Chloe Brooks and Kearsten Ball

Writers

Taking down Crossing Christian School, Bethel, Little Axe, Cordell and Heritage Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Marlow Outlaw Wrestling team placed first at District Duals.

The day began with the Outlaws facing Crossings Christian, dominating the Knights 72-9.

From then up until their final match, the Outlaws had swept their opponents 69-12 against Bethel, 66-9 against Little Axe, and 84-0 against Cordell.

The biggest challenge for the Outlaws was facing the Heritage Hall Chargers in the championship round, but the Outlaws came out on top 39-30.

Senior Noah Hammond, 126-pound Marlow wrestler, believes that the nailbiter against the Chargers gave the Outlaws a new perspective for what needs to be practiced on.

“We did good, but we could have done better against them,” Hammond said. “Our practices are getting harder. We are drilling differently than we have before, and we are learning new skills and moves.”

Going undefeated in the District Duals, the Outlaws have advanced into the Dual State competition for the third year in a row.

Based on how exceptional the team did against Heritage Hall and the other district opponents, 106-pound freshman wrestler Gehrig Furr is thrilled for the opportunity to compete at the state level.

“I was super excited and so was the rest of the team,” Furr described. “This year, Heritage Hall put together a really good team. I think that this will help prepare us for some close duals at Dual State.”

In the 2018-19 season, Marlow earned the title of Dual State Runners-Up.

Eager to get his team to reach their ultimate strength, head coach Andy Howington strives for Marlow to take the ultimate championship title at Dual State this year.

“We competed hard at District Duals, but we just have to get better,” said Howington. “The team has carried on a tradition to compete at Dual State. Nearly every [current] wrestler [at Marlow] has attended Dual State before. They know what the goal is.”

This year, Dual State will be held in Enid on Feb. 14 and 15.

With less than a month to prepare for the big championship, MHS wrestlers are beginning to feel the pressure of winning the number one title.

Finding any wrestling match as a learning opportunity, 145-pound junior Bryson Hughes discussed his way of preparing for a tough competition.

“At District Duals, both the team and individuals performed well. The duals gave us more time on the mat, allowing us to get better each match,” said Hughes. “For Dual State, I’m training mentally and physically by sticking to a disciplined regimine: watching my diet and attending every practice.”

Expecting the best out of his wrestlers, Howington believes that if the team gives their best efforts, Marlow has the chance of taking home a team championship title.

In the meantime, the Outlaws will be preparing at regular duals and tournaments.

Returning back to the mat this Thursday, Jan. 23, Marlow will host Wrestling Homecoming in the New Gym at 6:30 p.m. against the Sulphur Bulldogs.