Taking the mat reciting the words of advice…you don’t have to beat them every time, just one time… Cruz Partain proved to be the best of the best completing his senior season by winning the Class 3A gold medal championship at 195 pounds with an undefeated 26-0 record and a four year total of 108 victories and a four-time state qualifier.

Determined to replace the bronze medal he won in 2020 at the OSSAA state championships, the Vian senior scored a fall in the opening round and advanced to the gold medal round with a 4-3 decision over Jestin Gilliam of Plainview in the winner’s bracket semifinals. In the finals, Cruz left no doubt with a 12-1 major decision over Ryan Lytal of Hinton and became only the third state champion wrestler at Vian.

“Cruz has been part of our program since it first started,” said Vian coach Landon Decker, who was the first Wolverine to win a state title. “He’s one of the hardest working kids you’ll ever be around. He earned the gold medal because of his work ethic and desire.”