‘It’s one of the best days of my life.’ Mauro Michel, James Rowley, Gabe Whisenhunt join exclusive club of 4-time Oregon wrestling state champions

By René Ferrán

Membership in Oregon’s four-time state wrestling champions club increased by three Saturday evening as Crescent Valley’s Gabe Whisenhunt and James Rowley and Stayton’s Mauro Michel became the latest to accomplish the feat.

Whisenhunt won the Class 5A 126-pound title and Rowley the 182-pound title in helping the Raiders secure a fourth consecutive team title at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. 

Across the mountains at Cascade High School in Turner, Michel capped his career by winning the 132-pound title at the Class 4A meet. 

The trio made it 44 four-time champions in the 74-year history of the state tournaments, with one more — Newberg senior Ayden Garver, who eased into the 145 quarterfinals Saturday — poised to do so Sunday at the Class 6A meet in Sandy. 

“It hasn’t quite set in yet,” said Whisenhunt, who pinned Scappoose’s Anthony Comer in 3 minutes, 29 seconds to put the finishing touch on a 143-8 career before heading to Oregon State. “It doesn’t really feel real.” 

Rowley, who needed just 1:41 to pin Wilsonville’s Marshall Rodenbeck in their final, reflected on his and Whisenhunt’s four-year run, which started with the Raiders’ first state title in program history.

“This isn’t better than my first year,” said Rowley, who finished his career 133-10 and will wrestle at Wisconsin next year. “I mean, that first year was an amazing moment, and I’ll never forget it. But this year means the most to me. Four state titles, four team titles, Gabe and I starting from the bottom as little freshmen, and now we’re leaders of the team as seniors.

“This fourth one means a lot. I just hope people had fun watching and enjoyed the show.”

Michel spent the least time of the three on the mat to complete his four-peat, dispatching Banks senior Dylan Smith in 33 seconds in their final to cap a 45-0 season and a 160-4 career. 

Following the victory, Michel’s teammates raised him up on their shoulders in celebration.

“They’ve always been family to me, every single one,” said Michel, who transferred from Cascade to Stayton following his sophomore year. “Even if they’re not blood, these guys mean so much to me. Seeing them here after I did something very big — just for my family and my schools in general — I’m just happy. It’s one of the best days of my life.”