Bartlesville wrestlers vs Vinita
Bartlesville High School's Mitchell Hurst picks up a win during the Bruins home meet against Vinita on Dec. 3, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Bartlesville High School’s new varsity wrestling era began with a handful of wins Tuesday (Dec. 3) night at home.
Heavyweight Avery Hitchings and 157-pounder Mitchell Hurst both pinned their Vinita High foes while a happy homecrowd looked on at the Phillips Fieldhouse.
Jon Ramirez (190) also added six points to the team total via forfeit.
Vinita won the other matches and accepted a gift of 24 forfeit points from Bartlesville to drive home with a 64-18 victory.
This match featured the debut of Bryant Vashus as the Bruins’ head coach.
He inherited a squad with little returning experience, albeit a handful of his most competitive warriors were unable to be in the lineup.
A.J. Kerr, another veteran, “had a hammer of a kid,” Vashus said. “He was a tough, tough kid.”
Two newcomers, Nick Davis (126) and Matthew Baker (132), “both battled hard,” Vashus said.
Bartlesville High School new head wrestling coach Bryant Vashus coaches during the Bruins home meet on Dec. 3, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports