Van Buren wrestlers aim to end high school careers with three state titles

Two of the most successful wrestlers in Van Buren’s program have a chance to win three individual state titles. Pointer seniors Dakota Fenwick and Don O’Kelley have combined for nearly 300 wins, and each have won two championships.

Now, they go for a third crown this weekend at the Arkansas Class 5A state tournament, which will take place at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, with the finals set for Saturday (March 1).

“Me and Dakota winning our third state titles would mean close to the world to me,” O’Kelley said. “Me and Dakota have been duking it out in the practice room with each other since eighth grade, and I’ve had my fair share of butt whoopings.

“We push each other really hard however, even when things get chippy or emotional between us, we want nothing but one another to succeed in wrestling and life. I’m rooting on Dakota winning Outstanding Wrestler at state this year.”

O’Kelley, who has 125 wins, won last year’s Outstanding Wrestler of the Year during his run to his second straight state title, claiming it in the 113-pound weight class.

“The past two state titles I won have really been a testament of how hard me, my coaches, teammates and parents work,” O’Kelley said. “Though it’s a hard decision to say which one meant more, I would have to say my second because I won this title after I gave my life to Jesus, and He really pulled me through the whole season, from cutting weight to issues at home.”

Last season, Fenwick turned in a perfect 32-0 season and won his second state title in the 132 class. He’s also 32-0 this season entering his final state tourney, as Fenwick owns the school record in career wins with 171.

“A good memorable season, despite having adversity through my ankle injury early in December to now bumping up two weight classes from 120 to 132 a week before regionals, and still having a perfect 32-0 record coming into state,” Fenwick said.

Like O’Kelley, Fenwick takes pride in knowing both have the opportunity to cap their career as Pointers with three crowns.

“It’s very special knowing all the hours I put in the wrestling room paid off, and having someone that has the same goals as me, which helps us push each other every day in practice,” Fenwick said.

Both have put in extra work as seniors to ensure that they can go out on top. For Fenwick, he improved on creating more offensive attacks in a neutral position, which generally means making moves in order to initiate a takedown.

“My granny took me to a wrestling camp when I was 7 and I loved the sport ever since that day,” Fenwick said. “Knowing that there is so much technicality in wrestling makes me want to get better and learn every day, knowing I can still improve my wrestling.”

O’Kelley took a more unconventional route when he picked up the sport.

“I got involved in wrestling funny enough through football because I didn’t know how to tackle and wasn’t very coordinated,” he said. “But what makes it special is that you don’t have anyone to rely on when you’re on the mat. It’s you and you only, and that kinda has a freedom to it. Not worrying about the team doing their job, just you and your opponent.”

O’Kelley doesn’t plan to wrestle in college, so he sees state as one final chance to – in his words – “empty our gas tank.”

“I see the field at state as even,” O’Kelley said. “All the other tournaments are in the past and it’s your final shot to make a name for yourself. It will take a lot of the Lord’s strength to push me through and keeping a high morale with my team; no matter if we win or lose, we have to keep pushing. But if we just empty our gas tank every match, I see nothing short of excellence.”

Fenwick does plan to wrestle at the next level, at Carl Albert State College in Poteau. He wants to do that with a third high school state title in tow.

“Wrestling has made me who I am today helping me grow as a person on and off the mat,” Fenwick said. “Like (legendary wrestler and wrestling coach) Dan Gable said, ‘Once you have wrestled, everything else In life is easy.’”