BEST OF PREPS WRESTLERS ANNOUNCED

An Arkansas state champion wrestler is among those who were selected for the Best of Preps wrestling squad for the recently completed season. Southside senior Thai Ta capped an outstanding season by winning the championship in the 106 weight class during the finals of February’s 6A/7A state high school wrestling tournament held in Little Rock. In the title match of the 106, Ta picked up an 8-6 decision. The top seed in the weight class, Ta finished his season at 34-4. Greenwood had two wrestlers finish as the state runner-up in their respective classes. Freshman Ty Moose got second in the 120 as he finished his season at 42-5. Meanwhile, sophomore Colton Tuck entered the 132 state tournament as the fifth seed but made a strong run to reach the finals as he finished his season 37-10. Van Buren junior Mason Hayes, who was the state runner-up in the 120 as a sophomore, came in third in the 120. Hayes finished his season at 35-9. Northside senior Alec Phetchareun was a top five finishers at state, as he got fifth place in the 126 to end his season with a 31-17 record. Southside wrestler Preston Halley, a sophomore, took fifth in the 152 as he finished his season at 24-22. Related More 2018 Best of Preps selections More high school wrestling Greenwood junior Isaac Johnson placed sixth at state in the 160, as he went 35-18 on the season. Three Oklahoma-area wrestlers placed high at their state tournament in February. In 4A, Poteau’s Ross Johnson, a senior, finished third in the 170-pound weight class, getting a pinfall in 1:44 in his final match. Johnson finished his season at 39-3. A pair of Sallisaw wrestlers, Hunter Williams and Walter Soto, also placed third in their respective classes. Williams took third in the 4A 126 with an 8-6 decision in the sudden victory period as the junior finished his season at 34-9. Soto, another junior, took third in the 4A 220 by getting a pinfall in 1:16. He finished his season 29-10.

BEST OF PREPS WRESTLERS ANNOUNCED

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 4/15/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Fort Smith Northside High School Athletics