Oregon 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets

The 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 22-23 in Portland

The 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 22-23 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. 

Here’s a look at the champions and takeaways from each of the two district meets. The top five finishers from each district meet advance to state. 

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Special District 1 (at Scappoose)

Team champion: La Grande (328 points)

Most qualifiers: La Grande (13), Crook County (5), Tillamook (4), Vale (4), St. Helens (4)

Individual champions

100 Zoe Brewer, Jr., Willamina

105 Kierstyn Azure, Jr., La Grande

110 Katelynn Leonard, Sr., St. Helens

115 Taylor Echeverria, Fr., Crook County

120 MaKenna Duran, Sr., Crook County

125 Maleigha Azure, Sr., La Grande

130 Payton Perry, Jr., Vale

135 Sariah Zepeda, Sr., Gervais

140 Ava Collins, Sr., Vale

145 Jessica Williams, Sr., Vale

155 Kaitlin Brock, Sr., La Grande

170 Jadyn Pense, Fr., St. Helens

190 Ylyana Sandoval, Fr., Crook County

235 Stephanie Romero, Sr., Irrigon

Summary

La Grande successfully defended its district title and should contend for its first state championship next weekend at Memorial Coliseum (the Tigers placed fourth last year) after qualifying 13 wrestlers to the field. The dry side of the state was well represented at the wet side district, with Crook County finishing second and Vale fourth in the team standings. Unfortunately, 2023 state champion Oakley Anderson of Baker/Powder Valley had to default from the district tournament because of a medical issue, but four other returning state titlists — Duran, Zepeda, Collins and Williams — cruised to district crowns. Zepeda has not lost in two seasons, winning her district final by a 14-0 major decision against Estacada’s Kirsten DeLazerda. Exemplifying the growth of girls wrestling, 31 schools advanced at least one wrestler from district, including six (Amity, Corbett, Colton, Imbler, Gladstone and Four Rivers) for the first time. 

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Special District 2 (at Cottage Grove)

Team champion: Sweet Home (208 points)

Most qualifiers: Sweet Home (8), Harrisburg (4), Oakridge (4), Siuslaw (4), Hidden Valley (4), Grant Union (4) 

Individual champions

100 Gracie Williams, So., Harrisburg

105 Vanessa Keller, So., Oakridge

110 Paxton Steele, Fr., Harrisburg

115 Emmalee Brissette, Fr., Oakridge

120 Riley Watkins, Sr., Sweet Home

125 Bailey Chafin, So., Sweet Home

130 Kali Williams, So., Oakridge

135 Lexie Newman, So., Brookings-Harbor

140 Quincey Ludwig, Sr., Lakeview

145 Megan Peterson, Sr., Hidden Valley

155 Hannah Henderson, Sr., Harrisburg

170 June Highburger, Sr., Elmira

190 Lilliyan Jaramillo, Sr., Rogue River

235 Breanna Meek, Jr., North Valley

Summary 

Sweet Home, which tied for second at state a year ago behind La Pine, should vie with La Grande for top honors this season after advancing two district champions — including returning state champion Chafin — and a district-high eight wrestlers. The Hawks face a daunting title defense after qualifying just three wrestlers. Meek, the defending state champion at 235, won a highly anticipated matchup with two-time state titlist Mallory Lusco of Grant Union in the final, pinning the Prospectors junior 49 seconds into the third period. Another exciting final pitted two state runners-up from a year ago, with Jaramillo pinning Sweet Home’s Alyssa Peterson in 2:41. Keller, who won the 2023 state title at 100, successfully repeated as a district champion, but last year’s 110 state champion, Macali Lade of Siuslaw, lost in the district final to Steele by an 11-7 decision. Of the 30 schools to qualify at least one wrestler to the state meet, only one (Waldport) will be a debutante. 

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