By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY – Landis Scoon was up to the challenge of not only switching schools but switching from Class 6A to 5A.
The junior made an immediate impact for Piedmont after moving from Yukon as a returning State Tournament qualifier. His first regular season match was a major decision win against his former team. He followed with 35 more wins, a Regional Tournament championship and a runner-up finish Saturday in the 2019 Class 5A State Tournament at Jim Norick Arena.
“Landis threw together a really good season and two good matches to get to the Finals,” Piedmont coach Erik Ford said. “I was really proud of his effort. He did a great job for us all year, but especially this weekend.”
Scoon and his coach knew it would be a tall order in the finals, squaring off against two-time State champion and undefeated Cougar Andersen from Skiatook. But Scoon battled early, trailing just 2-0 in the first period. Andersen broke through in the second, winning by fall at the 4:36 mark.
“I felt like I didn’t wrestle my best match,” Scoon said of his loss to Andersen. “I had a couple of really good matches on the first day, but wasn’t able to get it done tonight.”
“We knew we were the underdog going in against a two-time champ,” Ford said of Scoon’s final matchup. “He put a lot of effort into it and tried some things that ended up costing us a little bit. Then he got caught and got pinned. But overall, I was proud of the way he prepared for a really tough guy and his effort in the way he wrestled.”
Scoon opened the tournament with a 8-2 decision over Pryor’s Sam Sherrer before a 7-1 decision over Glenpool’s Garrett Wells in the semifinals Friday. Wells ended up placing fourth in the tournament. Scoon said he noticed a difference between wrestling in Class 5A compared to 6A, but not much.
“Class 5A is tough. It’s hard to compare to 6A, but it’s definitely tough. I really like the team and wrestling for coach Ford and my teammates. I thought we had a great year and I’ve learned a lot about what to take into next season.”
Along with junior Austin Cooley, Ford sees Scoon as a leader for his team going forward.
“Landis and Austin are both really good kids and really fit in with the team this year,” Ford said. “As much as we like to have them as wrestlers on the mat, we like them for what they do in the practice room and how they work too.
“Going forward I think they’re both leaders by example. They go and do what they do and compete as hard as any two kids we’ve got in the room.”
Scoon finished the season 36-12 with a fourth-place finish at the Mid-America Nationals, two wins in the Class 5A Dual State tournament and a Regional Tournament championship.
