Browning, Haynes are All-State

Two Kingfisher High School wrestlers have at least one more match in their high school careers… and it will be with their coach by their side.

Seniors Gant Browning and Damien Haynes were named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All- State team earlier this week.

They’ll compete for the Small West when it takes on members of the Small East at the annual OCA All-State Games the last week of July in Tulsa.

Joining them will be their coach, Steven Wilson.

Wilson was originally selected as the Region 1 All-State coach nominee last month.

Last Thursday, members of the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association voted him as the All-State coach for 2024.

“Being selected by the OCA is a great honor,” Wilson said of his selection to coach the West team.

Wilson is in his second year at KHS, which is his alma mater.

In his first full season as the lone head coach this year, Kingfisher saw five wrestlers qualify for state, the most in a decade.

“I have put a lot of time into this sport through my life and I’m beyond excited to get to coach two of my wrestlers during All-State,” Wilson said.

Browning was named to the All-State roster at 126 pounds.

He wrapped up a career in which he was a four-time state qualifier for KHS.

His best finish at state came as a junior when he took fourth at 126 pounds, becoming the first wrestler for KHS to place at state since Austin Neals five years prior.

Browning qualified as a 132-pounder in 2024 after taking second at the west regional.

He finished his senior season with a 36-7 record and was 115-40 for his career.

While most wrestlers pick up the sport at a young age, that wasn’t so for Haynes.

He only took up the sport prior to his junior season.

His improvement was evident his senior year when he qualified for state at 144 pounds.

He was the All-State selection at 150 pounds.

Haynes was 27-15 during the 2023-24 campaign and 46-25 for his career.

Both Haynes and Browning are expected to compete at the next level.

Haynes committed recently to continue his career at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville.

Browning has committed to Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., though he plans to take two additional visits to other schools.

Wilson said their selections to the All-State teams were a “big honor.”

“Gant’s record over the last four years speaks for itself. Damien’s growth over his two-year wrestling career is outstanding,” Wilson said.

“With both going on to continue to wrestle at the next level, the other coaches and myself are excited for their futures.”

KHS senior Jace Johnson was named a Class 3A allstar, which is a pre-requisite for earning All-State.