LOCAL

Barnsdall High warrior Easton Malone sets sight on USA Wrestling tourney

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

Barnsdall High running back Easton Malone powers past a would-be tackler during football action last fall. Malone is a three-sport athlete and is headed later this month to North Dakota for the USA Wrestling national championships.

Barnsdall High sophomore Easton Malone will be headed north — way north — to measure his skill against some of the best wrestlers in his age group in the nation.

Malone has has earned a spot at the 2022 USA Wrestling Junior and 16U National Championships in Fargo, N.D.

The event is set for July 16-22.

Marshall will compete at 192 ponds, Barnsdall head football coach Kylee Sweeney noted.

Sweeney coached Malone — who stands about six-feet tall and weighs in the low 190 pounds — in all three sports his freshman year — football, wrestling and track.

Sweeney was in charge of the football and track teams and assisted in wrestling.

He led the Panthers in rushing and also dominated on defense in football. During wrestling, he qualified at 170 pounds for the Class 3A state meet.

And, in track, Malone was the lone freshman to make the final 16 in the Class A boys long jump. He finished 12th at 18-5.75. In the regional qualifier he had just missed 20 feet (19-6.25).

“I’d say he’s driven,” Sweeney observed about Malone’s best intangible athletic asset. “He’s a competitor. He loves to compete and he works hard. He tries to come to the weight room twice a day if he can. When he’s not working out, he’s mowing lawns and working around home and making some money. He dad and mom do a great job with him. He wants to do good.”

During a recent lifting session, Malone came in at 184 pounds — having dropped weight to get ready for the wrestling nationals — and still pumped some pretty serious poundage.

He deadlifted at 455 pounds, benched 250 pounds and squatted more than 425 pounds. He barely missed 470 pounds in the deadlift, Sweeney said.

He also boasts plenty of speed and quickness to go with his strength and muscle.

Malone has carved out major mat success in the summer.

“I think he wants to go wrestle in college,” Sweeney said. “I think he’ll have a chance to go and play football. I think he’s got a lot of potential to be a great high school athlete for us.”