Perry wrestling tournament: A night of orange and black

By Matt Patterson

mpatterson@opubco.com

PERRY –Oklahoma State coach John Smith made an appearance at  the Perry tournament finals Saturday night and for good reason. At least six future Cowboys were on the mat.

One was Perry’s Ladd Rupp who easily won his 125 pound match by fall. And despite winning three state championships it was his first tournament win at his school’s signature event.

“I don’t know” Rupp said when asked how he could be so dominant without winning the Perry tournament. “I’ve run into some pretty tough competition here the last couple of years with Willie Gunter. I’m just glad I got it in my last  year.”

Chris Perry dominant:  In what could be a preview of this year’s Class 6A finals at 189 pounds, Stillwater’s Chris Perry beat Ponca City’s Blake Rosholt with a second period fall. Perry recently wrapped up another 1,000 yard season for Stillwater’s football team.

“I’m feeling pretty good  right now,” he said.  “If you’re not playing football and have all day to train, that’s an advantage but a lot of that stuff is mental.”

Perry and Rosholt will also both wrestle at Oklahoma State.