Carl Albert wrestlers earn All-American honors at Heartland Duals
Carl Albert wrestlers competed in the Heartland Duals last week in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Pictured from left, coach Keith Sikes, Kingston Sikes, Cash Wiley, Brayden Mixay, Maddux Underhill and coach Todd Wiley. Photo provided
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Carl Albert wrestlers turned in an impressive showing on the national stage earlier this month.
Four Titans helped the Oklahoma Elite team to a runner-up finish at the Heartland Duals April 2-4 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Cash Wiley and Kingston Sikes each earned All-American honors after winning all of their matches in the dual-format tournament.
The event featured teams from Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas and showcased some of the nation’s top high school talent.
Competing alongside athletes from programs across Oklahoma, including Blackwell, Bristow, Elgin and Norman North, the Oklahoma Elite squad finished 7-1 overall. The team also dominated fellow in-state competition with a 77-0 victory over another Oklahoma team.
Wiley led the way with a perfect 8-0 record, compiling four technical falls, two pins and two decisions. Sikes matched that 8-0 mark with six technical falls, one pin and one decision. His performance included a win over a two-time Fargo national champion in the junior division who has committed to Nebraska.
Maddux Underhill posted a 6-2 record with three decisions, two technical falls and one pin, while Brayden Mixay went 7-1 with four technical falls and three decisions.
The team was coached by Keith Sikes and Todd Wiley, both assistants at Carl Albert.
Sikes said the event provided valuable experience against elite, out-of-state competition.
“It was good to see kids from other states,” Sikes said. “That’s what this is about, just getting that national-level experience. The Carl Albert boys represented really well, what they did.”
Looking ahead, Carl Albert wrestlers will shift focus to freestyle competition and qualifying events for national tournaments, including Fargo.
“We’ll do individual results, try to qualify for Fargo,” Sikes said. “Freestyle is coming up.”
Several wrestlers are expected to compete in qualifying events in Tulsa, Owasso, Union and at the Southern Plains Regional.
Sikes said competing in events like the Heartland Duals helps prepare athletes for future opportunities at the national and international levels.
