Oregon 5A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets

The 5A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 in Redmond.

By René Ferrán| Photo by Michele Bunch

The 5A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the four district meets. The top four finishers at each district meet qualify for state.

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Special District 1 (NWOC)

At Hillsboro HS

Team champion: St. Helens (346.5 points)

Individual champions

106 Evan Willis, So., St. Helens

113 Wyatt Dingman, So., St. Helens

120 Gavin Schaer, Sr., St. Helens

126 Anthony Comer, Jr., Scappoose

132 Maverick Heimbuck, Fr., Scappoose

138 Narcizo Garza, Sr., St. Helens

145 Drew Greco, Sr., Putnam

152 Michael Ellis, Sr., Hillsboro

160 Benjamin Rintoul, Jr., Scappoose

170 Trey Dieringer, Jr., Scappoose

182 Marshall Rodenbeck, Sr., Wilsonville

195 Darrius Walker, Sr., Hillsboro

220 Sebastian Echeverria, Jr., Hillsboro

285 Tyler Jennings, Sr., St. Helens

3 notes

Lions follow in girls’ footsteps to win district title

A week ago, the St. Helens girls won their first regional championship, defeating defending champion Hillsboro along the way.

Same tune, different verse this weekend at Hillsboro, where the Lions won five individual titles, qualified 14 for the Class 5A state meet and held off the host Spartans to win the district title for the first time in the past 30 years.

Garza was named co-Outstanding Wrestler of the meet, winning the 138-pound title with an 8-5 decision over Hillsboro sophomore Skyler Salzman.

St. Helens last won a team trophy at the state meet in 1992, when it finished second to McLoughlin. While the Lions were No. 9 in the latest Oregon Wrestling Forum (OWF) rankings, they have the depth to make some noise at the state meet in two weeks.

Hillsboro, Scappoose still poised to do damage at state

Hillsboro and Scappoose each advanced 10 wrestlers to the state meet, with Hillsboro crowning three champions on its home mat and Scappoose having four district champions.

Walker kept his undefeated season going by pinning sophomore teammate Matthew Baker with 26 seconds left in the second period. He’ll head to state with a 21-0 record.

Putnam’s Greco unbeaten headed to state meet

With the top three teams dominating the top spot on the podium, that left few opportunities for the other four schools in the district to take home titles.

Putnam’s Greco, a four-time state qualifier who won a district title at 106 as a freshman, improved his record to 23-0 by pinning St. Helens senior Brenden Clegg with 11 seconds left in their 145 final. The Kingsmen advanced seven to state, as did Wilsonville, led by Rodenbeck, who won the 182 title. 

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Special District 2 (Midwestern)

At Eagle Point HS

Team champion: Thurston (447 points)

Individual champions

106 Jake Stutesman, So., Thurston

113 Elijah Bayne, Fr., Crater

120 Eduardo Matheus, Sr., Thurston

126 Braylin Ruchti, Jr., Thurston

132 Ty Havniear, Jr., Crater

138 Kolton Malone, Jr., Thurston

145 Matthew Bolanos, Sr., Crater

152 Hunter Harwood, Sr., Thurston

160 Holton Halstead, Fr., Thurston

170 Sawyer Casarez, Jr., Thurston

182 Jimmie Copeland II, Sr., Eagle Point

195 Brycen Indell, Sr., Thurston

220 Vaun Halstead, Jr., Thurston

285 Neal Walter, Jr., North Bend

3 notes

Thurston takes care of business to win another district title

The Colts, No. 3 in the most recent OWF rankings, did what they needed at the district level to challenge three-time defending state champion Crescent Valley in two weeks.

They hoarded the first-place medals, taking home nine of 14 available, had three runners-up and advanced 16 wrestlers in earning their fourth MWL district title in the past five years.

The Colts qualified at least one wrestler at every weight class but 132. Stutesman pinned freshman teammate Mason Hakki in 1:16 in the only all-Thurston final.

A couple of Reser’s Tournament of Champions winners, Malone and Halstead, romped to victories in their weight classes. Malone, the lone undefeated wrestler left in the district, pinned Crater junior Ryan Hill 43 seconds into the second period. Halstead breezed to a first-round pin of Crater senior Gabriel Williams.

Crater, Eagle Point in the mix for a team trophy in two weeks

The Comets, who placed fifth at state in June, might not have the firepower to challenge for their first state title since 2017, but with three district champions and 12 qualifiers, they will vie to return to the podium this winter.

Another podium contender should be the Eagles, who also sent 12 to state, led by their lone champion in Copeland, who pinned Ashland junior Alan Helsel in the final second of their title match.

North Bend junior ends school’s title drought 

The Bulldogs had gone four years without a district champion before Walter, their only finalist and one of only two state qualifiers, pinned Willamette’s Alexander Willoughby 1:11 into their heavyweight title bout. 

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Special District 3 (Mid-Willamette)

At the Salem Armory

Team champion: Dallas (357.5 points)

Individual champions

106 Everest Sutton, So., Crescent Valley

113 Landon Carver, Jr., Lebanon

120 Jose Romero, So., Dallas

126 Gabe Whisenhunt, Sr., Crescent Valley

132 DJ Gillett, Jr., Crescent Valley

138 Derek Sossie, Jr., West Albany

145 Ethan Dunigan, Jr., Central

152 Owen Reding, Sr., North Salem

160 Austin Dalton, Sr., Crescent Valley

170 Daschle Lamer, Jr., Crescent Valley

182 James Rowley, Sr., Crescent Valley

195 Hayden Walters, Jr., Crescent Valley

220 Brash Henderson, Fr., Silverton

285 Riley Godek, Sr., Crescent Valley

3 notes

Dragons’ depth ends Raiders’ title reign

Quantity over quality led to Dallas securing its first MWC district title since 2019, with the Dragons using the same winning formula over the weekend that allowed them to defeat Lebanon and Crescent Valley three years ago.

Dallas had only one district champion — Romero at 120 — but put five more in the finals and qualified a district-high 14 wrestlers to the state meet in two weeks.

The Dragons finished third at state that year, their last podium finish. They’re looking to improve upon a 21st-place finish in June.

Crescent Valley positioned well to defend state title

Raiders coach Chad Lamer knew his team didn’t have the depth to compete with Dallas for a district title.

However, like in 2019, when Crescent Valley won the first state title in school history, it will send a top-heavy slate to the state meet as it looks to win a fourth consecutive blue trophy. The Raiders had nine finalists competing Saturday, with eight taking home titles — including two wrestlers who hope to join the list of four-time state champions in two weeks.

Whisenhunt, headed to Oregon State in the fall, spent a combined 86 seconds on the mat in four matches to romp to a fourth district title. Rowley, a Wisconsin signee, had to work slightly harder for his fourth district crown — his four victories totaled 147 seconds of mat time.

West Albany ends 5-year district title drought, sends 10 to state

It had been five years since a West Albany wrestler won a district title before Sossie won a 5-2 decision over Dallas sophomore Thomas Talmadge in the 138 final.

Sossie leads a strong 10-wrestler contingent for the Bulldogs headed to Central Oregon in two weeks.

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Special District 4 (Intermountain)

At Crook County HS

Team champion: Crook County (474 points)

Individual champions

106 Billy Jackson, Fr., Redmond

113 Landon Lavey, Fr., Crook County

120 Tucker Bonner, Sr., Crook County

126 Robert Lacey, So., Crook County

132 Carson Farlow, Jr., Hood River Valley

138 Jack Lieuallen, Jr., Pendleton

145 Junior Downing, Sr., Redmond

152 Daniel Jaramillo, Sr., Ridgeview

160 Dylan Lee, Jr., Redmond

170 Brayden duke, Sr., Crook County

182 Patrick Simpson, Sr., Pendleton

195 Ray Solis, Sr., Crook County

220 Joseph Martin, Sr., Ridgeview

285 Jacob Griffin, Sr., Pendleton

3 notes

Crook County sends 21 to bid for state title in final year in 5A

Crook County hasn’t won a state title since moving up to Class 5A in 2019, finishing second, second and third the past three seasons.

Now, with the Cowboys set to return to 4A next season, they have a chance to rebound from a disappointing sixth-place finish at last month’s Reser’s Tournament of Champions at the state meet just down the road in Redmond in two weeks.

Crook County had eight medalists but no finalists at Reser’s in late January. However, with five district champions, seven runners-up, and a state-leading 21 qualifiers in tow, they’ll have plenty of arrows in their quiver in hopes of taking down three-time defending champion Crescent Valley.

Redmond wins 3 district titles, qualifies 17 for hometown state meet

Redmond gave Crook County a run for its money in the team race and will send three district champions and 17 wrestlers across town to Ridgeview for the state meet in two weeks.

Downing, ranked No. 1 in the state at 145, staved off a tough challenge from Cowboys freshman Gavin Sandoval to win a 6-4 decision in his final. 

Lee, ranked No. 4 at 152, moved up to 160 and benefited from two-time state champion Daschle Lamer’s decision to wrestle at 170 for state. Lee won a 7-5 decision over Pendleton senior Collin Primus in their final.

Ridgeview will have 7 wrestle on home mats at state

While Crook County and Redmond seized most of the state berths available, the Ravens will have seven qualifiers wrestling on their home mats in two weeks, led by two district champions.

Martin, ranked No. 2 at 220, qualified for state for the first time by pinning Crook County’s Jubal Brumble in 49 seconds in the final.