Taking no Flack: La Pine senior Tyson Flack wins first Reser’s title (106 pounds)

“It means a lot. Last year, I didn’t place here, so this is a pretty big accomplishment.”

By René Ferrán | Photos by Leon Neuschwander  

A year ago, La Pine's Tyson Flack entered the Reser’s Tournament of Champions as a No. 4 seed but got bounced from the 106-pound bracket one round shy of medaling. 

The sting of that finish was fresh on his mind at this weekend’s edition of the event at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. On Saturday evening, the senior erased it for good with a 62-second pin of Dallas freshman Carsen Atterbury in the 106-pound championship match. 

“It means a lot,” said Flack, who improved to 36-2 with the victory. “Last year, I didn’t place here, so this is a pretty big accomplishment.”

It also was a big accomplishment for the program. Flack became the first La Pine wrestler to win an individual title at the Reser’s TOC, which features the best teams from all five classifications from around the state.

He said his experience at other big tournaments — he placed fifth at the Sierra Nevada Classic and won the Rollie Lane Invitational — helped him this weekend.

“It makes me less nervous, that’s for sure,” he said. 

Flack now hopes to carry that momentum to the postseason, with his eyes on earning his first OSAA Class 3A state title in three weeks at Memorial Coliseum in Portland — he won the OWA state title during the COVID-shortened 2021 season.

Last year’s champion, Harrisburg sophomore Luke Cheek, wrestled at 113 this weekend (placing fourth) but could return, as could Burns sophomore Canon Winn, who beat Flack in last year’s semifinals.

Then there’s Tyson’s younger brother, Riley, who won the Reser’s JV title at 106. Could the two of them meet under the bright lights at the Memorial Coliseum in three weeks?

“I mean, he’d better get his butt into gear if he wants to be in that final match,” Tyson said, smiling.

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