Cousins crash state tournament mats

Choctaw’s Kyle Garcia and Carl Albert’s Eric Waggoner made it a family affair in Feb. 26’s state wrestling championships at State Fair Arena.

Garcia stacked up his third individual title in as many years at 125 pounds and two weight categories later, cousin Waggoner held his ground for his first gem going out as a senior. Garcia’s father, Brian, is the sibling of Waggoner’s mother, Yvonne.

“Eric has made a lot of sacrifices throughout his high school career,” Titan head coach Fay Barnett said. “They (Garcia and Waggoner) train together outside the room. They are a wrestling family and it paid off.”

Waggoner knew going in it was going to be tough as he was pitted against Austin Goyette of Harrah, who defeated Waggoner the past two matches. Goyette skimmed Waggoner in overtime for third place in the Cushing Tournament and got by Waggoner for the championship of the Carl Albert Tournament in the 135-pound slot.

Waggoner (37-6) did pick up a win on Goyette (31-5) in the preseason, giving the grappler some confidence going into the title tilt.

At the start of the duel, Waggoner went to his knees and then even used a threepoint stance to keep lower than the sturdy Goyette.

“I had to stay lower than him,” Waggoner said. “He’s shorter; he has a lower center of gravity. I knew his style.”

The first period was a 0-0 wash, but with 1:47 left in the second, Waggoner fought and fought and freed himself for a one-point escape. With just eight ticks left on the clock, the Titan vaulted headfirst for a takedown and a 3-0 lead heading into the final stanza.

Starting the third, Goyette escaped to get on the board. Trailing by two points in the remaining 13 seconds of the match, Goyette compressed Waggoner in a headlock and was digging for all the torque he could find to turn the Titan. Waggoner was braced in those seconds and held on for the 3-1 win.

“During those seconds, I had so many thoughts — not to give up anything too crucial and stay as square as I can — running through my head,” Waggoner said.

EARLY START

Garcia, just a junior, believes getting on the scoreboard first is a recipe for a win, and in three state championships, the Yellowjacket has used the proper ingredients.

“The first takedown was big,” Garcia said about his initial points with 1:23 left in the first period for a 2-0 lead. “I don’t care who you are; you got to get that first one. That kid (Tulsa Union’s Brian Crutchmer) is an ox. I knew he was going to take it to me. The match was a lot closer than I wanted. A little too close for comfort, but a win is a win. After baseball, I’m going to get back in the weight room and start working on No. 4.”

Garcia, 33-2, was named Class 6A’s Outstanding Wrestler after his 4-3 decision over Crutchmer.

The strength factor was big, as Garcia stepped up to compete at 125 pounds from 119 a season ago. He won his first title at 112 pounds when he attended Del City High School. Crutchmer (38-6), on the other hand, dropped a weight from 130.

“Nobody scores on him (Garcia),” Choctaw head coach Benny Coleman said.

“A one-point match for a lot of kids you will have panic there, but he’s confident in that position.”

The only time Garcia faced Crutchmer was in his freshman season when he won a 3-0 decision in the state semifinals.

“It is just great to get my hand raised,” Garcia said.

Broken Arrow won the team competition with 134 points. Choctaw took eighth with 33 and Del City wound up 18th with 11 points.

Eagle Tray Dorrell (112), a two-time state runner-up, major decisioned Yukon’s Lloyd Crownover 12-4 to place third in his senior campaign.

At heavyweight, Chcotaw’s Hunter Davis recorded a fall in a minute flat to finish in third place and win the bronze.