The Lawton Public Schools’ (LPS) wrestlers have been working all year for one goal, to make the OSSAA State Wrestling Tournament. For a handful of the district’s student-athletes, that goal became reality when athletes went to Jim Norick Arena the first week in March. LPS had multiple podium finishes, but the big winner was MacArthur High School (MHS) senior Kaden Wallace, who made it all the way to the final of the 157 weight class and beat his opponent to bring back a gold medal.
Wallace, who has over 100 wins for his career, was the top seed in the west for his bracket and earned the pinfall in his opening bout. He followed that up with a 3-1 win in the semifinals before beating his opponent from McCalister 4-2 in the final to become a State Champion. Wallace was not the only Highlander to reach the podium, as junior Skylar Red Elk placed third in the 190 bracket and junior Malachi Jefferson placed fourth at 165. Additionally, seniors Trae Kibble, Jake Noble, Ephraim Morris, and the Highlanders’ first female state qualifier sophomore La’India Perry won her wrestle-in match by pinfall in 32 seconds.
Lawton High School (LHS) took five wrestlers to State and had two make the podium. Senior Tyzel Zachry placed third at 215, which included a win over MHS’s Kibble, and junior Teyanna Fields won fourth place in her weight class. Junior Nevaeh Reyes won her opening match by pinfall, as did sophomore Brielle Williams.
Eisenhower High School (EHS) had a pair of females qualify for State. Junior Christina Guerrero won her wrestle-in match by pinfall before falling in her next two matches. Sophomore Vanessa Nolan also won her opening match by a fall to get into the main bracket, but did not make it to the fourth-place match.
Overall, it was a great season for LPS wrestlers, especially for the females. With so many under-classmen having success, the future for wrestling in lawton is bright and the expectation for many more State qualifiers in 2026 is high.