Oregon 2A/1A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets
By René Ferrán
The 2A/1A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 23-24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Here’s a look at the champions and takeaways from each of the three district meets. The top three finishers from each district meet and one fourth-place finisher determined by criteria advance to state.
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Special District 1 (at Knappa)
Team champion: Willamina (255.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Willamina (8), Toledo (7)
Individual champions
106 Dean Smith, Siletz Valley, So.
113 Adam Reyes, Kennedy, Sr.
120 Adoniyah Stanton, Willamina, Fr.
126 Corbin Roe, Knappa, Jr.
132 Trevor Wolf, Vernonia, Jr.
138 Nic Kaufman, Toledo, So.
145 Roger Moore, Colton, Sr.
152 Austin Johnson, Willamina, Sr.
160 Lucas Bischoff, Regis, Sr.
170 Thomas Bischoff, Regis, Jr.
182 Nolan Earls, Colton, Sr.
195 Ash Blomstrom, Toledo, Jr.
220 Rhyne Nelson, Willamina, Jr.
285 Kolby Coxen, Toledo, So.
Summary
Willamina, which won the 3A state title in 2018 and finished fifth last year, dropped to 2A this season and took home the district title by 76.5 points. Johnson repeated as district champion with a second-round pin of Tyee Yanez of Siletz Valley, and Stanton recorded three first-round pins en route to the 120 title. Toledo, which won the team title last year, finished third in a tightly bunched group of teams from second to fifth — Kennedy, Toledo, Nestucca and Colton were within 30 points of each other. The Bischoff brothers, who wrestled for Kennedy until starting the program at Regis two years ago with their father, Chris, as the coach, repeated as district champions along with Blomstrom — a state champion at 195 last year — Coxen and Reyes.
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Special District 2 (at Lowell)
Team champion: Illinois Valley (354 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Illinois Valley (13), Camas Valley (5)
Individual champions
106 Mike Miller, Illinois Valley, Jr.
113 Micah Martinho, Illinois Valley, So.
120 Harley Hardison, Lowell, So.
126 Talen Shaffer, Illinois Valley, So.
132 Aaron Rico, Central Linn, Sr.
138 Ryon Martinho, Illinois Valley, Sr.
145 Kayden Tiller, Oakridge, So.
152 Ryan Griffin, Illinois Valley, Jr.
160 Jacob Beauchamp, Central Linn, Sr.
170 Paul Clark, Lowell, So.
182 Tobin Payne, Monroe/Triangle Lake, Sr.
195 Malachi Hansen, Central Linn, Sr.
220 Logan Clayburn, Myrtle Point, Jr.
285 David Finch, Lowell, Fr.
Summary
New district, no problem for Illinois Valley, which won a second consecutive district title, more than doubling runner-up Lowell’s 171 points. Defending state champions Miller and Micah Martinho repeated as district champions, as did 2022 state runner-up Griffin. Beauchamp and Clayburn, both runners-up at state last season, also won a second consecutive district title, with Beauchamp pinning Illinois Valley’s Jozia Williams in 3:28 in a matchup of 2022 district champions. Beauchamp (26-0), Griffin (17-0) and Clayburn (21-0) take undefeated records to Memorial Coliseum in two weeks.
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Special District 3 (at Culver)
Team champion: Culver (333.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Culver (12), Elgin (6), Grant Union/Prairie City (6)
Individual champions
106 Hunter Buck, Pine Eagle, So.
113 Debren Sanabria, Culver, Sr.
120 Cole Rahi, Culver, So.
126 Carlos Fernandez, Culver, So.
132 Derek Torres, Culver, Sr.
138 Lute Ramsden, Enterprise/Wallowa, Sr.
145 Reeden Arsenault, Culver, Sr.
152 Kelin Abbas, Culver, Sr.
160 Gabe Hasbell, Elgin, Sr.
170 Jake Doman, Crane, Sr.
182 Joseph Lathrop, Elgin, Sr.
195 Bruce Morehead, Elgin, Sr.
220 Gunnar McDowell, Enterprise/Wallowa, So.
285 Wylie Johnson, Culver, Sr.
Summary
Last year, Culver won its 14th state championship in the 16 seasons since the OSAA went to five divisions in wrestling in 2007. The Bulldogs should enter Memorial Coliseum as the favorites once again after more than doubling up second-place Enterprise/Wallowa (164.5 points), winning seven weight classes and hoping 170-pounder Ryan Johnson can earn a wild card to give them 13 qualifiers. Wylie Johnson and Abbas look to win back-to-back state titles. The Outlaws held off Elgin (161) and Grant Union (152) for second place in the team standings despite qualifying just three straight into the state field — they’re hoping their three fourth-place finishers can earn wild cards to boost their contingent. Buck, Sanabria and Doman repeated as district champions, with Doman (second at state last year) improving to 39-1 with a third-period pin of Elgin’s Gen Wintersteen in the district final.
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