Small yet mighty wrestling squad ready for postseason

The Heritage Hall wrestling team has always been known for having a small yet mighty team, but this year's edition beats the rest – the team consists of only five wrestlers!

There are 14 weights. Obviously, filling only 5 of them puts the Chargers at a big disadvantage in team tournaments, but the good thing is that all five of Heritage Hall wrestlers are extremely hard working and talented at their craft. It's time to shine a spotlight on all five competitors and explain how they've worked throughout this season to qualify to show out at the State Tournament.

Peyton Park, a 106 pound freshman, has shown a lot of promise throughout his first high school season. He is the number three ranked at his weight class in the state for Class 4A. Park won the Putnam City Open Tournament and the Western Conference Tournament at Kingfisher. Being a freshman, this will be his first year competing at high school State. His teammates and coaches are excited to see what he is able to accomplish.

Davis Park, a junior, is the elder brother and big mentor of Peyton. Davis is the number two ranked 138 pounder in the state for Class 4A. Davis won the Western Conference Tournament this season. Last year, he finished third at the State Tournament so the team is expecting big things out of him to close out this season.

E.J. Beloncik, a 160 pound junior, has shown promise this year after a great finish last season as an individual State Champion. He won the Putnam City Open Tournament, Western Conference, and placed 7th at the Kansas city Stampede. Over the season, he has amassed a record of 25-3 and is the top-ranked 160 pounder in the state in Class 4A. The Air Force commit is the favorite to win another title this year.

K.J. Evans, a 152 pound junior, suffered an ankle injury during the offseason and has unfortunately not been able to wrestle due to pre-season surgery. Luckily though, Evans plans to return for Regionals and State. Despite not having wrestled this season, he is the consensus top-ranked 152-pounder in Class 4A coming off of a hot undefeated 2020-21 season where he won a state title. The OU signee plans on repeating that success at State this year.

Gannon Allen, who wrestles at 182 pounder and is the only senior on the squad this year, has also been injured most of the season but was at least able to wrestle at the beginning. Before the injury, he won the Putnam City Open. Allen is hoping to be back on the mat for the Chickasha Open, Regionals, and State. He is coming off of a Runner-Up finish at State as a sophomore and a third place finish last year. Gannon plans on finishing his high school career off on a high note by winning state this year.

The team's final tune up meet is January 28-29 at Chickasha. Regionals are slated for February 18-19 and State the week after, February 25-26. Onward Chargers!

Written by E.J. Beloncik '23
Photos by Kimberly Richelle

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