Brigance is second, Tustin takes third

James Cody Brigance of Talihina was barely defeated by a four-time state champion in the finals while Poteau freshman Tyler Tustin finished third in the state wrestling tournament Saturday.

Brigance lost 3-1 to senior Kyle Cowan of Cascia Hall in the 215-pound class. The match was tied at 0-0 at the end of the first period and Cowan led 1-0 going into the third period.

Cowan lost only once in four years and it was a disqualification. He is only the 26th wrestler to win four state championships and is rated the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at his weight class.

This was Brigance's third trip to the state tournament and his second finals appearance after finishing second as a sophomore while wrestling for Poteau.

Tustin won third place by winning his match Saturday night. He won his first match Friday by a pin and lost his second match.

The third county wrestler to make it to state, Poteau's Shane Baxter lost both his matches on Friday..

On Friday, Brigance beat Ty Goodno of Newkirk 4-2 in the first round then and then defeated Perry's Anthony Lopez 3-1 in overtime. Brigance got a takedown for two points in the extra session to win the match. Brigance lost to Lopez in triple overtime in the semifinals of the regional tournament last week.

Also on Friday, Tustin pinned Buddy Counts of Weatherford at the 1:08 mark in the second period to win his first match before losing in the second round, 3-2.