Oregon 6A wrestling: Champions, takeaways from district meets
By René Ferrán | Photo by Leon Neuschwander
The 6A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 24-25 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the seven district meets. The top three finishers from each district meet and three fourth-place finishers determined by criteria advance to state.
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PIL (at Lincoln)
Team champion: Cleveland (309 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Cleveland (11), Jefferson (8), Roosevelt (5)
Individual champions
106 Lucas Camacho-Schulz, Jefferson, Sr.
113 Sylas Morrison, Ida B. Wells, Fr.
120 Khtrell Preston, Jefferson, Sr.
126 Ahmeil Keys, McDaniel, So.
132 Adrian Anaya, Cleveland, Jr.
138 Logan Medford, Cleveland, Sr.
145 Kai Tsugawa, Grant, Sr.
152 Montral Brazile, Jefferson, Jr.
160 Connor Smeller, Cleveland, Jr.
170 DeMario Gonzales, Roosevelt, Sr.
182 Joshua Sonnichsen, Cleveland, Sr.
195 Lane Shaffer, McDaniel, Sr.
220 Abram Redlock, Franklin, Sr.
285 Benson Deibele, Grant, Jr.
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A dozen PIL district titles for Cleveland
It was much closer this year than in the past few seasons, but Cleveland emerged as district champion again, making it 12 consecutive championships for the Southeast Portland school. The Warriors won four weight classes and bested Jefferson by 41.5 points, with McDaniel a close third just 15.5 points behind the Democrats.
Medford, who has twice finished third at the 6A state tournament, leads the Warriors’ 11-wrestler contingent after winning his fourth district title by injury default. Medford (33-4) is not the team leader in wins — Sonnichsen heads to state with a 36-14 record after winning a 5-0 decision against Franklin’s Dane Hartmann.
Haley Vann — one of the top female wrestlers in the state — took third at 126 pounds, although she’s likely to give up her spot in the bracket to vie for her third state title at the girls meet.
Grant’s Tsugawa wins fourth district title
Only two wrestlers repeated as district champions, but they’re both familiar faces at the PIL tournament. Tsugawa, like Medford, wrapped up his fourth district title by pinning Cleveland’s Max Copus with 19 seconds remaining in the second period of the 145 final to improve to 30-1. Tsugawa, who finished fourth at 145 pounds last year, and Medford are the only two returning PIL medalists this season.
Jefferson’s Preston back on top of district heap
Three years ago, Preston looked like one of the emerging stars on the Oregon wrestling scene, reaching the semifinals at the OSAA state meet at 113 before placing third. He missed the past two seasons for the Democrats but returned this winter and looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. He improved to 23-1 with a 7-6 decision over Lincoln’s Nico Farinola in the 120 final.
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Metro (at Beaverton)
Team champion: Westview (354 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Mountainside (10), Westview (10), Aloha (8)
Individual champions
106 Brody Lybarger, Mountainside, So.
113 Juan Elenes, Westview, Sr.
120 Elliot Mauck, Westview, So.
126 Moises Lopez, Aloha, Jr.
132 Ruben Hernandez, Aloha, Sr.
138 Elias Mauck, Westview, Sr.
145 Ashton Brock, Aloha, Sr.
152 Noah Morris, Mountainside, Sr.
160 Jacient Cox, Sunset, Sr.
170 James Richardson, Mountainside, Sr.
182 Jason Cephus, Westview, Sr.
195 Richard Gomez, Aloha, Jr.
220 Tate Sebesta, Mountainside, Jr.
285 Gunner Jorgensen, Westview, Sr.
3 notes
Westview takes district title back from Mountainside
Led by Elenes, who earned his fourth district title with a 10-5 victory over Sunset’s Brandon Kojiro, and the Mauck brothers, Westview wrested the district title back from Mountainside by 62.5 points. Elenes will bid to make the podium at the state meet in two weeks.
Elias Mauck first made his mark as a freshman, when he won the district title at 113. He finished third during the COVID-shortened season in 2021, then lost in the district final last year before making it back atop the podium with a 58-second pin of Mountainside’s Payton Lawson in the final. His younger brother, Elliot, looks to build off last year’s fifth-place state finish after winning his first district title by pinning teammate Amir Khanjan in 28 seconds.
From Columbia Cup to top of district podium
Two defensive stalwarts from Westview’s Columbia Cup-winning football team anchored the district championship run. Cephus earned a 9-1 major decision over Beaverton’s Silvestre Mendez, and Jorgensen pinned Aloha freshman Noah Miner in the second round of the heavyweight final.
Returning champions 6 for 6 in district title defense
Elenes wasn’t the only wrestler to repeat as a district champion this season. All six returning wrestlers who won titles last February came back to win again — Elenes, Lybarger, Lopez, Brock, Morris and Gomez. Lybarger, fourth at state a year ago, improved to 42-1 with a first-period pin of Miguel Elenes of Westview. Lopez edged Southridge’s Nicolas Garza 6-5 to move to 45-3.
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Mt. Hood (at Clackamas)
Team champion: Sandy (458 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Sandy (13), Clackamas (10), David Douglas (9)
Individual champions
106 Garrett Head, Sandy, So.
113 Jeremiah Wachsmuth, Clackamas, Jr.
120 Jacob Larsen, Clackamas, Jr.
126 Aiden Warfield, Barlow, Jr.
132 Mason Culp, Sandy, Jr.
138 Gage Culp, Sandy, So.
145 Nicholas Roth, Barlow, Jr.
152 Trent Ewry, Clackamas, Sr.
160 Keagan Lopez, Clackamas, Jr.
170 Anthony Linares, David Douglas, Sr.
182 Jovani Mendoza, Reynolds, Sr.
195 Uriah Subia, Sandy, Sr.
220 Steven Ramos, David Douglas, Sr.
285 Nate Shea, Sandy, Sr.
3 notes
Can Sandy build on district success at state level?
A year after pushing David Douglas for the district title, Sandy found itself topping the team standings with a dominant performance, winning five titles and qualifying a meet-high 13 wrestlers (with one potential wild-card) to the state championships in two weeks. The Pioneers won the program’s first district crown since they won the Class 5A NWOC title in 2017.
Now, the Pioneers will look to improve upon their 18th-place finish at state and bring home their first trophy since 2015 (third in 5A). They had one wrestler make the podium last year — Shea placed third at 285. He and the Culp brothers repeated as district champions to lead their charge.
Clackamas poised for best showing since 2005
Clackamas has posted just four top-10 finishes at the state meet since 1970, with a T-6 in 2005 the Cavaliers’ best showing. After winning four district titles and advancing 10 wrestlers to Memorial Coliseum, they could challenge for their first podium finish.
Wachsmuth, a member of the 2022 U16 national Greco-Roman team, will vie to become the school’s first state champion since older brother Noah in 2018 after improving to 22-1 with a second-round pin of teammate Owen Anderson in the district final. Wachsmuth lost in the 106 final last year to Gage Singleton of Roseburg — both are in the 113 bracket this season.
Can Scots match their sixth-place finish at state?
David Douglas jumped 19 places at the state tournament last year, finishing sixth — its best showing since taking home the fourth-place trophy five years ago. Linares and Ramos repeated as district champions — Ramos earned a third title by pinning Sandy’s Gabe Tammad in the first round — but the Scots might be hard-pressed to repeat their team finish of a year ago.
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Pacific (at Sherwood)
Team champion: Newberg (489.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Newberg (15), Century (6), Glencoe (6)
Individual champions
106 Joshua Andrade, Glencoe, Fr.
113 Bradley Wooldridge, McMinnville, Jr.
120 Isaac Hampton, Newberg, Jr.
126 Gavin Rangel, Newberg, Fr.
132 Zachary Keinonen, Newberg, Jr.
138 Dillon Le, Newberg, Jr.
145 Gus Amerson, Newberg, So.
152 Trae Frederick, Newberg, Jr.
160 Patrick Negra, Newberg, Sr.
170 Cougar Friesen, Newberg, Sr.
182 Michael Campos, Liberty, Sr.
195 Hudson Davis, Newberg, Sr.
220 Carter Bennett, Forest Grove, So.
285 Skyler Randlemen-Galvan, Sherwood, Jr.
3 notes
Newberg still dominant in quest for fourth consecutive 6A title
Newberg was going to have a tough time matching its all-time performance from last winter, when the Tigers amassed 572 points and had seven all-Newberg finals. Still, they doubled Century’s second-place 234.5 points and with 15 qualifiers (tied with West Linn for most automatic entries) and three wild-card possibilities, they’ll enter Memorial Coliseum as the favorite to win a fourth consecutive state title.
Newberg’s fifth district title in a row was built on its strength at the middle weights. The Tigers won every weight class from 120 to 170 pounds and had teammates wrestle for the title at 138, 145 and 152.
Three defending state champions — Hampton, Keinonen and Davis — breezed to their district titles, with Davis reprising his Reser’s Tournament of Champions final win over Liberty’s Houstyn Lee-Perry with a technical fall in the district final.
Liberty gets first district champion in past six seasons
Newberg loosening its grip on the individual titles — the Tigers won 25 of the 28 divisions over the previous two seasons — allowed some schools to end title droughts. Sherwood and Forest Grove each had its first district champion since 2020 crowned, and Campos became Liberty’s first champion since 2017 with his second-round pin of Forest Grove’s Owen Rice in the 182 final.
Battle for second taut between Century, Forest Grove
While the title race wasn’t close, the battle for second place between Century and Forest Grove came down to the end, with the Jaguars holding off the Vikings by 6.5 points. Century took second despite not having a district champion; the Jaguars hope to supplement their six qualifiers with three wild-card possibilities.
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Three Rivers (at Lake Oswego)
Team champion: West Linn (399.5 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: West Linn (15), Tualatin (11), Oregon City (8)
Individual champions
106 Emi Armenta, Tualatin, So.
113 Colby Cook, West Linn, Jr.
120 Ryder Sprague, West Linn, Fr.
126 Oscar Doces, West Linn, So.
132 Cade McCallister, Tigard, Sr.
138 Joshua Abarca, West Linn, Sr.
145 Charles Spinning, West Linn, Jr.
152 Henry Dillingham, West Linn, Jr.
160 Chase Dennis, Tigard, Sr.
170 Donathan Lewis, West Linn, Sr.
182 Justin Rademacher, West Linn, Sr.
195 Benjamin Winjum, West Linn, Sr.
220 Earl Ingle, West Linn, Sr.
285 Kallen Saffer, Oregon City, So.
3 notes
West Linn wins 10 weight classes in first title since 2020
West Linn ended an eight-year absence from the state podium with its tie for third at last year’s meet at Sandy High School, but the Lions haven’t won a trophy in back-to-back seasons since 2004-05.
That distinction should end in two weeks after the Lions won their first district crown since 2020 and qualified 15 automatic entries (with one potential wild card) to Memorial Coliseum. Rademacher, No. 9 in the most recent SBLive/Sports Illustrated national rankings at 182, improved to 39-1 with a second-round pin of Tualatin’s Logan Sunnell — one of West Linn’s 10 district championships.
Another went to Doces, who wrestled at Ida B. Wells last season and came within one victory of placing at state as a freshman. Doces built off a strong showing at Reser’s a week ago to win by technical fall over Oregon City’s Wyatt Stahl in the district final.
Plenty of seconds propel Timberwolves to runner-up finish
Sunnell didn’t repeat as district champion, and Tualatin had only one victor among the 14 weight classes (five runner-up finishes), but the Timberwolves still finished second in the team standings and are hopeful of two additional wild-card entries as they eye a top-10 finish at the state meet.
Oregon City hopes its fours are wild in state qualification
Oregon City finished third at the district tournament and now hopes the wild cards deal in their favor, with seven fourth-place finishers waiting to see if they make the 24-wrestler field at Memorial Coliseum. The Pioneers scored just four points last season — a far cry from their top-10 finish from 2020.
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Central Valley (at North Salem)
Team champion: Sprague (368 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Sprague (11), McNary (9), North Salem (9)
Individual champions
106 Max Blanco, McNary, Jr.
113 Aundre Chacon, North Salem, Sr.
120 Andres Alvarez, North Salem, Jr.
126 RJ Chacon, North Salem, So.
132 Andrey Cernev, Sprague, Jr.
138 Seth Carp, Sprague, Sr.
145 Sullivan Puckett, Sprague, So.
152 Josh Camillo, Sprague, Sr.
160 Anton Chacon, South Salem, Sr.
170 Josh Friesen, McNary, Sr.
182 Kenya Johnson, Sprague, So.
195 Cougar Bailey, West Salem, Jr.
220 Alex Decrozuic, South Salem, Sr.
285 Cole Steketee, Sprague, Sr.
3 notes
Sprague earns 11th consecutive district crown
Sprague won an 11th consecutive district title thanks to its dominance at the upper weights. The Olympians had only one qualifier in the lightest four weights, but starting with Cernev’s victory at 132 in an all-Sprague final, they won six titles and finished with a district-high 11 automatic qualifiers (with four possible wild-card entrants).
Cernev, Camillo and Steketee repeated as district champions, with Steketee remaining unbeaten against in-state opponents this season with his victory in the heavyweight division. He’ll look to defend his state title in two weeks at Memorial Coliseum.
Crosstown move nets Chacon district title for North Salem
A year ago, Aundre Chacon wrestled for South Salem, coming within a win of placing at the state meet. This year, after transferring across town to North Salem, he won a district title with a 50-second pin of McNary’s Joey Barros to remain undefeated at 26-0 heading to Memorial Coliseum, helping the Vikings to a third-place finish behind Sprague and McNary.
South Salem sends two one-loss district champions to state
While South Salem finished well down in the team standings, the Saxons do have a couple of one-loss district champions heading to state. Anton Chacon won an all-Saxon final at 160 over teammate Isaac Harrell to improve to 24-1, and Decrozuic is 28-1 after his win over North Salem’s Imyas Aguilar in the 220 final. Chacon and Decrozuic both placed fifth at the state meet last year.
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Southwest (at Grants Pass)
Team champion: South Medford (373 points)
Most automatic qualifiers: Roseburg (12), South Medford (10)
Individual champions
106 Kristian Hernandez-Topete, South Medford, Sr.
113 Gage Singleton, Roseburg, Jr.
120 Joseph Borraggine, North Medford, So.
126 Colten Garges, Sheldon, Sr.
132 Mark Astry, Grants Pass, Jr.
138 Owen Hull, Grants Pass, So.
145 Tagge Fry, Grants Pass, Sr.
152 Bridger Foss, South Medford, So.
160 Zak Crawford, Willamette, Sr.
170 Tyler Rietmann, Roseburg, So.
182 Caleb Dalke, South Medford, So.
195 Emmitt Gibson, Roseburg, Sr.
220 Hunter Cline, South Medford, Sr.
285 Parker Jarvis, Grants Pass, Sr.
3 notes
South Medford ends Roseburg’s reign atop Southwest
For the first time since the George W. Bush administration, a team besides Roseburg won the district title. South Medford — often overshadowed by Black and Blue rival North Medford — ended Roseburg’s 16-year run with a 41.5-point victory, winning four individual titles and qualifying 10 automatic entries, with a potential five more wrestlers hoping for wild cards.
The Panthers had only one individual champion last year, and while Li Moala returned, he ended up runner-up to Cline at 220, with the senior pinning the junior 58 seconds into the second round. Moala placed fifth at state last season.
South Medford last finished ahead of its crosstown rival at state in 2007 and has never posted a top-10 finish since the schools split in 1987.
District final loss makes Roseburg’s Hamilton a dangerous floater
One of the best district finals across the state took place in the 285 division, where for the third time this season, Jarvis came out on top over Roseburg’s Grady Hamilton in a close match. Jarvis won 3-2 in the North Bend Coast Classic final and 2-0 in the schools’ regular-season dual meet before scoring the only point of the district final with a second-period escape.
Hamilton, the state runner-up to Sprague’s Cole Steketee a year ago, will be a dangerous floater in the draw — the best seed he can receive according to the criteria is No. 5, which would set up a potential semifinal with Steketee.
Roseburg sends 12 to try to continue state trophy-winning streak
Roseburg has taken home a trophy from every state tournament since 2007, and it’ll still be among the trophy contenders after advancing a meet-high 12 automatic qualifiers (with one potential wild card) to Memorial Coliseum. Two-time state champion Singleton pinned teammate Isaiah Stanturf in 70 seconds in the 113 district final. Rietmann and Gibson each won his first title.
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