OUTLAWS HEAD TO STATE: Inside This Year's Run

The Marlow Outlaws stamped their authority on the OSSAA Class 3A West Regional in Watonga on Feb. 20, 2026, turning the gym into a showcase of pinning power, technical superiority and steady, tactical wrestling. Marlow led the team standings with 224.5 points, edging Salina (209.5) and Lincoln Christian (166), while Comanche finished fourth with 138 and Kingfisher fifth with 114.

The Outlaws’ performance in Watonga was defined by a string of dominant individual efforts that combined early match aggression with the match management needed to win tight bouts.

Mason Choate at 106 set the tone early with a first-period pin, stopping Little Axe’s Konnr Casey 3–0 at 1:13. At 113, Rocket Rodriguez put together a run that was as emphatic as it was efficient: a 16–0 technical fall of Davis’ Rafelix Perez at 2:40, an 18–9 major decision over Little Axe’s Dathan Cuevas, a 17–0 technical fall of Kingfisher’s Noah Bradford at 2:25 and a forfeit win over Hinton’s Jace Gill.

Bruer Vankirk at 120 combined quick finishes and a major decision, pinning Lincoln Christian’s Kohen Bruce 8–1 at 2:11, Dewar’s Tyce Herring 9–1 at 2:37 and closing with a 15–7 major decision over OK Christian School’s Rhett Nelson.

Justin Choate at 126 mixed a tight decision with late-match finishes, edging Little Axe’s Christian Abbitt 4–1, pinning Mangum’s Mason Mitchell 10–6 at 5:47 and scoring a 19–4 technical fall over Pathways’ Jeremiah Perez after a bye.

Tommy Miller at 132 was relentless through his bracket, recording a 6–1 fall of Dickson’s Joey Arbuckle at 0:35, a 14–1 major decision over Lincoln Christian’s Drake Sheffield, a 20–3 technical fall of Dewar’s Remy Martin at 2:00 and a 22–4 technical fall of Geary’s Raden Berg at 4:00.

Griffin Shelby at 138 advanced after a bye and then posted a 10–4 fall of Hinton’s Xsavior Murillo at 3:02, a 3–0 fall of Pathways’ Angel Chavez Gonzalez at 0:36 and a 19–2 technical fall of Comanche’s Hunter Roebuck.

Cooper Ortega at 144 followed a bye with a 21–3 technical fall of Lone Grove’s Korbin Ingram at 5:29, a 3–0 fall of Geary’s Zach Castleberry at 0:58 and a 9–0 fall of Watonga’s Gunner Riley at 1:49.

Brennen Harris at 150 combined control and finishing ability, winning a 7–0 decision over Bethel’s Zack Griffith, pinning Dickson’s Kole Riner 6–0 at 2:57, posting a 10–0 major decision over Lincoln Christian’s Max Madrid and finishing with a 9–2 fall of Casady’s Nate Currie at 0:56.

Caleb Davis at 157 went through a string of decisions — 4–3 over Kingfisher’s Abraham Prieto, 10–5 over Lincoln Christian’s Jake Hornstien and 5–0 over Comanche’s Logan Stengle — showing the kind of match management that wins tight regional brackets.

Clint Ladon at 165 opened with a bye and then recorded a 2–0 fall of Salina’s Brogan O’Neal at 3:21, a 3–0 fall of Mangum’s Cooper Kerbo at 1:28, a 4–0 decision over Watonga’s Ayden Perez and closed with a 14–0 pin of Lexington’s Brady Myers at 2:37.

Damon Ruth at 175 navigated a tough bracket with a 4–2 decision over Watonga’s Peyton Sawyer, a 4–1 decision over Mangum’s Jonathan McGee and a 13–8 pin of Chandler’s Brody Waldman at 3:36.

Mantle Furr at 190 followed a bye with a 3–0 fall of Hennessey’s Brayson Brinson at 0:49 and a 12–5 decision over Coalgate’s Rowdy Hemphill.

Elijah Wagner at 215 answered a bye with a string of quick finishes — a 3–0 fall of Heritage Hall’s Canon Bronson at 1:33, a 4–2 fall of Lincoln Christian’s Colt Conroy at 5:14 and a 3–0 fall of OK Christian School’s Greyson Hammon at 0:17.

In the heavyweight class, Clete Gilbert at 285 was efficient and physical, pinning Hinton’s Diego Gonzalez 5–0 at 5:52, Lexington’s Maddox Manuel 3–0 at 0:46, Cashion’s Cameron Billen 3–0 at 1:33 and closing with an 8–4 decision over Geary’s Derrick Pratt.

Marlow’s day also included several matches where Outlaws later faced tough opposition in consolation rounds or where opponents from other schools advanced past Marlow wrestlers in subsequent rounds. Bracket notes show Rocket Rodriguez later listed in results against Cashion’s Cale Browning and Chandler’s Derek Perkins; Bruer Vankirk and others had close losses to Chandler and Comanche opponents in later pairings; and a handful of Marlow winners were later defeated by strong challengers from across the region.

Those results underscore the depth of the West Regional field and the fine margins that separate advancement from elimination.

What stood out across the Watonga mats was Marlow’s balance: a mix of explosive first-period pins, technical fall dominance and the ability to grind out close decisions when the bracket demanded it. From Rocket Rodriguez’s string of tech falls and a forfeit final to Tommy Miller’s barrage of technical falls and Clete Gilbert’s steady control at heavyweight, the Outlaws showed depth at nearly every weight and the kind of momentum that translates well into postseason play.

With 224.5 team points, Marlow left Watonga with the regional crown and momentum heading into the state tournament. Salina’s 209.5 points and Lincoln Christian’s 166 were strong showings, but neither could match the Outlaws’ combination of early aggression and late-match control.

As Marlow turns its focus to the OSSAA Class 3A State Tournament, the Outlaws will carry both confidence and a clear identity: start fast, finish stronger and be prepared to win the tight ones. Marlow will be a team to watch when the state mats roll.