Titans shine at Malcolm Wade Invitational

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

A handful of Carl Albert wrestlers medaled last weekend at the Malcolm Wade Carl Albert Invitational.

Freshman Kingston Sikes finished second at 165 pounds, while Cash Wiley (120), Brayden Mixay (138), Maddux Underhill (150), and Cruz Young (285) each placed third.

“I was really happy with Cash Wiley, Brayden Mixay, Maddux Underhill, Kingston Sikes and Cruz Young for placing in the top three,” said coach Curt Hodges. “Every weight had several returning state placers, state qualifiers and some had returning state champions, so it was just a tough event. There is a reason it’s the toughest 5A tournament in the state.”

Sikes went 3-1 with a fall, technical fall and decision. The freshman beat Deringer Hollenbeck, a defending state champion from Grove, in the second round. In the finals, he faced Claremore’s Cooper Zickefoose, another returning state champion. Sikes led early but was hit with a questionable stalling penalty in the third period and lost by a 2-1 decision.

Wiley finished 4-1 in the tournament with a fall and a major decision. After losing in the semifinals, Wiley earned a major decision against Andrew Hancock. He then used a takedown in the second period to beat Newcastle’s Gage Stark by a 2-1 decision in the third-place match.

Mixay was also 4-1 in the tournament. He overcame a semifinal loss with a major decision against McAlester’s Anthony Noble and technical fall in the third-place match with Matthew Snyder of El Reno.

Underhill went 5-1 in the 150-pound bracket. His lone loss came in the quarterfinals against Elgin’s Braxten Antuna. Underhill responded with four straight victories for third place.

“Maddux was unseeded at 150 and was just tough as nails both days,” Hodges said. “He lost a 5-4 match to a state qualifier, then won three straight  including a win over a state qualifier to finish third.”

Young needed two wins against El Reno’s Nick Mitchum to finish third at heavyweight. The senior beat Mitchum by a 4-0 decision in the quarterfinals and held him off again in the third-place match by a 2-1 decision.

“I knew his technique, so I didn’t need to change anything,” Young said. “The only thing that was different was he was a lot more aggressive. The only thing I had to do was keep up with him.”

Young’s only loss of the tournament was to Newcastle’s Nicholas Lozano, who he beat earlier in the year.

“Third is still pretty good and I can learn from failures and be ready for regionals and state,” Young said.

The Titans nearly had a few more placers in freshman Carson Fleming, Joe Thomas and Colton Davis who were each one or two points from winning their matches.

Chickasha won the tournament with 247 points and six individual champions. Claremore (203) and McAlester (144) rounded out the top three. Carl Albert finished ninth with 110.5.

“For our team performance, I was happy with the way we competed for the most part,” Hodges said. “Friday, we had a pretty consistent day. Saturday morning did not go the way we wanted. We lost several matches back-to-back, so that was frustrating. But our guys responded and we turned it around and finished on a 8-1 run.”

The Titans celebrated senior night Jan. 14 against Westmoore JV. Seniors Colton Davis, Israel Moody and Cruz Young earned victories. Korben Teffer and Mason Williams also represented the 2025 senior class.

Senior Manager Taylor Madison was also recognized.

“Several of our starters got the night off and we were able to wrestle some other guys who are also working hard in the practice room,” said Hodges. “It was a good opportunity to let them get on the mat. They wrestled hard and did really well. Landon Mastin got a fall at 157.”