Oregon (OSAA) 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling state championships preview: Split in classification opens door for smaller schools
By René Ferrán
The 4A/3A/2A/1A girls Oregon high school wrestling state championships take place at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Here's a look at what to expect.
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Top seeds (returning champions in italics)
100 Kiya Roe, Knappa, fr.
105 Chelo Garcia, Siletz Valley, sr.
110 Katelynn Leonard, St. Helens, jr.
115 Courtney Hall, Scappoose, sr.
120 MaKenna Duran, Crook County, jr.
125 Bailey Chafin, Sweet Home, fr.
130 Alexandra Geschwill, Kennedy, sr.
135 Katarina Jentzsch, Elmira, sr.
140 Ava Collins, Vale, jr.
145 Riley Allison, La Pine, jr.
155 Kira Kerr, La Pine, sr.
170 June Highburger, Elmira, jr.
190 Gracie Baker, Crane, soph.
235 Stephanie Romero, Irrigon, jr.
Other returning champion
190 Mallory Lusco, Grant Union/Prairie City, soph.
Most state qualifiers
1, (tie) Baker/Powder Valley and La Grande 7. 3, Scappoose 6. 4, (tie) La Pine and Sweet Home 5. 6, (tie) St. Helens and Tillamook 4.
What to watch
Split in girls classification opens door for smaller schools to make podium
Sweet Home is the only small school to crack the top three at a state meet during the first four years since girls wrestling became an official OSAA sport, finishing second at the OWA championships in 2021.
With the surging participation in girls wrestling statewide, the OSAA split them into two divisions for the first time this winter, and the Huskies will be among the favorites to win the inaugural 4A/3A/2A/1A event.
They’ll get pushed by a couple of traditional Eastern Oregon boys powers in Baker/Powder Valley and La Grande, who advanced seven wrestlers apiece.
La Pine, which tied for fourth at the inaugural state meet in 2019, and Scappoose also should contend, while Tillamook — the highest finisher (fourth) among small schools at last year’s meet — also will be in the trophy hunt.
La Pine’s Kerr looks to defend title alongside younger brother
Kerr became the fourth member of her family to become a state champion in dramatic fashion last February, scoring two near-fall points in the final 10 seconds to pull out an 8-6 decision in the 135-pound final. Younger brother Devon joined her as a first-time champion later that weekend, and both are back to defend their titles.
Knappa’s Roes hope to become another brother-sister title duo
Roe, who pinned her way to becoming Knappa’s first female state qualifier by winning the district title, is the younger sister of junior Corbin Roe. She has lost only once to an Oregon opponent this season — to Dallas’ Ah Pymm McDaniel in the Liberty Invitational final.
Corbin, a 126-pounder, set the school record for wins this year and sits 42-2 entering the 2A/1A state meet.
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