TULSA – Grove senior wrestler Benny Steffenson won twice on Saturday at the 5A East regional tournament at Edison High School, including getting a measure of revenge against Claremore’s Dillon Williams, to qualify for the 5A state championships for the third straight season.
After pinning Beau Wooden of Skiatook in the first period to start the tournament Friday, Steffenson suffered a 1-0 loss to eventual runner-up Brice Inbody of Bishop Kelley in the quarterfinals. Steffenson then began his long road through the consolation bracket with a pin of Eli Hooks of Edmond Deer Creek on Friday night before completing the trek on Saturday with two more wins, including a defeat of Williams in the consolation semifinals. Williams had won the previous two meetings, including a Jan. 22 dual in Claremore.
Steffenson finished the tournament in fourth place at 182 pounds, losing to Smith of Shawnee in the third place match. He was Grove’s only qualifier for the state tournament.
Collinsville ran away with the team title, crowning six individual champions and qualifying 11 wrestlers for state. Coweta, Piedmont, Edmond Deer Creek and Shawnee rounded out the top five.
The state championships will begin on Friday at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City and will conclude on Saturday. Steffenson will be looking for his first career state medal, which would make him the 36th medalist in Grove history.
Five Bulldogs qualify for 3A state
The Jay wrestling team had five wrestlers advance to the 3A state championships with top-four finishes at the East regional at Berryhill Saturday.
Treyson and Trestin January, along with Derick Shrum, Cole Wheeler and Remington White all advanced.
Treyson January finished third at 106 pounds,while Trestin January finished fourth at 120 pounds. Shrum (132), Wheeler (138) and White (160) all finished second in their respective weight classes.
The state championships will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Oklahoma City.
