OKLAHOMA CITY – Collinsville’s wrestling dynasty has required many different forms to remain intact over the past decade. But never have the Cardinals experienced what took place Saturday night in the Class 5A state tournament inside the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City.

The Cardinals, aided by four individual state champions, and rival Skiatook, keyed by three title holders, each finished with 137 points to finish in a rare first-place tie for the team crown. It marked the first time the Cardinals have shared a team state title with another school.

“It’s better than getting second,” said Collinsville coach Wes Harding, whose team won its eighth state title in nine years. “I think our kids wrestled as well as they could.”

Collinsville held a four-point lead, but Skiatook had one wrestler remaining in the 220-pound finals. Bulldog senior Korbin McLaughlin claimed a 4-1 decision over Claremore’s Seth Seago for his first state title and enabled his team to tie the team score with their Highway 20 rivals.

“My coaches told me to relax and have fun,” said McLaughlin, who helped his team claim its first overall title since 1987. “And I did.”

Along with McLaughlin, Josh Taylor (126) and Cougar Andersen (152) each claimed their second titles for Skiatook. Cameron Steed (106), Jordan Williams (113), Rocky Stephens (120) and Caleb Tanner (132) won titles for Collinsville.

Williams, a freshman who finished with a 43-0 record, became just the fifth Cardinal to complete a perfect season. Tanner claimed his third championship as a junior while Stephens, also a junior, captured his second consecutive crown.

Steed, the first of six consecutive Collinsville wrestlers who took to the mat for the finals, got the Cardinals rolling with a 10-1 major decision over Coweta’s Brody Gee. It marked his second win over Gee in a week.

Trailing Skiatook by seven in the team standings going into the championship matches, Steed said he was well-aware of the situation going into his 106 final.

“It was kind of like our duals where I know I’ve got to go out there and get us going,” said Steed, one of three Collinsville freshmen that claimed individual state titles.

The Cardinals and Bulldogs squared off in two finals’ matches with each team claiming a victory. Taylor avenged his regional final loss to Jordan Cullors in the 126 title match with a 9-3 decision. Tanner followed with a 9-0 major decision of Cody Francis at 132.

Senior Connor Henson fell to Kobi Gomez of Altus in a first period pin in the 138 final. Collinsville did get an added boost going into the final round after freshman Wyatt Hartley came away with a 6-1 decision over Skiatook’s Tony Johnson in the third place match at 145. Junior Jaren Seabolt fell one match short of the podium at 152 after a loss in the consolation semifinals.

Harding said he was pleased with the team’s performance but noted a different tone after sharing the championship with the Skiatook.

“They’re not jumping around and celebrating like maybe they would if (the title) was just theirs,” Harding said. “I’m really proud of our kids, but you can tell it’s not the same to them.”
