Roseburg sophomore Gage Singleton halfway to 4-time state wrestling champion status

By René Ferrán | Photos by Taylor Balkom 

Roseburg sophomore Gage Singleton moved one step closer to achieving a lifelong goal of becoming a four-time state champion with a 9-5 decision over Clackamas sophomore Jeremiah Wachsmuth in the 106-pound final at the 6A wrestling championships Sunday at Sandy High School. 

“My first one last year, I was super excited for that one,” Singleton said. “But I’m also really excited for this one to repeat it.”

Singleton experienced a nervous moment in the first period after recording his second takedown. Wachsmuth executed a Granby roll, a high-risk, high-reward reversal move that took Singleton to his back.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Singleton, who pinned Wachsmuth in 84 seconds in their only previous meeting at the North Bend Coast Classic in December. “Not a lot of kids I wrestle hit the Granby very often, so he caught me with it.”

Wachsmuth got two near-fall points to take the lead briefly, but Singleton reversed before the end of the period to lead 6-5 after two minutes. Singleton started Round 2 in the bottom position, quickly escaped, then scored another takedown to regain control.  

Now, Singleton sets his sights on becoming the third Roseburg wrestler to win four state titles. In 2017, Layne Van Anrooy and Haydn Manley accomplished the feat, which has been done 45 times in the 74-year history of the state championships — most recently by Newberg’s Ayden Garver later Sunday. 

“Ever since I started wrestling, I’ve wanted to be a four-timer,” Singleton said. “With all the Roseburg guys who’ve done it, I’m hoping to do it just like them.” 

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