By Glen Miller/Sports Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY — After winning state championships their senior seasons, former El Reno High School wrestlers Nathan James and Tyrone Lewis leaped into the arms of head coach Archie Randall.

On Saturday night both watched from the stands at the State Fair Arena as their younger brothers, Jeff James and Kevin Frazier, kept up the family tradition by winning state titles — and the bear hugs on Randall.

“That was sticking in the back of my mind,” Frazier said.

“I knew that if I didn’t win I would hear about it from Tyrone the rest of my life. So I just tried to go out there and win.”

Frazier dominated Tulsa East Central’s Steven Daniels, posting an 18-6 major decision.
He follows in the footsteps of his older brothers, Tyrone and J.J. Lewis, as state champions for El Reno.

“Tyrone gave me some words of encouragement before I went on the mat,” Frazier said. “I took his advice and it really helped.”

The James brothers’ trilogy at El Reno ended with a 9-8 decision over Lawton MacArthur’s Mitchel Eichenhauer.

The match was tied in the waning moments when James stood up from the down position and yanked his leg free for an escape point with two seconds left.

“He beat me twice last year and I knew he wasn’t going to come after me, so I had to go at him,” James said.

“I knew he was going to use the sweep single and he threw it at me a couple of times, but I was able to fight it off.”

James’ title was his first after several near misses, which was the fate of his older brother, Wayne — a two-time state runner-up at El Reno.

Nathan James won two state titles during his career.

“There was some pressure, especially after the way the finals have went the last couple of years,” said James, who won a state title as a freshman. “I wanted to end the trilogy of brothers on a good note. Nathan won twice and Wayne was runner-up twice, so I feel like I’ve carried on the family tradition.”

El Reno sent a school-record nine wrestlers to the finals, winning five individual gold medals.

Chris Crawford brought home the 112-pound title with a 5-3 win over Pryor’s Travis Whitenack.

Adam Delong scored a 6-2 decision over Andrew Birney of Tecumseh for the 125-pound gold, his second state title, while Chris Hacker held off a late flurry by Catoosa’s Randy White for a 3-2 win at 152 pounds.

Brian Shelton’s bid to join an elite group of three-time state champions at El Reno ended in the third period when he was caught trying to roll out of a takedown move.

He was pinned by Aaron Smith of Shawnee at the 4:56 mark, despite leading the 130-pound match 5-0 at the time.

Freshman Austin Mogg took the silver at 103 pounds after a 13-5 loss to Noble’s Kidd Gomez.
Senior Derek Gibbs dropped an 8-4 decision to Lawton MacArthur’s Tyler Zuckerman at 119 pounds.

Chad Cradduck suffered a 14-4 loss to Catoosa’s Dallas Bailey for the gold at 145 pounds.

“It’s unheard of sending nine wrestlers to the finals,” Randall said.

“I wished they all could have won.”

El Reno had the team title locked up before the finals and closed the state meet with 165.5 points.

MacArthur was a distant second with 99 points. Catoosa, which ended El Reno’s run of dual state titles two weeks ago, was third with 86.5 points.

“We didn’t win dual state and that woke up the big dogs,” Randall said.

“We didn’t score the most points we have ever had, but we won by 66 points, which is one of the biggest margins we have ever had.”