Making wrestling history

Brook West put the ultimate cap on her junior high wrestling career when she won the 200-pound division of junior high state tournament in Oklahoma City this past weekend.

Not only did West win a state championship but she made history as well becoming the first Stephens County girl to win a state championship at the junior high or high school level.

“I think its an honor (to be the first girl),” West said. “I honestly do.”

It was not an easy road. West missed last year due to an injury and with this being her freshman year it would be her last shot at a junior high title and it made her even more determined.

“Yeah, especially missing last year,” West said. “I had a lot of people relying on me. I felt like I had to. It was my main goal this year.”

But it was just one goal. West was found working hard at practice on Monday as she gets prepared to wrestle at the high school regional tournament next week and possibly the state tournament depending on how she finishes at the regional. She would be the third Comanche girl to qualify for state should she make it.

West went 3-0 at the junior high state tournament. Junior high state does not have any classifications. All wrestlers in a weight bracket are thrown into together whether they come from a 3A or 6A school.

She got a pin in her first match and then won her next two matches by decisions.

“Wrestling gives me a purpose,” West said. “I found a family here. I didn’t find somewhere else where I felt like I really belonged like I do here.”

West also plays football, another male-dominated sport. She doesn’t mind though.

“It’s really not that big of a problem,” West said. “Some people make it out to be more of a bigger deal than it is, but it’s not too big. I see them as brothers.”

Comanche head coach Casy Rowell was obviously proud of her accomplishment.

“She wrestled a great tournament,” Rowell said. “She wrestled one girl (Bentley Sharpe) who was actually on our team last year and is now at El Reno, so it was like Comanche vs. Comanche. “
Rowell credits West’s work ethic for her success.

“It’s her consistency and determination,” Rowell said. “She was a runner up two years in a row in her sixth and seventh grade years and last year had an injured shoulder and missed the whole season. She has come back this year with a vengeance and she shows up every day. Junior high practices during school and high school practices after school and she and Celina Quezada have two-a-days every day. Same with Erik (Roy), he’s in that freshman group. They’re doing two hard practices every day all year long and that’s what makes the difference. They work hard. They’re different. The girls practice with our boys every single day and they’re just special girls.”

Quezada finished third in her weight class at the state tournament. Roy finished fifth in his weight class on the boys’ side.

“Erik had 67 guys in his weight class and went 6-2 and placed fifth. He lost to the third place guy and the fourth place guy and wrestled a heck of a tournament. It’s the toughest tournament in the state of Oklahoma at any level.

“Celina has placed for us at state before. She lost to the eventual champion in her weight class and that girl was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament. She was the real deal. I think if Celina had wrestled up a weight class, she might have been able to win it.”