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‘I’ve always wanted my name all over the walls at Redmond.’ Dylan Lee makes that dream a reality: Oregon (OSAA) wrestling 160-pounds roundup

“In our hometown, with lots of family here, lots of friends, it’s awesome.”

By René Ferrán 

Unlike teammate Junior Downing, Redmond junior Dylan Lee had hoped his first state title would come before the large crowd at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum.

If he couldn’t win there, however, then he wouldn’t pick anywhere else than in his hometown to win the championship. 

“In our hometown, with lots of family here, lots of friends, it’s awesome,” said Lee, the only wrestler to defeat a Crescent Valley opponent in the finals, beating senior Austin Dalton 8-2 at 160 pounds to complete a 41-8 season at Saturday’s Class 5A state wrestling meet at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. 

Dalton scored the match’s first takedown midway through the first period, but from then on, Lee dominated. He got a reversal late in the period to tie the score, then got a reversal from the bottom position and two near-fall points in the second round to take control.

One final takedown in the third led to Lee riding out the final 77 seconds.

“He got that takedown, but I just battled through,” Lee said. “It just felt like I wanted the title more, for sure.”

Lee, like Downing, took on the role of a team leader this season for the Panthers, who placed fourth for the second consecutive year.

“It’s awesome. I’ve always wanted my name all over the walls at Redmond,” Lee said. “I want to be one of the greatest to come out of there, and this just adds to the list.” 

4A: Junction City junior Carson Henderson won an unlikely state final, beating Siuslaw junior Mason Buss 9-2 in a matchup of district runners-up. Henderson was the No. 5 seed in the bracket, while Buss was the No. 6 who upset top seed Ethan Spencer of Sweet Home 14-11 in the semifinals.

3A: Four-time finalist Michael Fox of Willamina/Falls City wrapped up his career with a second consecutive title, defeating La Pine’s Garrett Forbes 4-1 in the final. 

2A/1A: Culver senior Isaiah Toomey, runner-up a year ago at 170, moved down to 160 and won his first state title with a 7-4 decision over Elgin’s Joseph Lathrop. Toomey made the podium all four years at state, moving up one spot each time — from fourth as a freshman to third, second and first place. 

6A: Price Pothier ends Newberg career on high note with first state wrestling title