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By René Ferrán| Photo by Michele Bunch

The 4A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 at Cascade High School in Turner. Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the four district meets. The top four finishers at each district meet qualify for state.

Special District 1

At Molalla HS

Team champion: Tillamook (401.5 points)

Individual champions

106 Bryce Haltner, So., Tillamook

113 Maxam Salvetti, Sr., Molalla

120 David Weathers, Fr., Tillamook

126 Cohen Schleich, So., Estacada

132 Dylan Smith, Sr., Banks

138 James Goddard, Jr., Tillamook

145 Benito Roman, Jr., Woodburn

152 Landen Wing, So., North Marion

160 Everett Rollins, Sr., Seaside

170 Hayden Hamerl, Sr., Tillamook

182 Daevon Vereen, Jr., Banks

195 Santiago Roque, Sr., Woodburn

220 Mishael Mauck, So., Banks

285 Devin Gotchall, Sr., Estacada

3 notes

Tillamook qualifies state-best 19 in bid for another podium finish

Tillamook has made the podium each of the past three seasons at state, including the 2019 title — its first since 2008. The Cheesemakers positioned themselves well for another trophy run by qualifying 19 wrestlers for state, including four district champions.

Among their winners was Weathers, a freshman who knocked off No. 2 seed Caleb Reilly of Estacada in the semifinals and pinned top seed Johnathon Kenenounis nine seconds into the second round of the 120 final.

Their 19 qualifiers tops all Class 4A schools, beating out La Grande (18) and Sweet Home (17).

Banks’ trophy hopes take hit with loss of 2-time finalist

Banks hasn’t taken home a team trophy from state since placing fourth in 2004, and the program advanced three district champions and 12 qualifiers to the state meet in two weeks.

Two-time state placer Dylan Smith pinned three opponents en route to the 132 title, but his twin brother Hunter will not get the chance to win an elusive state title after finishing second each of the past two seasons. Hunter, ranked No. 2 in the state at 126 and the top seed, had to drop out of the district meet.

Teams share the wealth among district champions

Despite Tillamook’s dominance in the team standings, seven of the eight teams competing this weekend took home an individual champion.

Even North Marion, which hadn’t won a title since moving into the special district four years ago, had a title-winner — Wing, who improved to 15-0 by pinning four opponents at district, including a second-round fall against Woodburn’s Ernie Preciado in the final.

Special District 2

At Siuslaw HS

Team champion: Sweet Home (428 points)

Individual champions

106 Kyle Sieminski, So., Sweet Home

113 Jacob Landtroop, Fr., Sweet Home

120 Kyle Watkins, Sr., Sweet Home

126 Blake Niemann, Sr., Philomath

132 Mauro Michel, Sr., Stayton

138 Eli Howard, Sr., Stayton

145 Ryker Hartsook, So., Sweet Home

152 Kaden Zajic, Jr., Sweet Home

160 Ethan Spencer, Jr., Sweet Home

170 Emmett Henderson, Sr., Junction City

182 Lance VanHoose, Sr., Cascade

195 David Steagall, So., Sweet Home

220 Colby Gazeley, Sr., Sweet Home

285 Joseph Choi, Sr., Philomath

3 notes

Sweet Home sets up state title defense with 17 qualifiers

Sweet Home has finished first or second at state in four of the past five seasons, winning titles in 2017 and 2021. The Huskies set themselves up well for their title defense with a dominant showing at district, winning eight of 14 weight classes and having seven runners-up among their 17 state qualifiers.

Sieminski, the defending state champion at 106 and runner-up at Reser’s TOC last month, breezed to victory, spending a combined 127 seconds on the mat in his three matches.

In one of the most anticipated finals, Watkins won a 5-0 decision over Philomath junior Benjamin Hernandez in a matchup of the Nos. 1 (Hernandez) and 3 (Watkins) ranked wrestlers at 4A 120.

However, top-ranked 126-pounder Jacob Sieminski lost in the final to Niemann, the No. 3-ranked wrestler who trailed 8-4 in the third period before getting a reversal and pinning Sieminski in 4:51.

Michel back where it all started as he hopes for fourth title

Michel won his first two state titles wearing a Cascade singlet, and after winning a third title following a transfer to Stayton, the Eagles senior hopes to join the ranks of four-time state champions in two weeks at his former home gym.

Michel, who pinned Sweet Home’s Christian Gregory in 33 seconds in the 132 final, improved to 41-0 this season. He has won 114 consecutive matches and is 156-4 for his career.

Philomath looks to take home another state trophy

In June, Philomath enjoyed its most success in 14 years, with a quartet of district champions — the program’s first since 2015 — and a pair of state champions, leading to the team’s first trophy finish (fourth) since winning the 1994 state title.

Two returning state champions — Hernandez and Blaise Pindell at 170 — failed to defend their district titles over the weekend, but Niemann avenged his district final loss to Jake Sieminski and Choi improved from runner-up to district champion at 285. The Warriors will send eight to state, just behind Elmira/Crow’s nine qualifiers.

Special District 3

At Klamath Union HS

Team champion: Mazama (351 points)

Individual champions

106 Reese Hite, Fr., Marshfield

113 Haydn Burk, So., Mazama

120 Ashton Lewis, Jr., Mazama

126 Kyle Nichols, So., Henley

132 Treyce Horton, Jr., Mazama

138 Tanner Wood, Sr., Mazama

145 Savien Burk, Sr., Mazama

152 Jonathan Calvert, Jr., Marshfield

160 Dominic Ingle, Sr., Henley

170 Marcelo Carmargo, Jr., Phoenix

182 Cameron Cordonnier, Sr., Klamath Union

195 Miguel Velazquez, Sr., Marshfield

220 Joseph Baynard, Sr., Phoenix

285 Christopher Woods, Sr., Hidden Valley

3 notes

Dominance at lighter weights helps Mazama regain district crown

Mazama won its third district championship in the past four years, placing nine wrestlers in the finals and winning five titles. The Vikings will send 12 (potentially 13) to the state meet in two weeks.

The Vikings dominated at the lower weights, with their five champions ranging from 113 to 145 pounds. 

They also had three wrestlers reach the finals from 182 to 285, including senior Isaac Pena at 285. However, he lost to Woods in a hard-fought 4-2 decision as the Mustangs senior kept his undefeated season alive. Woods improved to 20-0 as he bids for his first state title.

2-sport state champion vying for second wrestling title

Velazquez, who won a state title in helping Reedsport secure the 2A/1A team title two years ago at Memorial Coliseum, looks to add a second wrestling title to the one he won in the fall as a two-way standout on the football field for Marshfield.

The Pirates senior defeated Mazama sophomore Tyson Van Gastel, who quarterbacked the Vikings to the state semifinals, by a 16-2 major decision in the 195 final.

2 girls add boys state berths to spots won the previous week

Two female wrestlers will have decisions to make after posting third-place finishes at the boys district meet this weekend.

Henley freshman Emma Poe, who won the girls district title last weekend at 100 pounds, placed third at 106 to also qualify for the boys meet. Klamath Union junior Hayleigh Dukes, meanwhile, pinned David Bouska of Marshfield in 1:10 in the consolation final at 113 one week after placing second at 115 at the girls district meet.

Dukes placed fourth at June’s girls state championships at 110, and she and Poe are likely to forgo the boys state tournament to wrestle at the girls meet Feb. 24 at Culver.

Special District 4

At Sisters HS

Team champion: La Grande (447 points)

Individual champions

106 Mason Wolcott, So., La Grande

113 Ado Duran, Fr., Baker/Powder Valley

120 Kai Carson, So., La Grande

126 Tavian Kehr, So., La Grande

132 Brysen Penaloza, Jr., La Grande

138 Joshua Collins, Jr., La Grande

145 Braden Carson, Sr., La Grande

152 Ruben Hernandez, Sr., Ontario

160 Cael White, Jr., Madras

170 Wyatt Livingston, Jr., La Grande

182 Reece White, Sr., Madras

195 Brody MacMillan, Sr., La Grande

220 Tanner Wells, Sr., Mac-Hi/Weston-McEwen

285 Jaden Martin, Sr., Baker/Powder Valley

3 notes

La Grande dominates district, wins 8 titles and qualifies 18

La Grande looks to add a second state title in three years and fourth all-time in two weeks, and the Tigers will have the largest contingent of wrestlers on hand to do battle.

Led by eight district champions and six runners-up, La Grande will have 18 wrestlers making the long trek from the Grande Ronde Valley to the heart of the Willamette Valley.

Two-time state champion Braden Carson and younger brother Kai joined two-time state finalist Collins among the eight first-place finishers at Sisters. Braden was the only one of the three not to win an all-La Grande final, pinning Sisters junior Ben Cooper in 5:14 in the 145 final.

Baker hopes to rebound from disappointing finish in June

Baker/Powder Valley finished a disappointing 12th at the OWA state meet in June, its first finish outside the top 10 since 2015, but the Bulldogs advanced a couple of champions among their 14 state qualifiers as they bid to return to the podium for the first time since 2019.

Martin, ranked No. 1 in the state at 285, made quick work of his three opponents, never getting out of the first round and spending a total of 153 seconds on the mat.

Madras brothers lead 9-wrestler contingent to state

Brothers Cael and Reece White successfully defended their district titles, each doing so in dominant fashion to lead nine White Buffaloes who qualified for state.

Cael won all three of his matches by fall, including a first-round pin of La Grande’s Eli Bisenius in the 160 final. Reece also posted three pins, finishing with a second-round fall over La Grande’s Jarett Armstrong at 182.