By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
GEARY – Fourth-ranked Piedmont finished eighth in the 76th annual Geary Invitational last weekend, placing five in the nation’s oldest tournament.
Junior Levi Buckridge led the way, finishing runner-up at 126 pounds. Senior Austin Cooley placed third at 182, senior Bo Hardy placed fourth at 170, senior Tabor McClure placed fourth at 145 and senior Bryce DiGiacinto placed sixth at 160.
Buckridge opened the bracket at 126 pounds with a win by fall over Choctaw’s Caleb Williams before winning a 6-1 decision over Edmond North’s Ayden Little. Buckridge followed with a win by fall over Randall’s Jesse Perea in the semifinals before losing 12-6 decision to Arlington’s Donavan Whitted in the championship match.
Cooley opened with two straight wins by fall over Stillwater’s D’Angelo Benford and Randall’s Josue Chaidez before losing a 13-7 decision to Mustang’s Tate Picklo in the semifinals. Cooley bounced back with a 10-0 major decision win over Choctaw’s Dylan Ward in the consolation semifinals before pinning Arkansas City’s Gavin Lough for third place.
Hardy opened with a 11-2 major decision win over Norman North’s Austin Long before pinning Comanche’s Cade Cook. Hardy followed with loss by fall to Geary’s Landon Holt, but bounced back by pinning Del City’s Nick Mayberry in his first consolation match. He then won a 4-2 decision over Goddard’s Nolan Craine and a 5-1 decision over Arkansas City’s Nicholas Bahm before losing 5-2 to Randall’s Bransen Britten in the consolation finals.
McClure opened the backet at 145 with a 9-1 win over Choctaw’s Landon Eaton before pinning Edmond North’s Cade Ballard. McClure lost a 17-5 major decision to Edmond Memorial’s Jackson Oplotnik in the semifinals, but bounced back to win a 7-4 decision over Tulsa Union’s Noah Smith in the consolation semis. McClure lost a 5-0 decision to Arkansas City’s Trig Tennant for fourth place.
DiGiacinto lost by fall to Goddard’s Cayleb Atkins to open the bracket at 160 pounds. He then won three straight matches, including a win by fall over Arlington’s Caden VanDuzee, a 2-0 decision over Del City’s Donnie Hurd and a 4-0 decision over Duncan’s Michael Pollock before losing 3-1 to Broken Arrow’s Tye Rozell in the consolation semifinals. DiGiacinto then lost a 16-3 major decision to Randall’s Jaydn Heaton for sixth place.
Junior Jayce Jantz (132), senior Landis Scoon (152), sophomore Makaveli Ramirez (195) and senior Dylan Hampton (285) all went 1-2 while sophomore Alan Flores (120) and senior Colby Matlock (138) went 0-2.
Class 6A No. 1 Broken Arrow won the tournament going away, scoring 139.5 points with 10 placers. 6A No. 3 Choctaw finished second with 106.5 points and seven placers and 6A No. 2 Mustang finished third with 104.5 points and eight placers.
The Wildcats return to action this weekend at the 2020 Carl Albert Invitational before district duals next Thursday at Noble. The team’s next home dual is scheduled for Feb. 4 against Deer Creek.
