional Tournament, throughout the season. ted (8) for heavyweight. ships in Tulsa with Fix as the top seed in his He looks at that having been ‘There is one Cowboy who most Coach Laub’s boys have taken some tough losses during the sea- “L was really frustrated with a weight, while Gfeller and Plott son, but have also knocked out incredible wins. Regardless of the a benefit for those wrestlers definitely has work to do, couple of weight classes — try- are the second seed in their when it came to seeding, in- outcomes, the team has stayed committed until the final buzzer though. rang throughout the season. ing to get to the same answer weights. stead of being penalized for With Witcraft having limited In the first match-up, Merritt was on top of their game against that the committee got to,” Travis Wittlake, who is wres- not wrestling a common or matches this season — mov- Watonga. the Oklahoma State wrestling tling up at 184 pounds for the tougher opponent. ing into the starting lineup the ‘The final score was a 62-40 Merritt win. coach said. “I feel like at couple first time, is the No. 3 seed at “[ think that if you sat out, it final month of the dual season Top scorers were Caden McGilbert with 17 points, Caden Smith of weight classes it's not right. his weight. Former Stillwater was better and people got a with 12 points, and Luke Peffer with 9 points. We need some sort of meeting High product Carter Young higher seed — because my due to a season-ending injury ‘The Oilers then squared off against Hobart. While the Merritt to finalize seeding, and have (141) and Luke Surber, who guys didn’t sit out,’ Smith said. sustained by NCAA qualifier boys ultimately lost their final game, several players gave out- a chance to at least discuss has trimmed down to wrestle “In our 17 dual meets this year, Trevor Mastrogiovanni — he standing performances. why you think that something at 197 this season, are the will need to claim one of the Top scorers were Caden McGilbert and Tristan Prater, each with should be changed. and we fourth seed for their respective a total of 12 people wrestled. top six spots to punch his tick- 17 points. Caden Smith knocked out 8, and Luke Peffer put in 6 were told that there's nothing weights. We had seven weight classes et to the national tournament points. Braden Bratcher scored 3 points, and Jack Edler added 2 that wrestled every match. ... Just outside of top four seed- there for us to argue.” that will be held in Tulsa. points, respectively. ing is Victor Voinovich with the “I think the committee at the fifth seed at 149 pounds and NCAA championship look at “Lwant to see him go to nation- Wyatt Sheets as the sixth seed it differently if you sat out and als,” Smith said. “If he wants at 165, while Konner Doucet is more, I'd be proud of that. ... GRAHAM haven't wrestled.” the only remaining Cowboy to Fortunately for Oklahoma He's got bigger expectations AUCTIONEERS earn a top eight seeding with State, if each of the Cowboys than what mine are. I want him the No. 8 seed at heavyweight. wrestle at least to their seed- to go to nationals — go fight to Reece Witcraft is the lone ing, they should qualify for go, and then help us at nation- Oklahoma State wrestler who als, For him to go to nationals, CONSTRUCTION: HEAVY EQUIPMENT Onl FIELD PaRM EQUIPMENT» CATTLE did not earn a top eight seed at the NCAA tournament based he's got to be one of those six.” 125 pounds. on allocated qualifiers for the league. Follow News Press sports edi- 405-403-4303 “I got a few concerns that I'd like to know a little bit more Many of the Cowboys have tor Jason Elmquist on Twit- about,” Smith said. “Why were some wiggle room if they are ter @jelmquistSW for updates mgrahamauctioneers.com some of these decision made. You're never going to be satis- to slip up over the weekend, on Oklahoma State and high aside from two of the heavier school athletics. Western Oklahoma Statewide County Four Sooners earn Big 12 Surplus Equipment Auction Elk City Convention Center, Elk City, OK weekly honors March 10-11! 2023 Items from Oklahoma Counties, Companies and Tarik Masri, The Norman Transcript ing perfect 10's during Friday's meet against Private Individuals. Consignments Welcome until Oklahoma pitcher Alex Storako’s big game West Virginia, and Faith Torrez was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week to give the Soon- March 3rd. against UCLA has gained the attention of the ers’ their fourth sweep of the conference’s week- Day 1: Big 12 ly awards this season. Bowers was named the Big 12’s Gymnast of the (6) Crawler Tractors, (22) Motor Graders, (3) Excavators, On Tuesday, the conference named the redshirt senior Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after a com- Week following a perfect performance on the (2) Gradalls, (8) Wheel Loaders, Elevating Scraper, (8) plete-game shutout of the then-top-ranked Bru- floor on Friday. LeVasseur was named the con- Loader Backhoes, (2) Bomag Reclaimers, (2) Rollers, ins on Sunday. Storako allowed just three hits ference’s event specialist of the week after scor- and no walks while striking out five of the 18 ing a 10 on vault. (18) Tractors, (18) Flexwing Mowers, (5) Skidsteers, (4) batters she faced. Torrez earned her fourth consecutive weekly Brush Chippers, Multiple Skidsteer Attachments, More A transfer from Michigan, Storako is 4-0 with honor after tying career-highs on floor (9.950) the Sooners this season with 26 strikeouts and and beam (9.900) as well as a 9.875 on bars. items to be added. an ERA of 0.34. She pitched in three of the Top-ranked Oklahoma posted the highest team Day 2: Sooners’ games last weekend at the Mary Nut- score in the country on Friday with a 198.575. It ter Collegiate Classic. tied the fifth-highest in NCAA history and set a (22) Trucks, (24) Dump Trucks, (2) Water Trucks, (58) ‘The Sooners will be back at home this weekend new program record. Pickups, (5) Suv’s & Cars, 5" Wheel Camper, Equipment to host UIC and Kentucky for their home tour- ‘The Sooners will be back at home on Friday to Trailers, (14) Belly Dump Trailers, (2) End Dump Trailers, nament. OU women’s gymnastics takes all three Big 12 host No, 2 Florida at 7:45 p.m. Tarik Masri is the interim sports editor for Water Trailers, Lots of Misc. More items to be added. weekly honors ‘The Transcript covering OU athletics and area More info go to www.grahamauctioneers.com Jordan Bowers and Katherine LeVasseur re- sports. You can reach him by emailing tarike ceived Big 12 weekly awards Tuesday after post- normantranscript.com