2-time champion Polly Olliff of Dallas learns to be confident without being cocky: Oregon wrestling 120/110 big-school roundup

“I learned from my mom. We did a lot of talking, that it’s two different things, being confident and being cocky, and that God wants you to know you can be courageous through Him.”

A month ago, in the final of the Tod Surmon Mid-Valley Classic, Dallas junior Polly Olliff learned a valuable lesson: 

How to be confident without being cocky. 

Olliff lost in that final 4-3 to Corvallis’ Jennifer Russell, and Saturday night at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the Class 6A/5A Girls 110-pound final at the OSAA wrestling state championships, Olliff showed how much she learned from that defeat.

She shrugged off an early takedown and held Russell scoreless the rest of the match, scoring a reversal in the second period and a takedown in the third en route to a 5-2 decision and her second state title.

“This season, I’ve dealt with a lot of stress issues,” Olliff said. “It was really hard for me to be confident, because I thought if I was being confident, I was being cocky.

“So, I just did a lot of prayer, and I learned from my mom. We did a lot of talking, that it’s two different things, being confident and being cocky, and that God wants you to know you can be courageous through Him.” 

Olliff’s father, Tony, stepped down this season as coach of the boys program, and he was in his usual chair in Polly’s corner for Saturday’s final.

“He’s made sure he’s been in my corner, and I appreciate that,” she said.

5A: As Olliff secured her second title, her classmate, Joseph Johnson, was on an adjoining mat securing his first and wrapping up the Dragons’ third team title, pinning Mid-Willamette district rival Colton Hankey of Crescent Valley in the second round of their 120-pound final.

“I know my team worked so hard for this title,” he said. “I was nervous warming up. I knew it was going to be a hard match, but God gave me the strength to overcome any challenge that I faced today.”

6A: West Linn senior Colby Cook, fourth at state a year ago, won his first title in his final attempt with an 11-2 major decision against Newberg’s Sawyer Keinonen.

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Meet the champions: Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A/1A | Class 6A/5A Girls | Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls

Vote for best wrestler: Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A/1A | Class 6A/5A Girls | Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls

Previewing the state meets: Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A/1A | Class 6A/5A Girls | Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls

Recapping the district meets: Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A/1A | Class 6A/5A Girls | Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF 2024 OSAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Photos by Taylor Balkom