Oregon 6A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets
By René Ferrán| Photo by Leon Neuschwander
The 6A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26-27 at Sandy High School. Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the seven district meets. The top three finishers at each district meet qualify for state. The final three spots will be filled based on criteria among the seven fourth-place district finishers.
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PIL (at McDaniel)
Team champion: Cleveland (363.5 points)
Individual champions
106 Lucas Schultz, Jr., Jefferson
113 Sean Lee, Sr., Cleveland
120 Oscar Doces, Fr., Wells
126 Simon Schlevitz, Sr., Benson
132 Kubyoo Amani, Sr., Franklin
138 Logan Medford, Jr., Cleveland
145 Kai Tsugawa, Jr., Grant
152 Callum Smeller, Jr., Cleveland
160 Noah Nelson, Sr., Wells
170 Lane Shaffer, Jr., McDaniel
182 Garrett Cappalonga, Jr., Cleveland
195 George Ramsey, Sr., Wells
220 William Hindrum, Sr., Grant
285 Cooper Sevigny, Sr., Franklin
3 notes
Eight is great for Cleveland
The Warriors earned an eighth consecutive district title, amassing 101 more points than runner-up Grant while winning four weight classes and advancing a PIL-best 12 wrestlers directly to state. (The top three fourth-place wrestlers according to criteria will fill the 24-wrestler field at Sandy next weekend.)
Medford, who placed third at 126 pounds at the 6A state meet in June, moved up to 138 and improved to 28-2 with a 68-second pin of Grant’s William Jordan in the final. Medford is the only returning PIL wrestler who medaled at Newberg High.
Grant’s Tsugawa wins third title
Six wrestlers repeated as district champions, with Medford and Tsugawa becoming three-time winners. Tsugawa moved to 38-3 with a second-round pin of Lincoln’s Mack Dolich in the 145 final. He hopes to medal for the first time at state after losing in the blood round in sudden-victory overtime in June.
Herbert ends Benson’s 16-year title drought
Benson hasn’t had a wrestler finish on the podium at state since Peter Herbert as a 112-pound junior in 2005. Herbert won a district title the following season, meaning the Techmen went 16 years without a PIL champion until Saturday, when Schlevitz earned a 10-6 decision over McDaniel’s Eli Holstein in the 126 final.
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Metro (at Aloha)
Team champion: Mountainside (341 points)
Individual champions
106 Brody Lybarger, Fr., Mountainside
113 Juan Elenes, Jr., Westview
120 TJ Turner, Sr., Aloha
126 Moises Lopez, So., Aloha
132 Dominic Feliz, Sr., Southridge
138 Andy Melz, Sr., Southridge
145 Ashton Rock, Jr., Aloha
152 Fransisco Endi, Sr., Southridge
160 Noah Morris, Jr., Mountainside
170 Charles Manthe, Sr., Westview
182 Richard Gomez, So., Aloha
195 Evan Dooley, Sr., Mountainside
220 Michael Madden, Sr., Mountainside
285 Nomani Liu, Sr., Southridge
3 notes
Mountainside edges defending champion Westview
Led by three-time district champion Dooley and a trio of first-time winners, Mountainside won its second team title in three seasons in a close race with last spring’s champion, Westview.
The 21.5-point margin came down to the Mavericks winning four district titles to the Wildcats’ two champions — three-time titlist Elenes and repeat winner Manthe. However, Westview advanced 11 straight into the state bracket, topping Mountainside’s 10 automatic qualifiers.
Southridge’s Melz a four-time champion
Melz became a four-time district champion for Southridge with a 6-3 decision over Westview’s Elias Mauck in the 138 final. Melz now looks to have better luck at state — he has failed to place in each of his first three trips, winning a combined three matches. He was one of four district champions for the Skyhawks, who qualified seven directly to the state meet.
Aloha sends small but mighty contingent to state
Aloha is sending just six wrestlers to state this week, but four of its qualifiers head to Sandy fresh off district championships. Among the quartet is Turner, who placed fifth at state at 120 in June but hadn’t won a district title until winning a 7-5 decision over Southridge junior Nicolas Garza in the 120 final.
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Mt. Hood (at Sandy)
Team champion: David Douglas (336 points)
Individual champions
106 Jeremiah Wachsmuth, So., Clackamas
113 Jacob Larson, So., Clackamas
120 Eldar Muzaffarov, Jr., David Douglas
126 Gage Culp, Fr., Sandy
132 Mason Culp, So., Sandy
138 Mark Hull, Sr., David Douglas
145 Cole Sims, Sr., Clackamas
152 Ramazan Tyuranov, Jr., David Douglas
160 Abraham Dejesus, Jr., Reynolds
170 Anthony Linares, Jr., David Douglas
182 Andrew Collins, Sr., Barlow
195 Robert Plympton, Sr., Reynolds
220 Steven Ramos, Jr., David Douglas
285 Nate Shea, Jr., Sandy
3 notes
David Douglas ready for bounceback state meet
It was just four years ago that David Douglas took home the fourth-place trophy from the state meet. Since then, the Scots have fallen on hard times — they’ve finished 15th, 18th and 25th the past three seasons — but with five district champions and 11 direct qualifiers to state (with one potential wild card), they should challenge for a top-10 finish and could find themselves in the hunt for a podium finish.
The Scots had no medalists at state in June, but Ramos — a three-time qualifier ranked No. 4 at 220 by Oregon Wrestling Forum — is a top contender after winning a second district title by pinning Nelson’s Cole Wronski in 5:20 in the 220 final.
Wronski became the Hawks’ first (and only) state qualifier in the school’s debut season with his runner-up finish.
Sandy has 10 qualify to wrestle at home for state
The Pioneers gave David Douglas a serious run for its money in the district title race and advanced 10 wrestlers directly to this weekend’s state meet on their home mats. The Culp brothers went back-to-back in winning titles at 132 and 138, and Shea ended the meet with an overtime victory over Barlow sophomore Dylan Howell.
Reynolds’ Plympton stays unbeaten, wins fourth district title
Plympton, a third-place finisher at the 4A state meet for Corbett as a freshman before transferring to Reynolds, became a four-time district champion and kept his undefeated season intact with a 37-second pin of Clackamas’ Dylan Gentile in the 195 final. Plympton, now 31-0 for the season, finished runner-up to Newberg’s Hudson Davis at June’s state meet.
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Pacific (at Newberg)
Team champion: Newberg (572 points)
Individual champions
106 Tyrese Duncans, So., Century
113 Isaac Hampton, So., Newberg
120 Ethan Ritchie, Sr., Newberg
126 Zachary Keinonen, So., Newberg
132 Nicky Olmstead, Sr., Newberg
138 Gus Amerson, Fr., Newberg
145 Ayden Garver, Sr., Newberg
152 Charlie Evans, Sr., Newberg
160 Price Pothier, Sr., Newberg
170 Gavin Korkeakoski, Sr., Newberg
182 Kyle Kelley, Sr., Newberg
195 Hudson Davis, Jr., Newberg
220 Hayden Hampton, Sr., Newberg
285 Spencer Krussman, Jr., Glencoe
3 notes
Newberg romps to another district crown, sets up state title defense
How thoroughly did Newberg dominate the Pacific district meet en route to a fourth consecutive conference title (and ninth overall)? Let us count the ways:
- Seven of the 14 district finals matched Newberg teammates.
- The Tigers earned 12 of 14 district titles.
- They advanced 21 automatic qualifiers to the state meet, with wrestlers at every weight except 106 and 285.
- Their 572 points nearly tripled runner-up Century’s 213 total.
Evans, going for a third consecutive state title to close his career, improved to 37-0 with an injury default over teammate Patrick Negra in the 152 final. Hampton also heads to state undefeated at 39-0, also receiving an injury default win over fellow sophomore Brandon Smith.
It all adds up to a formidable combination of top-end talent and depth to collect points in the consolation rounds as the Tigers go for a third consecutive state title this weekend in Sandy.
Century hopes wild cards go their way
The runner-up Jaguars had only one district champion and three automatic qualifiers to this weekend’s state meet in Sandy. Duncans opened the finals with a second-round pin of McMinnville sophomore Bradley Wooldridge at 106.
They hope to get a few of their six fourth-place wrestlers — including senior William Musser, state runner-up at 152 in June who drew the short straw in a loaded 160 bracket that included three other state placers — into the field as wild cards.
McMinnville second-best with six qualifiers
Wooldridge was one of three runner-ups for the Grizzlies, whose six direct qualifiers were second to Newberg’s 21 among the six conference teams. They also have a couple of fourth-place finishers hoping to earn wild cards into the state draw.
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Three Rivers (at Oregon City)
Team champion: Canby (371.5 points)
Individual champions
106 Matthew Young, Fr., Canby
113 Atticus Waddell, Sr., Tigard
120 Wyatt Stahl, So., Oregon City
126 Ty Ewers, Sr., Canby
132 Ethan Goff, Sr., West Linn
138 Charles Spinning, So., West Linn
145 Logan Owens, Jr., West Linn
152 Chase Dennis, Jr., Tigard
160 Logan Sunnell, Fr., Tualatin
170 Justin Rademacher, Jr., West Linn
182 Benjamin Winjum, Jr., West Linn
195 Earl Ingle, Jr., West Linn
220 Matthew Hagen, Sr., Canby
285 Colin Kennedy, Sr., Canby
3 notes
Canby ends 14-year district title drought
The Cougars made the most of their final trip to the Three Rivers district meet before dropping to Class 5A next season. Canby wrestlers won four titles and advanced 11 automatic qualifiers (with one potential wild card) in winning its first district championship since 2008, edging 2020 champion West Linn by 9.5 points.
Canby’s margin of victory came down to its 3-1 record in head-to-head finals with West Linn wrestlers. Young kicked it off with a 2-0 decision over Tripp Moussavi in a battle of 106-pound freshmen. A disqualification gave Ewers (24-1) the 126 title, and Hagen pinned Liam Armstrong in 5:19 in the 220 final to clinch the team title.
West Linn still in good shape for podium finish at state
While the Lions narrowly lost the district title, they still positioned themselves well to end an eight-year trophy drought after finishing fifth at state in June. They advanced a district-high 12 wrestlers (with two potential wild cards) to this weekend’s state meet, including six district champions.
Among those titlists is three-time district winner Rademacher, the only Lion to win his head-to-head final against a Canby wrestler, defeating senior Cash Montgomery by technical fall. Rademacher has placed second and third at state in his first two seasons. Winjum and Ingle, who lost in the district finals as sophomores, came back this winter to secure titles.
Tualatin positions itself for top-10 state showing
Third-place Tualatin had one district champion — Sunnell kept his impressive freshman season going with a 6-3 decision over Canby’s Wyatt Samarin in the 160 final — but advanced 10 directly into the state field. The Timberwolves also had five fourth-place finishers hoping to get added to the field as wild cards, which would bolster their chances of a top-10 state finish.
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Mountain Valley (at West Salem)
Team champion: Sprague (363 points)
Individual champions
106 Max Blanco, So., McNary
113 Scout Santos, So., Mountain View
120 Brayden Boyd, Sr., Sprague
126 Andrey Cernev, So., Sprague
132 Bo Davis, Sr., Sprague
138 Drew Jones, Jr., Mountain View
145 Jackson Potts, So., Mountain View
152 Josh Camillo, Jr., Sprague
160 Jesse Rubio, Sr., McKay
170 Riley Davis, Jr., Sprague
182 Brook Byers, Sr., Sprague
195 Gavin Harris, Sr., McKay
220 David Sherman, Sr., Sprague
285 Cole Steketee, Jr., Sprague
3 notes
Sprague’s district title run reaches double digits
Make it an even 10 consecutive district titles for Sprague, which had to work to hit double digits against a Mountain View team that hopes to make the most of its final season in Class 6A before returning to 5A next fall.
The Olympians will take a top-heavy roster to Sandy this week, with eight of their district-high 12 automatic qualifiers (with one potential wild card) having earned district titles Saturday. They might not have the firepower to challenge two-time defending state champion Newberg, but a second consecutive runner-up finish is well within reach.
Among the Olympians’ district titlists are four returning state champions — Boyd, Davis, Byers and Sherman — and runners-up Camillo and Steketee, who finished second to Sherman at 220 in June but moved up to heavyweight this winter.
Mountain View looks for one final 6A trophy before drop
The Cougars, fourth at state in June and having made the podium each of the past four years, qualified nine wrestlers straight into the state field, and they have three fourth-place finishers who could make it to Sandy.
Santos and Jones each repeated as district champion, while Potts — runner-up to Jones at 126 as a freshman — moved up three weight classes to avoid another head-to-head clash and improved to 42-7 with a 12-4 major decision over Bend’s Geiner Harpole in the 145 final.
McKay, McNary wrestlers take home remaining titles
With Sprague and Mountain View claiming half of the available automatic qualifying berths, it left the other six teams fighting over the scraps. McKay had two champions, including Rubio (the younger brother of former state champion David Rubio) finally winning his first, while Blanco became McNary’s first district champion since 2018 by defeating Bend freshman Eric Larwin in a 15-5 major decision to open the finals.
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Southwest (at South Medford)
Team champion: Roseburg (452.5 points)
Individual champions
106 Gage Singleton, So., Roseburg
113 Robert Geyer, Fr., Roseburg
120 Mark Astry, So., Grants Pass
126 Levi Campbell, Sr., Roseburg
132 Nash Singleton, Sr., Roseburg
138 Rhett Martin, Sr., Roseburg
145 Jace Garibay, Sr., North Medford
152 Varrius Scanlan, Sr., Roseburg
160 Ryan Johnston, Sr., Grants Pass
170 Conner McDougall, Sr., North Medford
182 Dredan Myers, Sr., Grants Pass
195 Owen Townes, Sr., Grants Pass
220 Li Moala, So., South Medford
285 Grady Hamilton, Jr., Roseburg
3 notes
Sweet 16 for Roseburg, which sends 17 directly to state
It was not quite the utter domination that Roseburg has displayed at past Southwest district meets, but the team did enough to earn a 16th consecutive championship, winning half the weight classes and advancing 17 wrestlers (with four potential wild cards) to this weekend’s state meet.
Four of Roseburg’s seven champions repeated their title runs from June’s district meet, with Nash Singleton becoming a four-time champion when teammate Garrett Gallego defaulted their 132 final to save both for this weekend’s state meet.
Singleton will vie for a third state title before heading to Oregon State, while younger brother Gage looks to repeat as 106 champion this weekend.
Grants Pass qualifies 12 in bid to get back on podium
Grants Pass finished second in the team standings for the third consecutive season, advancing four district champions and 12 automatic qualifiers to state. With five more awaiting word if they’ll receive wild cards, that could make the difference in the Cavemen’s bid to make the podium for the first time since 2014.
Myers won a third district title by defeating teammate Tim Trask by major decision in the 182 final, while Johnston won a second consecutive 160 crown with a 5-2 decision over Roseburg’s Haygen VanGordon.
Not many leftovers for rest of district field
Roseburg, Grants Pass and third-place North Medford (seven qualifiers, one potential wild card) gobbled up 36 of 42 available automatic state berths, leaving the three other teams scrambling for scraps. For now, South Eugene was shut out of the state meet, although it still has a chance to send someone to Sandy if Soren Gustafson gets in as a wild card at 152.
