Crescent Valley's James Rowley caps remarkable 4-year run, braces for world championships, college at Wisconsin: Oregon (OSAA) wrestling 182-pounds roundup

“I’m happy with my performance, happy with the four years I put out.”

By René Ferrán

The happiness that Crescent Valley senior James Rowley felt after completing his four-year title run with a first-round pin of Wilsonville’s Marshall Rodenbeck at Saturday’s Class 5A state wrestling meet at Ridgeview High School in Redmond was tinged with a hint of melancholy. 

Rowley and fellow four-timer Gabe Whisenhunt have been good friends for four years in the Raiders wrestling room, and the thought that they’d go their separate ways after this season — Rowley to Wisconsin, Whisenhunt to Oregon State — hit him hard. 

“I’m going to end my career with Gabe, so it’s a pretty sad moment,” Rowley said. “But I feel pretty accomplished. I’m happy with my performance, happy with the four years I put out.” 

It was a four-year run that saw him go 133-10, with only one loss to an in-state rival — at a midseason dual meet against Crook County two years ago, he moved up two weight classes to wrestle a state champion in Kyle Knudtson, who dealt him a 4-2 defeat.

Now, Rowley looks to add a third world championships medal to his resume before enrolling at Wisconsin. He’ll head to Madison to begin training for the U.S. team trials in Geneva, Ohio, in early June, hoping to qualify for the August tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

He’s hoping things have settled down in that part of the world by the time Junior Worlds roll around.

“It’s a little crazy there,” he said. “But I’m looking forward to making that team, finishing the end of my high school career, I guess you could say. Then, I’ll head to Wisconsin, being under those great coaches there, and looking forward to winning a national title.” 

4A: Cascade senior Lance VanHoose won his second title in a row, moving up from 160 as a junior to 182 this winter and beating Banks junior Daevon Vereen by a 12-2 major decision in the final.

3A: Nyssa senior Alec Carey denied Dayton’s David Bowlin a second consecutive title, edging the Bulldogs senior and top seed 3-2 in the final.

2A/1A: Lakeview senior Morgan Ludwig returned at 182 and successfully defended his state title, finishing with a 6-0 decision over Central Linn junior Jacob Beauchamp in the final. 

6A: ‘You don’t pass up an opportunity like that.’ Sprague’s Brook Byers makes quick work of opponent for third wrestling title