Oregon 6A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets
The 6A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 23-24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the seven district meets. The top three finishers from each district meet and three fourth-place finishers determined by criteria advance to state.
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PIL (at Lincoln)
Team champion: McDaniel (394 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: McDaniel (10), Cleveland (8), Roosevelt (7)
Individual champions
106 Elijah Borrayo, Fr., Lincoln
113 Stewart Bromwell, Fr., Cleveland
120 Isaiah Snyder, So., McDaniel
126 August Tenkhoff, So., Grant
132 Nico Farinola, Jr., Lincoln
138 Adrian Anaya, Sr., Cleveland
144 Ethan Holstein, Jr., McDaniel
150 Titus Rodela, So., Jefferson
157 Max Copus, Jr., Cleveland
165 Owen Darfler, Jr., Roosevelt
175 Dane Hartmann, Jr., Franklin
190 Tau Takau, Jr., Roosevelt
215 Lucas McCall-Petke, So., McDaniel
285 Benson Deibele, Sr., Grant
McDaniel ends Cleveland’s 12-year reign, wins first title since 2002
There’s a new champion in the PIL.
For the first time since 2011, a team not named Cleveland rules the roost, as McDaniel had three of its wrestlers get their hands raised as district champions en route to the program’s first team championship in the past 22 years.
The Mountain Lions saw returning district champion Ahmeil Keys lose a close decision to Anaya in the 138 final, but Snyder should be hungry to prove himself after having to default at state last year because of injury. He pulled out an 8-5 decision against Roosevelt’s Mateo Mazariegos in the district final.
Grant, Roosevelt climb standings to finish behind Mountain Lions
With the 12-time defending champion Warriors dropping from first to fourth, teams such as Grant and Roosevelt were able to climb in the standings, each moving up two spots to finish second and third, respectively, behind the Mountain Lions.
Deibele, who reached the quarterfinals at state last year, led the Generals, who continued their pattern of runner-up finishes in even-numbered years (2020, 2022, 2024). Tenkhoff, who failed to place at district a year ago, knocked off top seed Teagan Paxton of Cleveland in the semifinals and won in sudden-victory overtime against Warriors freshman Samuel Medford in the final.
The Roughriders hadn’t finished as high in the team standings since 2021. Neither of their district champions, Darfler and Takau, won a match at the PIL meet a year ago. Darfler benefitted from chaos in the 165 bracket to pin Wells’ Ivan Mondragon in 5:22 in the final. Takau was the No. 3 seed at 190.
Hartmann, Farinola add district titles to state medals from '23
It wasn’t just at the team level that change was in the air at Lincoln High School. Of the six returning district champions, only two — Anaya and Deibele — successfully defended their titles.
Two — Wells’ Sylas Morrison and Jefferson’s Montral Brazile — were unable to participate. Keys lost 7-6 to Anaya, and Cleveland’s Connor Smeller lost a 10-5 decision to Hartmann in the 175 final.
Hartmann, a district runner-up last year, is one of two returning PIL wrestlers who placed at state, taking fifth at 182 pounds. Farinola, who took fourth at 120 last year, won his first district title by pinning Grant’s Trey Wasson with two seconds left in the second round of their final.
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Metro (at Mountainside)
Team champion: Mountainside (388 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Mountainside (13), Westview (10), Beaverton (7)
Individual champions
106 Brandon Kojiro, Jr., Sunset
113 Miguel Elenes, Jr., Westview
120 Joey Evanston, Sr., Mountainside
126 Amir Khanjan, So., Westview
132 Moises Lopez, Sr., Aloha
138 Ethan Stock, Fr., Mountainside
144 Angel Ruano, Sr., Beaverton
150 Payton Lawson, Sr., Mountainside
157 Kinkaid McCoy, Jr., Sunset
165 Elian Gallardo, Jr., Sunset
175 Isiah Conner, Fr., Mountainside
190 Quinn Wilson, Jr., Sunset
215 Caleb Fogoros, Sr., Mountainside
285 Noah Miner, So., Aloha
Not even a surprise: Mountainside wins third district title in past five years
An odd fact about Mountainside’s third district title in the past five seasons — the Mavericks have won their championships in even-numbered years, taking the title back from Westview behind five individual champions and a district-high 13 qualifiers.
One of those five champions wasn’t junior Brody Lybarger, who lost the 106 state final in overtime last year but was stunned by Khanjan 9-7 in the 126 district final. Nor did senior Tate Sebesta repeat as a district champion, losing by fall to top-seeded teammate Fogoros in the 215 final.
Westview sends 10 to state looking to match '23 third-place finish
The Wildcats’ hopes of repeating were dealt a blow early in the season when junior Elliot Mauck, the state runner-up at 120 last February, was lost for the season. Then, they had four wrestlers lose in the district finals, although they’ll still send 10 to Memorial Coliseum next weekend after placing a program-best third in the team race a year ago.
Elenes, the younger brother of four-time district champion Juan Elenes, won a district final matching legacy wrestlers, pinning Mountainside freshman Evan Lybarger 23 seconds into the final period.
Lopez wins third district title for Aloha
Aloha’s Lopez improved to 32-1 and won his third district title with a third-period technical fall against Mountainside’s Cody Telles. Lopez, whose only loss came in December to Bend’s Eric Larwin, finished second to West Linn’s Oscar Doces at 126 pounds at last year’s state meet.
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Mt. Hood (at David Douglas)
Team champion: Sandy (426 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Sandy (10), David Douglas (10), Clackamas (9)
Individual champions
106 Caleb Enoch, Fr., Clackamas
113 Max Blanco, Sr., Clackamas
120 Kovi Lefkowitz, So., Clackamas
126 Jeremiah Wachsmuth, Sr., Clackamas
132 Jacob Larsen, Sr., Clackamas
138 Mason Culp, Sr., Sandy
144 Gage Culp, Jr., Sandy
150 Nicholas Roth, Sr., Barlow
157 Travis Hull, Jr., Reynolds
165 Armani Hays, Sr., David Douglas
175 Soren Dyal, Sr., Sandy
190 Keagan Lopez, Sr., Clackamas
215 Matthew Tammad, Sr., Sandy
285 Domonic Macon, Jr., Nelson
Sandy repeats as district champion, seeks another trophy at state
A year after Sandy won its first district title since 2017, the Pioneers ran it back with another strong showing, with four champions and 10 state qualifiers leading to a 129-point victory over David Douglas.
The Culp brothers repeated as district champions, with Mason hoping to improve upon his fifth-place finish at last year’s state meet, and Tammad moved up from district runner-up a year ago to titlist this year with a 14-4 major decision against Clackamas’ Josef Sedivy.
Sandy’s chances of making it back on the podium after finishing fourth last year took a hit when Garrett Head, who won a district title and placed fifth at 106 as a sophomore, had to drop out of the district meet after his quarterfinal victory.
State champions Wachsmuth, Blanco lead strong Clackamas contingent
If Clackamas is to take home a trophy from Memorial Coliseum for the first time next weekend, it’ll ride its cadre of lightweights, who swept every title from 106 to 132 pounds and had seven of its nine qualifiers at those weights.
Leading the way is Wachsmuth, a former national champion who won a state title at 113 pounds last year. He moved up to 126 this season and improved to 35-2 with a 16-9 decision against teammate Owen Anderson in the district final.
Larsen and Lopez also repeated as district champions. Blanco — who won the 106 state title last year while wrestling for McNary — transferred north for his senior season after getting recruited by Wachsmuth to join the program.
Junior wins Nelson’s first district title, takes unbeaten record to state
Macon made the leap from state qualifier to district champion this season, becoming the Hawks’ first title-winner by avenging a loss to David Douglas’ AJ Wedge at last year’s state meet — the blood-round defeat denied Macon a spot on the podium — with a 2-1 overtime victory in the district final.
Macon, one of three Hawks to advance to state, heads to Memorial Coliseum 27-0 and is the best bet to become the program’s first medalist next weekend.
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Pacific (at Forest Grove)
Team champion: Newberg
Most automatic qualifiers: Newberg (18), Forest Grove (6), Glencoe (6)
Individual champions
106 Kiah Worthington, So., Newberg
113 Jorge De La Rosa, Fr., Forest Grove
120 Sawyer Keinonen, Fr., Newberg
126 Isaac Hampton, Sr., Newberg
132 Gavin Rangel, So., Newberg
138 Zachary Keinonen, Sr., Newberg
144 Brandon Smith, Sr., Newberg
150 Gus Amerson, Jr., Newberg
157 Trae Frederick, Sr., Newberg
165 Luke Augustus, Sr., Newberg
175 Isaac Reynoso, So., Glencoe
190 James Rolla Camden Roofener, Jr., Glencoe
215 Carter Bennett, Jr., Forest Grove
285 Brody Sahlfeld, Jr., Glencoe
Newberg well-positioned to take back state title after sixth consecutive district win
Newberg’s quest to reclaim the 6A state title after losing it to West Linn a year ago will bring nine district champions — including at every weight from 120 to 165 pounds — and 18 wrestlers in 11 weight classes to Memorial Coliseum after a sixth consecutive district championship.
Zachary Keinonen (46-4) will seek to become the fourth Tiger to become a four-time state champion fresh off a 3-2 decision over classmate Jacob Smith in one of five district finals that featured two Newberg wrestlers.
Hampton, who won a second consecutive state title last year, improved to 51-3 with a second-round pin of Forest Grove’s Warren Cook in the final. Amerson, who lost in the state final at 145 last year, is 41-5 after a 10-0 major decision against Sherwood’s Parker Fabrycki.
Glencoe’s Roofener ekes out decision for surprise title at 190
Perhaps the most surprising result at the district meet came in the 190 final, where Roofener stunned top seed Houstyn Lee-Perry of Liberty, a two-time Reser’s Tournament of Champions finalist who placed fourth at state a year ago.
Roofener took Lee-Perry down 37 seconds into the final period to take a 5-3 lead, only to give up a reversal with five seconds left. Just as the match looked to be heading to overtime, Roofener escaped to scrape out a 6-5 decision.
Two unbeaten wrestlers to seek perfection at Memorial Coliseum
Two wrestlers emerged from the Pacific meet with undefeated records — and neither competed for Newberg.
Reynoso won the 175 district title with a 4-0 decision over Forest Grove’s Brandon Cook to improve to 19-0, and Cook’s teammate De La Rose remained unbeaten in his high school career with a 34th consecutive victory, pinning Bradley Wooldridge of McMinnville 1:40 into the 113 final.
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Three Rivers (at Lakeridge)
Team champion: West Linn (419.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: West Linn (15), Oregon City (8), Tigard (8)
Individual champions
106 Anthony Diaz, Fr., Oregon City
113 Julian Ramos, Fr., Tigard
120 Colby Cook, Sr., West Linn
126 Wyatt Stahl, Sr., Oregon City
132 Ryder Sprague, So., West Linn
138 Oscar Doces, Jr., West Linn
144 Jesse Gutierrez, Sr., Tualatin
150 Mason Carnrite, Fr., West Linn
157 Henry Dillingham, Sr., West Linn
165 Charles Spinning, Sr., West Linn
175 Alex Sly, Jr., Lakeridge
190 Logan Sunnell, Jr., Tualatin
215 Lusiano Lopez, Jr., Lake Oswego
285 Jason Layton, Sr., Tigard
No spin: West Linn has good chance to defend title after solid district meet
Defending state champion West Linn will enter Memorial Coliseum on a significant high after a solid performance at the Three Rivers meet, winning six individual titles and advancing 15 directly to the brackets in 10 weight classes (with three fourth-place finishers hoping to receive wild cards).
Their chances to win a second consecutive title received a boost as Spinning, who won the state title at 145 last season, returned from a back injury that sidelined him for all but one match over the past two months to win the district title at 165.
He’s one of three returning champions who eased their way through the district meet, with Doces beating teammate Maclain Culp 8-3 in the 138 final and Dillingham (who won last year despite a torn tendon in his right ankle) pinning Oregon City’s Mitchell Johnson with 39 seconds remaining in their 157 final.
Runner-up Oregon City seeks first state podium finish since 2020
Oregon City jumped one spot in the team standings to finish second to the Lions — albeit a distant 134.5 points back, but still the Pioneers’ best showing since winning the title five years ago. Besides their eight top-three finishers, they have three wrestlers awaiting word whether they’ll receive a wild-card entry.
Diaz’s up-and-down freshman season heads to Coliseum fresh off his first tournament title, where he scored a 2-0 decision over West Linn’s Romeo Daly. He and Stahl, who won his title by second-round fall against West Linn’s Tripp Moussavi, hope to end Oregon City’s four-year streak of failing to have a wrestler make the state podium.
Tualatin’s Sunnell beats teammate for second district title
Sunnell returned to the district champions list — he won as a freshman, then lost to eventual state champion Justin Rademacher of West Linn last season — with a 62-second pin of teammate Cale Maixner in the district final. Sunnell missed almost a month of the season because of injury and wrestled only a handful of times before district.
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Central Valley (at McNary)
Team champion: Sprague (386.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Sprague (12), South Salem (10), McNary (8)
Individual champions
106 Elijah Ezpeleta, Sr., Sprague
113 Derek Jones, Jr., McNary
120 Jonas Camillo, Fr., Sprague
126 RJ Chacon, Jr., North Salem
132 Camden Spragg, Sr., Sprague
138 Griffin McCormack, Sr., South Salem
144 Andrey Cernev, Sr., Sprague
150 Sullivan Puckett, Jr., Sprague
157 Jaxon Camillo, Jr., Sprague
165 Jake Bloomfield, Sr., West Salem
175 Maximus Rodriguez, Fr., North Salem
190 Cougar Bailey, Sr., West Salem
215 Isaiah Reyes, Sr., North Salem
275 Brady Valet, Sr., North Salem
Make it a dozen district titles for Sprague
Sprague, led by three-time district champion Cernev, won a 12th consecutive district title, matching its six individual championships of a year ago and sending 12 automatic qualifiers (one more than last year) to Memorial Coliseum.
Cernev is the only returning placer for the Olympians, taking third at 132 pounds, and the Camillo brothers hope to follow their elder sibling, Josh, who took third at 152 as a senior last year. Puckett moved up from 145 to 150 and repeated as a district champion.
Sprague was state runner-up in 2021 and 2022 and had a six-year run of podium finishes snapped with its 11th-place finish last season.
Top seeds dominate district with 11 titles, two runner-up finishes
Form mostly held throughout the tournament, with 11 of 14 top seeds winning district titles — including Chacon winning a third championship for North Salem — and No. 2 seeds taking the other three.
Only one No. 1 seed didn’t make the finals, with McNary’s Diego Piceno Espinoza pulling off a semifinal victory at 285 against West Salem’s top seed Kysen Ramirez before falling 3-0 to Valet in the title bout.
West Salem’s Bailey wins matchup of reigning district champions
Two wrestlers who finished one win shy of the medal rounds at state last year met in the 190 final, with Bailey pulling out a 16-12 decision against Sprague junior Kenya Johnson. Both were district champions a year ago — Johnson at 182 and Bailey at 195.
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Southwest (at Roseburg)
Team champion: Roseburg (378.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Roseburg (13), Grants Pass (11), South Medford (8)
Individual champions
106 Drew Dawson, So., Roseburg
113 Gage Singleton, Sr., Roseburg
120 Jack Olsen, Fr., Roseburg
126 Joseph Borraggine, Jr., North Medford
132 Roman Leaton, Jr., Roseburg
138 Mark Astry, Sr., Grants Pass
144 Nick Bratland, So., Sheldon
150 Mason Stucky, So., Sheldon
157 Charlie Jones, Sr., Roseburg
165 Jose Cortez, Sr., North Medford
175 Bridger Foss, Jr., South Medford
190 Corbyn Schumack, So., South Medford
215 Isandre De La Torre, So., South Medford
285 Li Moala, Sr., South Medford
Back on top: Roseburg wins another district title
It’s hard to keep a good program down, and so it was for Roseburg, which after a one-year blip returned to its customary place atop the Southwest district standings with a 32-point victory over Grants Pass.
Roseburg’s strength is at the lower weights, where Reser’s Tournament of Champions 106-pound titlist Drew Dawson and two-time state champion Singleton — who beat Drew’s twin brother Carter 9-1 in the district final — lead the way.
Then, there’s Olsen, who a couple of weeks ago was winning the Reser’s TOC JV title at 120. He knocked off top seed Elijah Dara of Grants Pass in the district final, pinning him in 40 seconds. He’s one of 13 automatic qualifiers heading to Memorial Coliseum hoping to help Roseburg bounce back from a sixth-place finish a year ago — its lowest finish since 2006.
Foss takes unbeaten record to state meet hoping to finish task
South Medford, which ended Roseburg’s 16-year run atop the district last year, posted its first top-10 state finish since it split off from North Medford in 1987 by placing eighth.
While the Panthers couldn’t repeat as district champions (they finished third behind Roseburg and Grants Pass), they could still make noise at Memorial Coliseum with their heavyweight lineup led by Foss, the state runner-up at 152 last year who improved to 41-0 this season with an 11-0 major decision against Roseburg’s Tyler Rietmann in the district final — his eighth tournament title of the season.
Moala added a second district title to the one he won as a sophomore two years ago with a 5-1 decision over crosstown rival Dominic Alvarenga of North Medford.
Grants Pass advances seven finalists, 11 wrestlers to state
Grants Pass finished second to Roseburg despite having only one of its seven finalists take home a title — Astray won an 8-3 decision over Foss’ younger brother Brody in the 138 final.
Still, the Cavemen will send 11 wrestlers to Memorial Coliseum as they seek a first team trophy since 2014.
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