Oregon (OSAA) 3A wrestling state championships preview: Can Harrisburg knock off La Pine for elusive state title?
The Oregon 3A high school wrestling state championships take place Thursday and Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Here's a look at what to expect.
Photo by Leon Neuschwander
–
Schedule
Thursday, Noon-7:30 p.m.: Round 1 and Quarterfinals
Friday, 2:30 p.m.: Semifinals
Friday, 7:15 p.m.: Parade of Champions and Finals
Top seeds (returning champions in italics)
106 Kempton Richardson, Burns, Sr.
113 Riley Flack, La Pine, Jr.
120 Luke Cheek, Harrisburg, Jr.
126 Kale Cornell, Burns, Jr.
132 Owen Turner, Banks, Soph.
138 Landyn Philpott, La Pine, Jr.
144 Devon Kerr, La Pine, Jr.
150 Landen Hecht, Harrisburg, Sr.
157 Devin Martin, Harrisburg, Sr.
165 Brody Buzzard, Harrisburg, Soph.
175 Easton Kemper, Burns, Jr.
190 Mishael Mauck, Banks, Sr.
215 Kaison Smith, Warrenton, Jr.
285 Brett Highburger, Elmira, Sr.
Other returning champion
190 Tag Deluca, La Pine, Jr.
Most state qualifiers
1, Harrisburg 17. 2, Banks 15. 3, (tie) Burns, La Pine and Yamhill-Carlton 9. 6, (tie) Nyssa and Warrenton 8.
What to watch
Harrisburg flies into state meet harboring hopes of winning first title
Harrisburg coach Desmond Bennett has thought in the past that he had a chance at winning the program’s first state championship.
While those teams had top-end talent — wrestlers such as his son, Dax, a four-time state champion — that racked up points, the Eagles weren’t deep enough to grind out the points a title-winning team needs to score in the consolation rounds.
This year, though, is different. The Eagles not only have the horses up front with four top seeds and two returning champions, but they also have the sheer numbers — a meet-high 17 qualifiers — to challenge defending champion La Pine and other traditional powers such as Burns and Nyssa.
“Our teams in recent years that I believed had an opportunity to win it didn’t have the depth we have now,” said Bennett, whose team matched its best finish by placing third last season. “That fact, combined with the growth of our young men over the last year — we talk frequently about how we are all different people from a year ago, better people.
“Their belief that we are the best team in the state gives me confidence that we will get it done this weekend.”
La Pine ready to mount stout title defense with three returning champions
Don’t count out the Hawks as they bid for a third consecutive title. They might not have the numbers that Harrisburg brings to Memorial Coliseum, but they return three champions and have three top seeds who they’ll count upon to put up big points in their title defense.
One of their defending champions, DeLuca, ended up in the same bracket as another champion in Banks’ Mauck. Banks hadn’t trophied in 19 years before placing fourth last year, and its chances of moving up the standings could rest on the potential showdown in the 190-pound final.
Can Burns contend despite losing two top contenders early in the season?
Burns finished second to La Pine last year and brings back two state champions (Kemper and Cornell) hoping to move one step closer to becoming four-timers. The Hilanders’ chances of challenging for a 13th state title (and first since 2020) suffered a blow when the Winn brothers — 120-pound champion Canon and 113 runner-up Thomas — were lost early in the season.
