Justin Crutchmer makes history; Cabot, Van Buren, Pottsville take home team titles

Crutchmer is one of 11 athletes to win four state championships

Kyle Sutherland, SBLive Sports | Feb 25, 2023

Justin Crutchmer makes history; Cabot, Van Buren, Pottsville take home team titles /

By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Tommy Land

LITTLE ROCK - The mix of emotions Justin Crutchmer felt coming into the weekend quickly turned into elation as he ran up the stairs of the Jack Stephens Center to hug his mother after winning his fourth-consecutive wrestling state championship.

The Lake Hamilton senior pinned Mountain Home’s Brayden McCoy in 1:40 in the Class 5A 190 class finals to become the 11th athlete in Arkansas prep wrestling history to win four state titles. Crutchmer finished his career with a record of 121-4 and never lost to an in-state opponent.

Going through his pre-match ritual, walking back and forth on the mat, he continuously reminded himself of the confidence that got him to this point.

“The whole time I was pacing, I was just telling myself that I am the best and everything I have worked for has come to this moment,” Crutchmer said. “I can not even explain the feeling right now. Whenever I ran up to my mom, I just started crying.”

With his prep wrestling career in the books, Crutchmer will now set his sights on his college football career at Oklahoma State.

“Ever since I won my first one I would always tell myself that I am going to win four,” Crutchmer said. “I have had that in my head since I was a freshman.”

6A

Cabot won the state championship over defending champion Rogers Heritage scoring 138 points to the War Eagles’ 127.5.

Rogers Heritage’s Zayne Lewis (126) defeated Bentonville West’s Austin Ireland by fall in 4:59 to win this third-consecutive championship.

Three of the state champions from 2022 repeated: Bentonville’s Zander Payne (132) over Fayetteville’s Joey Woody by fall in 1:07, Bentonville’s Benjamin Smith (150) over Har-Ber’s Lane Parrish via a 9-1 major decision, and Rogers Heritage’s Briar Goodwin (285) over Cabot’s Nick Hazeslip by fall in 2:42.

5A

Van Buren won its second-consecutive team state championship with 164 points outscoring second place Mountain Home who had 135.5.

The Pointers had two repeat winners: Shiloh Summers, from the 132 class won his third title in as many years via a 3-1 decision over Mountain Home’s Michael Davis, while Grant King (215) won his second-straight by defeating Greenwood’s Bryce Williams via a 9-3 decision.

Mountain Home’s Austin Callies (157) also took home a third-straight first place trophy in a 1-0 decision over Sylvan Hills’ William Wilson.

1A-4A

Pottsville claimed the team championship scoring 171.5 points - the most of any squad in all classifications - with Southside Batesville being the closest 4A team within reach racking up 109 points.

Glen Rose’s Brayden Phillips (165) completed the three-peat by pinning Pottsville’s Carter Giittenger in 1:36.

Three won back-to-back titles: Gravette’s Logan Miller (113) in an 11-5 decision over Southside Batesville’s Simon Goodwin, Arkadelphia’s Ryan Rogers (138) in an 8-5 decision over Pottsville’s Cooper Boyce, and Pottsville’s Tripp Price (175) who pinned Southside Batesville’s Pierce Duncan in 1:53.