REGIONAL WRESTLING: Bartlesville gains valuable experience for next season
Bartlesville High School’s James Coleman (113) wrestles in an earlier season match. Coleman went 2-2 in the Class 6A regionals, however no Bruins qualified for the state tournament.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
March 4, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
It was one of those wait-until-next-year results for Bartlesville High School at this past weekend’s Class 6A East Regional wrestling tournament.
Bartlesville failed to qualify anyone for next week’s state tournament in Oklahoma City but still garnered quality experience for its non-senior returnees for next season.
The Bruins displayed solid progress during the first year of Bryan Vashus as head coach.
Several Bruins won two regional matches and made a valiant effort to place in the Top 6.
Two Bruins won their first match on the mat at the regional —junior James Coleman (113 pounds) and freshman Joshua Vashus (126).
Coleman opened up the regional with a major decision against a Jenks’ foe, 16-2. But Coleman lost in the quarterfinal (fall, 2:41) and suffered elimination in the third round of consolations.
Joshua Vashus started off by beating an Owasso opponent (decision, 9-7). But Joshua Vashus also lost in the quarterfinals and didn’t make it out of the third round of consolations.
A.J. Kerr (138), Marquise Johnson (150), Mitchell Hurst (157), Jon Ramirez (175) and Avery Hitchings (285) each also advanced four rounds deep.
Bruins recording two wins on the mat included Hitchings (fall, 3:11; fall, 0:52), Johnson (fall, 1:56; fall, 0:36), Joshua Vashus (dec., 9-7; major dec., 15-3) and Coleman (major dec., 16-2; fall, 0:33).
Bartlesville High School’s Joshua Vashus (126) went 2-2 in the Class 6A regionals, however no Bruins qualified for the state tournament.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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The Bruin wrestlers and their regional records (including byes) included:
James Coleman (113): 2-2
Nick Davis (120): 0-2
Joshua Vashus (126): 2-2
A.J. Kerr (138): 2-2
Jeremy Wilson (144): 0-2
Marquise Johnson (150): 2-2
Mitchell Hurst (157): 2-2
Ezekiel Mieir (164): 1-2
Jon Ramirez (175): 2-2
Camden Dainty (215): 1-2
Avery Hitchings (285): 2-2
(Note: The Bruins were open in only three divisions — 106, 132 and 190.)