By Audrey Dodgen/Staff Writer

After seven wrestlers qualified for state in Friday’s semifinal matches, El Reno High School wrestling coach Archie Randall said he intended to qualify a minimum of three wrestlers Saturday.

A team of at least 10 would give the Indians a chance to win the title at the individual state tournament, he said.

His squad did one better than his expectation. With a surprise win from freshman Nathan Dewberry, the Indians qualified 11 wrestlers for the state tournament, which will be held this weekend.

Freshman Austin Mogg qualified with a win over Woodward’s Joey Miller at 103 pounds.

Derek Gibbs earned a consolation bracket win at 119 pounds and Chad Cradduck picked up a third-place finish at 135 pounds.

Dewberry secured a 9-8 lead in the final half-minute of Saturday’s early match, and rode out his opponent for 25 seconds for the victory.

“He won over a two-time state qualifier from Western Heights,” Randall said.

“That’s El Reno wrestling. We had an El Reno day at regionals. We’re back.”

Randall said he was excited for his two freshmen in the state tournament. “Anytime you get freshmen into the state tournament it’s exciting,” he said.

Senior Gibbs, who fell short in his dual state matches, redeemed himself by securing an opportunity to compete at individual state, Randall said.

“What happened to him happens to a lot of senior wrestlers. They start feeling the pressure of a successful program. They start trying to win matches, instead of just wrestling. If you try to win matches, you’ll lose. You have to just go out and wrestle.

“Early on, he wrestled totally out of character, then he executed really well in his final two matches,” Randall said.

In the state tournament, Mogg, who is 21-14 on the season, will face the top seed from the East region, freshman Jeremy Goree (28-1) from East Central.

“Mogg is facing the best kid in the division. You take those freshmen and put them under those big lights and they’re unpredictable. It’s a big deal, and they don’t have much experience,” Randall said.

At 112 pounds, top-seeded Chris Crawford (35-6) will face the fourth seed from the East, sophomore Shane Webb from Noble, who is 27-3 on the season.

Gibbs, who is also 35-6, will face top-seeded freshman Shawn Thomas from Catoosa (32-3).

Randall said he expects Gibbs to advance to the finals.

Junior Adam Delong (34-5), who took first in the regional tournament, will face junior Nick Bunch (16-13) from Bixby in the opening round.

At 130 pounds, undefeated senior Brian Shelton, who has won 39 matches this season, will take on sophomore Justin Suskey from Catoosa, who is 25-11.

Chad Cradduck (22-14) will face second-seeded C.W. Harris (22-7) from Coweta at 135 pounds.

Dewberry, who is 6-10 on the season, will face top-seeded Brett Gray (30-0) from Catoosa.

Top-seeded senior Kevin Frazier, also undefeated at 39-0, will face Derek Enloe (24-10) from Skiatook at 145 pounds.

At 152 pounds, Chris Hacker (35-3), who took home a second-place finish with a loss in the championship round at regionals, will face Noble’s Patrick Ferm (19-6).

Sophomore Derek Thompson (23-9) will take on Coweta’s freshman Amos Cherry (15-5) at 171 pounds.

El Reno’s final undefeated senior, Jeff James (39-0), at 189 pounds, will take on Noble’s John Billy Boren (19-9).

“We’ll probably put Chris Crawford in the finals, and probably Gibbs. Chad Cradduck has potential to go to the finals, and I moved Derek Thompson to 171, and he has the opportunity to place. And Jeff James at 189, he definitely has a shot,” Randall said.

All three undefeated seniors have the opportunity to place, he said.

“They all have the chance. They’re undefeated, and that’s never happened here before. In 13 years, I’ve had one undefeated wrestler, and that was Tyrone Lewis. This is a first for us, to have three,” he said.

El Reno will face Catoosa in four first-round matches. Catoosa defeated the Indians at dual state to end a decade-long string of wins.

“If we can beat them in three of those four matches, we can just eliminate them,” Randall said.

“We’ve been having exceptional practices all week. The kids put too much pressure on themselves going into dual state. Now the pressure’s off, and they’re ready.”

Randall said he expects a better result at individual state.

“We’re a better tournament team than we are a dual team. They’re never going to forget that loss to Catoosa, but the most important thing is individual state,” he said.

“Dual state is nice, but the most important thing is winning in the big house.”