Despite some snow pushing the tournament back a day, Oregon’s wrestling state tournament was held over the weekend. The state’s smaller schools held a one-day tournament on Friday while the biggest schools competed on Saturday and Sunday.
In total, 98 state championship medals were handed out and seven team state titles were passed on to the state’s toughest programs.
Oregon welcomed four new members to its club of four-time state champions, and several teams overcame the odds to shock powerhouse favorites.
Here are some of the biggest highlights from Oregon wrestling state championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum:
60
OSAA Class 6A boys wrestling championships
WEST LINN ACCOMPLISHES THE IMPOSSIBLE, BEATING NEWBERG FOR CLASS 6A CROWN
The Lions needed nearly every possible point from their wrestlers in order to unseat the two-time defending state champion Tigers. And West Linn finished the day with state championships from Justin Rademacher, Charles Spinning, Henry Dillingham and Oscar Doces.
CLACKAMAS’ JEREMIAH WACHSMUTH STUNS ROSEBURG’S GAGE SINGLETON IN REMATCH
Last season, Singleton won the 106-pound championship (his second) over Wachsmuth. This season, the two were poised to lock horns in the state finals, a repeat of one of the state’s premier rivalries. This time, Wachsmuth got his revenge.
66
OSAA Class 5A boys wrestling championships
WITH HELP FROM CONSOLATION WRESTLERS, REDMOND SHOCKS THURSTON FOR CLASS 5A TITLE
Redmond did not have the most wrestlers in the tournament, and came away with one individual title. But the Panthers’ action on the back end of the tournament was enough to steal the team title from Thurston.
DASCHLE LAMER, DJ GILLETT AND HAYDEN WALTERS MAKE IT A FOUR-TIME PARTY
The list of Oregon four-time state champions added three new names. Crescent Valley’s Lamer and Gillett and Crater’s Walters completed a mission that’s been years in the making. For Lamer, it’s completed a family legacy that’s weighed on him for a lifetime.
104
OSAA Class 6A/5A girls wrestling championships
NORTH MEDFORD ROLLS IN THE FINALS FOR CLASS 6A/5A GIRLS TEAM TITLE
The Black Tornado had three top seeds in the tournament, including Estella Gutches returning to take the state title after finishing second last season. And Skyler Hall is now the only wrestler in the classification capable of becoming a four-time champion.
DESTINY RODRIGUEZ, PERHAPS THE STATE’S BEST-EVER GIRLS WRESTLER, MAKES HISTORY
There’s never been an Oregon girls wrestler with the resume of Rodriguez. And on Sunday, she became the state’s first four-time state champion since the title was made official by the OSAA in 2018.
CLEVELAND’S HALEY VANN GETS HER COLISEUM MOMENT WITH THIRD STATE TITLE
Vann has accomplished nearly everything one could ask for as a high school wrestler. On Sunday, she was finally able to check off “win a title in Veterans Memorial Coliseum” from her list.
FOREST GROVE’S KAILEA TAKAHASHI GOES FROM NON-QUALIFIER TO STATE CHAMPION
Last season, Takahashi was able to celebrate with her teammates as the Vikings won the team state championship. But she didn’t participate in the state tournament. This year, she won a gold medal for herself.
53
OSAA Class 4A wrestling state championships
LA GRANDE MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW WITH CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tigers didn’t let the delay get to them. Kai Carson, Joshua Collins and Brysen Penaloza all took home state championships as La Grande was able to win a tough Class 4A team race with Sweet Home and Crook County in the mix.
SWEET HOME’S JACOB SIEMINSKI MATCHES HIS FATHER’S MARK WITH THIRD STATE TITLE
Jacob Sieminski has spent a lifetime thinking about being as good of a wrestler as his father, Sweet Home’s first three-time wrestling state champion. On Friday night, he accomplished just that in dominant fashion.
54
OSAA Class 3A wrestling state championships
LA PINE CONTINUES DOMINANT RUN, WINS THIRD STATE TITLE IN LAST FOUR SEASONS
It’s been hard to catch up to La Pine in Class 3A recently. With gold medals from Landyn Philpott, Devon Kerr and Tag Deluca, the Hawks won their third OSAA state championship since 2019.
97
OSAA Class 2A/1A wrestling state championships
ILLINOIS VALLEY STUNS CULVER FOR CLASS 2A/1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Culver has won 13 of the last 15 state championships, and led going into the finals. But Illinois Valley took home state championships from Mike Miller, Micah Martinho, Ryon Martinho and Ryan Griffin to overtake Culver in the final hours of the tournament.
82
OSAA Class 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling state championship
KIRA KERR’S PIN GIVES LA PINE THE POINTS IT NEEDS FOR CLASS 4A/3A/2A/1A GIRLS TITLE
The Hawks were in a deadlock with Sweet Home until late in the night. But Kerr’s second state championship win, and a Sweet Home loss immediately after, sealed the deal for La Pine’s girls team title.
CROOK COUNTY FINALLY GETS A GIRLS STATE CHAMPION IN MAKENNA DURAN
Crook County is known for its talented wrestlers. But Duran was able to add to the list of champions as the school’s first girl to win a wrestling champion with a win at 120 pounds.
SILETZ VALLEY’S CHELO GARCIA MAKES IT TWO WITH 105-POUND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Garcia won a 100-pound championship last season. This year, in the Coliseum, she made it two in dominant fashion. And while she may be shorter than the competition, she’s found ways to roll over opponents.
— Nik Streng, nstreng@oregonian.com, @NikStreng
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