The captain of Muskogee’s wrestling team, Radian Phornchanna, is a 130-pound Minnesota native who moved to Muskogee in 2022. Radian is the son of Cambodian immigrants who own “Paradise Donuts” in Muskogee. He is an athlete who is described by his teammates as “someone who wants it more”, which speaks volume to his determination and drive to win. When asked about his goals for the upcoming wrestling season, Phornchanna put it as champion-like as possible, “I want to win state”. The words and actions from Phornchanna have led the rest of the team to work and train harder. His two prior years were unsuccessful due to injury and recovery. Now as a senior, he knows this is his final chance to make history in Oklahoma wrestling as a state champion. When Radian isn’t on the mat, he is busy in school. Radian takes concurrent classes at Connors State College while also maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA at Muskogee High School. He believes that the “student comes before the athlete”. Apart from wrestling and school, Radian visits the gym daily, showcasing his dedication to maintaining peak physical condition.
Weighing in at only 130 pounds, Phornchanna has a current squat of 315 pounds, which is an impressive weight for someone his size. Not only is Radian the captain of his team, a 4.0 student, and a dedicated gym member, he’s also an employee at his parent’s donut shop. Radian gets up while his classmates are still asleep and works at the donut shop every morning before school to help his family business and is a prime example of how hard work translates to discipline. When asked about how he balances all these tasks, Radian simply responded “it’s honestly not a very hard thing for me. Balancing everything isn’t too bad. I find ways to make time for most things.” Radian Phornchanna is not only a contender for the OSSAA Class 6A 130 pound wrestling state title, but is also a great student, teammate, and role model for the Muskogee Roughers. He is the kind of underdog that motivates others to work harder in order to be their best.
