After 2023 disappointment, Newberg came back with a vengeance en route to 6A wrestling title: ‘We all wanted it so badly’

“Losing here last year really made us all work a lot harder”

The winningest program in Class 6A wrestling history lost last season. 

And Newberg didn’t take its defeat to West Linn lightly.

“You could tell that losing here last year really made us all work a lot harder,” senior Isaac Hampton said Saturday night after the Tigers reclaimed the OSAA state title at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“The room is laser-focused. We worked super hard. Everybody’s there day in, day out. I think that’s why we went out there and won today, because we knew that we all wanted it so badly.”

Hampton played a significant role in Newberg’s 14th OSAA state championship — the most of any 6A team and tying Lowell for most by any program — by winning his third state title with a 3-1 decision against another returning champion, Clackamas senior Jeremiah Wachsmuth.

The Tigers also won the COVID 2021 summer season title, which the OSAA doesn’t recognize as an official championship but would make Newberg the winningest program all-time.

It won the title by amassing 353 points, the third-most in 6A meet history, with 13 wrestlers making the podium and four winning titles.

“I’ve been on teams here with my brothers and some of my closest friends, and this is the best year I’ve ever had,” Hampton said. “I love those guys. I love watching them win. I love being a part of it.”

Hampton was joined atop the medals podium by three first-time champions — senior Dillon Le (144), junior Gus Amerson (150) and sophomore Gavin Rangel (132).

“You know, last year, we didn’t have a horrible tournament. West Linn just had a heck of a tournament,” Tigers coach Neil Russo said. “We didn’t win some close matches last year that might have made a difference, and today we did.

“We had a pretty good start to the day, when we went 12 for 13 in the quarterfinals, and I told the coaches that all we need to do is hold serve in the semis, and we can match them on the back, and we’ll be fine. And we did better than hold serve. We put nine in the finals, and any time you can do that, it’s pretty impressive.”

Senior Zachary Keinonen could not secure a fourth title, denied of becoming the 52nd wrestler in state history to accomplish the feat by West Linn junior Oscar Doces in a 138-pound final that went to the ultimate tiebreaker. 

“I had a great four years at Newberg,” Keinonen said. “I love my team more than anything.”

Doces was one of four Lions to win titles, including fellow two-time champions Henry Dillingham (157) and Charles Spinning (165). Senior 120-pounder Colby Cook completed the quartet of West Linn titlists as the Lions finished second after winning their first title a year ago.

Roseburg, led by state champions Drew Dawson (106) and Gage Singleton (113), made it back on the podium with a third-place finish, and Clackamas won its first team trophy by placing fourth.

Juniors Bridger Foss of South Medford (175) and Dominic Macon of Nelson (285) completed undefeated seasons with their first state titles. Macon and Tualatin’s Logan Sunnell (195) won the first championships in their programs’ histories, and junior Lusiano Lopez (215) ended Lake Oswego’s 11-year title drought. 

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