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Oklahoma high school wrestling: Breaking down the Geary Invitational, wrestlers to watch

Nick Sardis, The Oklahoman
·4 min read

The 79th annual Geary Invitational is set for Friday and Saturday.

One of the most respected sporting events in state history, the wrestling tournament annually hosts teams from around the country, and this year will be no different.

Twenty-six teams are scheduled to compete in Geary, which is about 50 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

There will be four Texas teams, two from Kansas, one from New Mexico, one from Missouri and the rest will be Oklahoma squads.

Although girls wrestling is on the rise, this will be a boys-only tournament.

Here are some storylines and Oklahoma City-area wrestlers to watch.

More: Oklahoma high school boys wrestling 2023-24 preview: Storylines, wrestlers, teams to watch

Landyn Sommer of Stillwater, right, wrestles Edmond North's Jude Randall in the Class 6A 165-pound patch during the dual state wrestling tournament finals at Stride Bank Center in Enid, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.
Landyn Sommer of Stillwater, right, wrestles Edmond North's Jude Randall in the Class 6A 165-pound patch during the dual state wrestling tournament finals at Stride Bank Center in Enid, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

Top storylines

Edmond North, Stillwater set to square off. Stillwater won the tournament last season, but Edmond North is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A. The programs have battled in recent years, although Stillwater has prevailed when it has mattered most, winning three straight state tournament titles and two consecutive dual state crowns. But this is a big tournament. If Edmond North wins, it could be an early sign the Huskies will get over the hump and claim their first state tournament and dual state titles since 2013.

How will Tuttle fare against tougher competition? The Tigers compete in Class 4A, and no team among that group is on their level. This tournament will give Tuttle a chance to wrestle against some stiff opponents, and that should benefit the Tigers in the long run. They’ll attempt to claim their 21st dual state title in February, which would pass Perry for the most in state history. Tuttle has won 14 straight dual state crowns and 15 consecutive state tournament championships, which are both state records.

Which out-of-state teams will be at the tournament? The Geary Invitational is the oldest wrestling tournament in the nation. It’s become an iconic event and annually draws teams from outside of the state. The four Texas teams that will be there this year are All Saints Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Arlington Martin, Randall and Tascosa, while the two Kansas schools are Arkansas City and Garden City. Rio Rancho (New Mexico) and Whitfield (Missouri) will also be there. All those teams except for All Saints Episcopal School were at the tournament last year. Arlington Martin had the highest finish, placing fourth behind Stillwater, Edmond North and Tuttle.

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Deontre Buttram, Del City Boys Wrestling, is pictured during The Oklahoman’s media day in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.
Deontre Buttram, Del City Boys Wrestling, is pictured during The Oklahoman’s media day in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

Oklahoma City-area wrestlers to watch at the 2024 Geary Invitational

Deontre Buttram, Sr., Del City: He placed third at 165 pounds in Class 5A at the state tournament last year. Now at 175 pounds, he held a 6-0 record heading into Thursday night’s dual against Shawnee.

Evan Colbert, Jr., Del City: The 106-pounder placed fourth in Class 5A at the state tournament last season.

Cash Donnell, Sr., Piedmont: The OU signee has won two straight Class 6A titles. He was the 113-pound champion as a sophomore before moving up to 120 pounds, which is where he remains this season.

Beau Hickman, Jr., Tuttle: One of the top wrestlers in the nation at 144 pounds, Hickman is a two-time Class 4A state champion (132 and 138 pounds). He’s committed to Oklahoma State.

LaDarion Lockett, Jr., Stillwater: A two-time Class 6A state champion, he’s one of the top recruits in the nation. Lockett, who is committed to Oklahoma State, is 14-1 this season.

JJ McComas, Sr., Stillwater: The 132-pound Oklahoma State signee is 12-2 this season. He was the Class 6A state runner-up at 126 pounds last year.

Landyn Sommer, Sr., Stillwater: The OU signee went 33-0 last season as he claimed the Class 6A title at 165 pounds. He’s now at 157 pounds and holds a 14-0 record.

Layton Schneider, Sr., Edmond North: He’s one of three Edmond North wrestlers who claimed championships in Geary last year, along with Ricky Thomas and Oscar Williams. Schneider, who will continue his career at Air Force, won the Class 6A 144-pound state championship as a junior and went 34-3.

Ricky Thomas, Sr., Edmond North: He’s the defending Class 6A state champion at 285 pounds. Thomas went 42-2 last season.

Oscar Williams, Sr., Edmond North: Williams was the Class 6A runner-up at 215 pounds and finished 39-3 as a junior.

Nick Sardis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nicksardis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Nick's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS wrestling: Geary Invitational preview, wrestlers to watch