Day 1 of Oregon high school wrestling state championships postponed; OSAA working on new plan

One possibility could involve moving championship and placement matches to Sunday.

By René Ferrán | Photo by Taylor Balkom  

The region’s late winter snowstorm has led to the postponement of Day 1 of the OSAA wrestling state championships, the state’s governing body for high school athletics announced Wednesday night via social media. 

Wrestling Update: Due to inclement weather & city/county-wide state of emergencies, the Coliseum has closed its campus on Thursday 2/23. We are working on a revised schedule and will update as soon as possible. Please visit https://t.co/9bF2MuODaD or follow @osaasports for info pic.twitter.com/Lc1Tls3YqA

— OSAA (@OSAASports) February 23, 2023

“Due to inclement weather and city / county wide states of emergencies, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the Rose Quarter Campus has informed us that their campus is closed on Thursday, February 23,” the announcement read. “We are working to develop a revised schedule and will provide updates as soon as possible. Please visit www.osaa.org or follow the OSAA social media accounts for the latest information.”

The addition of a seventh classification (Class 4A/3A/2A/1A girls) this season led to the OSAA creating a three-day schedule for the competition for the first time.

Day 1 was to include 4A, 3A, 2A/1A and 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling. Originally, the OSAA pushed for a two-hour delay for weigh-ins and the start of competition, with action slated to run until 10:30 p.m. 

The Memorial Coliseum staff’s decision to shut down Thursday now complicates the situation. 

Kris Welch, the OSAA assistant executive director in charge of wrestling, said via text message that OSAA staff is working with the tournament computer coordinator “to run simulations with possibilities to see if we can schedule the entire tournament starting Friday and being done by Sunday.”

Welch added that they have asked Coliseum staff to extend the OSAA’s rental contract, but the tournament must be done by 1 p.m. Sunday to allow them to start preparations for the Portland Winterhawks hockey team’s next home game. The Winterhawks play host to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday, March 4.

“The staff is amazing, all working on their particular areas and making sure we are trying to communicate with all stakeholders,” Welch said.

One possibility could entail adding semifinal and blood round matches for the 6A, 5A and 6A/5A girls tournaments to Saturday night’s schedule, leaving an abbreviated Sunday schedule for championship and placement matches.