No doubt about it: Thurston’s Vaun Halstead is a two-time Reser’s champion (220 pounds)
By René Ferrán | Photos by Leon Neuschwander
When Thurston senior Vaun Halstead won his first Reser’s Tournament of Champions title last winter, he was just starting to tap into his vast potential on the wrestling mat.
On Saturday at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, as Halstead repeated as the 220-pound champion with a second-round pin of West Linn’s Earl Ingle, it was clear how much he’d grown and matured as a wrestler.
After sparring with Ingle for the better part of the first period, Halstead took the future Colorado School of Mines linebacker to the mat with 23 seconds left. After Ingle escaped to open the second round, Halstead took him down again and took advantage of a mistake off a restart to record the fall with 22 seconds remaining.
“That’s what I like about wrestling so much,” Halstead said. “On any given day, it only takes one mistake. I’ve been lucky enough to capitalize on those mistakes and minimize my own. I’m super happy.”
Halstead likely could have joined Ingle in playing college football after earning Class 5A all-state honors at linebacker the past two seasons. Instead, he chose wrestling, signing earlier this year with Oregon State.
Now, he’s three weeks from perhaps winning a second OSAA state title and completing an undefeated season, and he has never had a second thought about his decision.
“I made my peace with things,” Halstead said. “I explored the options that were guaranteed to me in both wrestling and football, and I stand by my decision. I like what Oregon State has got going, so I feel excited. I’m looking ahead to the future.”
More stories, photos from Reser's Tournament of Champions 2023
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