Oregon 3A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets
By René Ferrán| Photo by Michele Bunch
The 3A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26 at La Pine High School. Here’s a look at the champions and takeaways from each of the three district meets. The top three finishers at each district meet qualify for state.
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Special District 1 (at Nyssa)
Team champion: La Pine (381.5 points)
Individual champions
106 Canon Winn, Fr., Burns
113 Kale Cornell, Fr., Burns
120 Landyn Philpott, Fr., La Pine
126 Oliver Barnes, Sr., Burns
132 Devon Kerr, Fr., La Pine
138 Dylan Mann, Sr., La Pine
145 Jacob Ayala, Sr., Irrigon
152 Hunter Kemper, Jr., Burns
160 Garret Forbes, Jr., La Pine
170 Cache Montgomery, So., La Pine
182 Alec Carey, Sr., Nyssa
195 Dylan Hankey, Sr., La Pine
220 Jesse Aragon, Jr., Nyssa
285 Kody Van Meter, Sr., Nyssa
Summary
La Pine and Burns have combined to win the past three Class 3A state titles, and together, they won 10 of 14 district titles and grabbed 24 of 42 available berths to this weekend’s state meet in La Pine. The Hawks, who won the OWA state title in June, will have 14 wrestlers on their home mats, including returning state champions Mann and Tyson Flack — Flack lost a 7-3 decision to Winn in the 106 district final. Another spring state champion who lost in the district final was Burns senior Kevin Peasley, beaten by Ayala in sudden-victory overtime in the 145 final.
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Special District 2 (at Yamhill-Carlton)
Team champion: Warrenton (308.5 points)
Individual champions
106 Hunter Hendricks, Jr., Rainier
113 Damon LaRue, So., Rainier
120 Cayden Hill, So., Yamhill-Carlton
126 Austin Atwood, Sr., Warrenton
132 Christian Roberts, Sr., Rainier
138 Austin Johnson, Jr., Willamina/Falls City
145 Tony Cisneros, Sr., Dayton
152 Logan Chapman, Sr., Rainier
160 Michael Fox, Sr., Willamina/Falls City
170 Sprye Nelson, Sr., Willamina/Falls City
182 David Bowlin, Sr., Dayton
195 Corey Greenlaw, Sr., Willamina/Falls City
220 Josh Smith, Sr., Warrenton
285 Joshua Ruiz-Jimenez, Sr., Taft
Summary
Warrenton won a second consecutive district title, topping second-place Rainier by nearly 100 points despite having just two district champions. The Warriors had five other finalists and will send a district-best 10 wrestlers to state. State 2018 champion Willamina/Falls City matched Rainier with four district champions, including Fox, who’s looking to repeat as 160 champion and make his fourth state final. Cisneros, who won the 138 state title in June, improved to 24-0 with a technical fall over Warrenton’s Parker Greenawald at 145, while Bowlin will defend his state title at 182. Rainier (eight), Willamina (seven) and Dayton (seven) will all be in the mix for team trophies at La Pine.
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Special District 3 (at Cascade Christian)
Team champion: Harrisburg (342 points)
Individual champions
106 Luke Cheek, Fr., Harrisburg
113 Joseph Hutchins, Fr., Cascade Christian
120 Tyler Waldron, So., Douglas
126 Curtis Talmadge, Jr., Harrisburg
132 Nephi Heakin, So., Harrisburg
138 Kaden Haugen, Jr., Santiam Christian
145 Gavin Hoellrich, Jr., Pleasant Hill
152 Levi Forson, Jr., Scio
160 Sage Baker, Jr., Douglas
170 Bryce Chilgren, Jr., Harrisburg
182 Brazen Ellis, Jr., Pleasant Hill
195 Caj Simmons, Sr., South Umpqua
220 Trent Olsen, Sr., Sutherlin
285 Maddox Griggs, Jr., Sutherlin
Summary
Harrisburg won its first district title since 2017, with four district champions leading a 14-wrestler contingent headed to La Pine this weekend. The Eagles last reached the podium in 2019 with a third-place finish. Chilgren knocked off top seed Charles Conrad of Pleasant Hill with a 10-6 decision to win at 170. Simmons (20-0) and Olsen (33-0) kept their undefeated seasons intact heading to the state tournament. This district was the most egalitarian of any meet at any classification — eight of the nine teams had at least one champion, including the first for Douglas since 2019.
