Oregon 2A/1A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets

The 2A/1A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 in Culver.

By René Ferrán| Photo by Michele Bunch

The 2A/1A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 at Culver High School. Here’s a look at the champions and takeaways from each of the four district meets. The top two finishers at each district meet qualify for state. The final three spots will be filled based on criteria among the four third-place district finishers.

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Special District 1 (at Neah-Kah-Nie)

Team champion: Toledo (203 points)

Individual champions

106 Frankie Giron, So., Gervais

113 Adam Reyes, Jr., Kennedy

120 Brandon DePue, Sr., Vernonia

126 Trevor Wolf, So., Vernonia

132 Logan Gerding, So., Toledo

138 Christian Retherford, So., Toledo

145 Sterling Buckley, So., Toledo

152 Roger Moore, Jr., Colton

160 Lucas Bischoff, Jr., Regis

170 Thomas Bischoff, So., Regis

182 Nolan Earls, Jr., Colton

195 Ash Blomstrom, So., Toledo

220 Kolby Coxen, Fr., Toledo

285 Isaiah Naeve, So., Vernonia

Summary

Toledo won its second consecutive district title on the strength of a district-best five champions, giving the Boomers the seven-point edge over 2020 titlist Vernonia. Each advanced a guaranteed five wrestlers to this weekend’s state meet, and each has two potential wild cards for third-place finishes. Bischoff, who won the 160 district title for Kennedy in June, transferred to Regis over the summer and won a second title by pinning last year’s 152 champion, Dylan Bonfield of Colton. Giron, DePue, Gerding, Blomstrom and Earls also repeated as district titlists, with DePue looking to add the 120 state title to the 113 crown he won in June.

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Special District 2 (at Lowell)

Team champion: Oakland (169 points)

Individual champions

106 Harley Hardison, Fr., Lowell

113 Hunter Mersch, Jr., Jefferson

120 Hagen Johnson, Sr., Central Linn

126 Tyler Garner, Fr., Oakland

132 Aaron Solomon, Sr., Reedsport

138 Adam Solomon, Sr., Reedsport

145 Braxtom Dill, Sr., Glide

152 Ryan Davis, So., Jefferson

160 Cole Goracke, Sr., Central Linn

170 Kaleb Oliver, Sr., Oakland

182 Jacob Beauchamp, Jr., Central Linn

195 Jaden Rondeau, Sr., Glide

220 Brock Barron-Perreira, So., Glide

285 Hunter Shamir, Jr., Oakland

Summary

Oakland ended Central Linn’s two-year title run, dethroning the Cobras by 22 points to win the Oakers’ first district title in over a decade. Oliver remained undefeated since transferring from Colorado to Oakland the summer after his freshman year, improving to 86-0 in an Oakers singlet with a second-round pin of Lowell freshman Paul Clark in the 170 final. Central Linn advanced a district-best six automatic qualifiers to state, but Lowell (four qualifiers, four potential wild cards) and Oakland (four qualifiers, two wild cards) could add to their contingents. The Solomon twins both won titles for Reedsport, with Aaron looking to win a third state title this weekend.

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Special District 3 (at Myrtle Point)

Team champion: Illinois Valley (292.5 points)

Individual champions

106 Michael Miller, So., Illinois Valley

113 Micah Martinho, Fr., Illinois Valley

120 Bailey Thompson, Jr., Myrtle Point

126 Joel Rodriguez, Fr., Bonanza

132 Caden Landmark, Fr., Coquille

138 Skyler Wylie, Sr., Illinois Valley

145 Ryan Griffin, So., Illinois Valley

152 Wyatt Patzke, Sr., Lakeview

160 Jozia Williams, So., Illinois Valley

170 Adrian Stubbs, So., Lakeview

182 Morgan Ludwig, Sr., Lakeview

195 Logan Clayburn, So., Myrtle Point

220 Tommy Vigue, So., Coquille

285 Tom Riley, Jr., Coquille

Summary

Illinois Valley nearly doubled runner-up Lakeview’s point total in moving up from sixth place in June to win its first district title in recent history. The Cougars experienced a youth movement, with four of their five district champions either freshmen or sophomores, including reigning 106 state champion Miller. Of their nine automatic state qualifiers (with two potential wild cards), seven will return next winter. No other program will send more than four automatic qualifiers to Culver. Ludwig earned his chance to defend his 182 state title with a second-round pin of Bonanza’s Thomas Henderson in the district final.

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Special District 4 (at Adrian)

Team champion: Culver (359 points)

Individual champions

106 Hunter Buck, Fr., Pine Eagle

113 Debren Sanabria, Jr., Culver

120 Noel Navarro, Sr., Culver

126 Garret Burns, Sr., Imbler

132 Coy Butner, Sr., Pine Eagle

138 Chase Butner, Sr., Pine Eagle

145 Kelin Abbas, Jr., Culver

152 Justin Hodge, Sr., Grant Union/Prairie City

160 Isaiah Toomey, Sr., Culver

170 Jake Doman, Jr., Crane

182 David Creech, Jr., Union/Cove

195 Cade Cunningham, Jr., Heppner/Ione

220 Toby Clow, Sr., Adrian

285 Wylie Johnson, Jr., Culver

Summary

Culver set itself nicely to defend the state title it recaptured in June and win a 14th championship in 16 seasons on its home mats. The Bulldogs advanced 11 wrestlers directly into the field and have five potential wild cards waiting in the wings. Pine Eagle, second at the state meet in June, has only three automatic qualifiers (and one potential wild card), including Chase Butner, who won the 126 state title in June. Burns, the reigning 120 state champion, moved up to 126 and advanced to state with a 54-second pin of Crane senior John Otley in the district final. Clow is Adrian’s first district champion since 2019.