Saturday, October 24, 2020

Girls wrestling has its shot at the title mat

 By Abby Emrich, Franklin High

PORTLAND - On the final day of the OSAA State Wrestling Tournament, Thurston High School’s girls had a bittersweet victory. 

 Individually, the Colts did not have a champion. But, they did enough before Saturday night's finals to secure the school's first team title in girls wrestling, edging Bend 72-66.

Thurston moved up from sixth last year.

“Our one disappointment is not having a champion,” Thurston coach Bob Simons said. "But the title, that's huge."

Kaylee Annis lost to Century’s Nimo Sheikh at 105 pounds, 4-3. Cailee Hallett lost to Century’s Tyler Rabang at 120, 15-2. And Lindsay Burrell fell to Mountain View’s Taylor Ohlson, 3-1, at 135 pounds.

With three in the finals, and winning 7 out of 8 matches, the outcome of the Thurston girls matches were a surprise to many. That lead going into Saturday night is what saved the Colts.

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

David Douglas preps to defend title

Beating Roseburg for the Class 6A state title was a bit of a surprise last year for David Douglas, but not with some hindsight looking at results heading into the state tournament.

The Scots won the dual-meet Oregon Wrestling Classic prior to the tournament, and the winner of the top four classifications at that meet went on to win the state title.

The Scots, Hermiston at Class 5A, Crook County at 4A and Glide at 3A all won the OWC title and then the state title at the end of the season. Only Lowell failed to double up, having lost to Culver 45-36 in the OWC final. The Red Devils then upended Culver's six-year-run as state champion.

David Douglas begins the 2013-14 season as an underdog with almost all of its starters having graduated. The Scots had seven wrestlers reach the podium at the state meet as a top-6 finisher, and five of them graduated, including three champions.

That's the case across the state, though, as 13 of the 14 weights had seniors win. Only sophomore Chad Jones of Roseburg returns as a champion having won at 120 pounds.

Last year was the first time since the OSAA expanded to six classifications that at least one school did not repeat as team champion.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Prep wrestling goes LIVE

Is Roseburg ready to jump back atop the Class 6A ranks?

Is Jefferson the team to beat in the Class 5A ranks among wrestling teams?

The Democrats may as well be - at least this early in the season.

With news that the Hermiston program has lost a number of its standouts, the Demos have a chance to move toward the top of the state ranks. That'll be one of the topics tonight during the first episode of Tuesday Night Wrestling, a live webcast that will be recorded from the Jefferson High practice facility. The room will be in action, but with young athletes from the junior program.

Oregonsports.com publisher Cliff Pfenning will host the program, and be joined by Jefferson coach Montral Brazille.

All five classes will be covered each week as the season heads toward Memorial Coliseum for the state finals, Feb. 28-March 1.

The webcast can be seen on oregonsports.com, and a social chat room will be available to communicate with the hosts.