OREGON'S TOP HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLERS
Who are the most outstanding high school wrestlers in Oregon? Here's a look at 50 of the state's best for the 2017-18 season.
Note that there are numerous great wrestlers in Oregon, and this list is by no means comprehensive. Let us know in the comments section who else should be considered among the state's best!
(This list includes boys wrestlers only. We will highlight the top girls wrestlers later this season.)
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Text by Rene Ferran, who can be reached at rferr@hotmail.com. Photography by Adam Lapierre, Kent Frasure, Billy Gates and Pete Christopher. Select photos provided by Julie Andrade, Sarah Brown, Brandie Chandler, Tracy Cleaver, Cheyanne Fasana, Tim Kiesecker, Chad Lamer, Mike Simons, Guy Takahashi, Jared Wilson, Travis Wittlake Sr. and Brandon Young.
Michael Abeyta, sr., McMinnville (160)
Season record: 35-1
Career record: 124-14
Abeyta is a three-time state placer, taking sixth at the 6A meet at 138 as a freshman before posting runner-up finishes at 132 as a sophomore and at 145 to Ein Carlos of North Salem last winter. Over the summer, he earned All-American status with a third-place finish at 145 at the Reno Worlds, then followed that up with a runner-up finish in the 18U Elite division at 160 at the Vegas Freak Show. This season, he’s already won titles at the Liberty Tournament and Bretthauer HilHi Invitational at 160 but wrestled at 152 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach Jordan Barich says: "Michael is a pinner. He doesn't just step out on the mat looking to win. He is always trying to find a way to pin his opponent."
Kyle Beal, sr., David Douglas (152)
Season record: 32-2
Career record: 143-22
Beal started his career with a bang, winning the 113-pound Class 6A state title as a freshman. He was the top seed at 126 as a sophomore but was upset in the quarterfinals, coming back to place third. Last year, he made it back to the state final, this time at 138, only to lose to top seed Ethan Wendell of Liberty. This season, he’s bounced between 145 and 152, finishing second to North Salem’s Ein Carlos in the Coast Classic final and winning the Larry Owings title at 152 and going 7-0 at 145 at last weekend’s Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach Anthony Weerheim says: "He's one of the slickest wrestlers I've ever worked with. You can never predict what he's going to do on the wrestling mat. He racks up points so fast, and transitions from move to move so well. He's been a great kid to get to know and coach the last couple of years."
Steven Beckman, jr., Joseph/Wallowa (113)
Season record: 24-1
Career record: 62-16
As a freshman, Beckman was the proverbial 97-pound weakling getting sand kicked in his face, finishing with a 12-13 record in the 106-pound class. Last season, he finally grew into his frame and the results followed – a 26-2 record and the 2A/1A state title at 106. Now, he’s bulked up to 113 pounds, started at running back and defensive lineman on Joseph’s eight-man football team, and his only loss this season was to a 5A wrestler. He finished 5-0 in his matches at last week’s Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach Tim Kiesecker says: "His freshman year, we broke all those habits that he developed in junior high. He's a really good listener and wants to do things right. As he put on a little more body mass, everything clicked. Once he was the same size as everyone else, he really took off."
Dax Bennett, jr., Harrisburg (182)
Season record: 20-0
Career record: 127-7
Bennett is halfway home to becoming a four-time Oregon state champion, capturing the 152 title at the 3A meet last year and the 132 title as a freshman. Over the summer, he won the Reno Worlds title at 152, and he’s rolled so far this season to titles at five tournaments and went undefeated at the Oregon Wrestling Classic. Off the mat, Bennett is an all-league football player and all-state utility player in baseball.
Coach Desmond Bennett says: "Dax is a pretty natural athlete that works hard in the wrestling room and is very competitive."
Tristan Bennett, jr., Neah-Kah-Nie (220)
Season record: 26-1
Career record: 107-7
Bennett placed third as a freshman at the 2A/1A state meet and second last year. Five of his career losses have come against eventual state champions. So far this season, he’s won four tournament titles – Herrin, Gladstone, Bishop, and Jo-Hi – and was unbeaten in four matches at last weekend’s Oregon Wrestling Classic. He also was an all-league fullback and linebacker in leading the Pirates to their first state playoff berth in more than two decades.
Coach Chris Bennett says: "As Tristan outgrew the (youth) program at Neah-Kah-Nie, we took him down to Tillamook to wrestle with their club, where he got some great coaching. Tristan is a very solid wrestler with one goal in mind. He wants to finish off this year and next with a state title."
Quinn Brink, jr., Lakeridge (145)
Season record: 14-1
Career record: 77-6
The 6A state champion at 126 a year ago, Brink has wrestled at both 145 and 152 this winter and is ranked No. 1 by Oregon Wrestling Forum at 145. His only loss this year came at 160 to Noah Wachsmuth in his opening match. He since has won titles at the Tyrone Woods Memorial Tournament and the Bill Geister Invitational.
Coach Brandon McDonald says: "As a wrestler, Quinn is everything you could ask for. He's one of the hardest workers I've ever been around, and he is a student of the sport. He is always looking to tweak, adjust and grow his skillset, and he is constantly striving to be great."
Zeth Brower, sr., Crater (113)
Season record: 20-0
Career record: 96-13
Brower might be snake-bitten when it comes to the 5A state tournament. He reached the final each of his first two seasons at 106, upsetting the top seed as a freshman before losing to Jaiven Rodriguez of Hillsboro, then losing to Crescent Valley’s Legend Lamer in 2016. Last season, he was the 106 top seed but lost to Silverton’s Kaden Kuenzi in the semifinals before placing third. Kuenzi and Lamer are no longer in Brower’s path, and Brower has rolled so far to titles at the Doc Peterson Invitational, Coast Classic, Grants Pass Winter Kickoff and Sierra Nevada Classic.
Coach Greg Haga says: "Zeth is fun to watch wrestle due to his quickness. He is a very athletic wrestler."
Santos Cantu III, soph., Sprague (195)
Season record: 29-5
Career record: 49-7
The Olympians couldn’t wait for Cantu to enter high school. The defending 195 state champion is a three-time USA Wrestling All-American, including twice last summer when he was fourth in freestyle and sixth in Greco-Roman at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D., as well as Reno Worlds champion at 200 pounds. So far this season, he reached the semifinals before finishing sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions, one of the top high school meets in the nation, and he owns wins over Roseburg’s Brandon Jeffers and Milwaukie’s Chazz Amundson.
Coach Nolan Harris says: "Santos is a natural-born wrestler. He has an innate passion for the sport and works hard to cultivate his craft. He can score from a variety of positions and trains year-round so that he can go to the toughest tournaments our nation has to offer. The sky is the limit for him."
Ein Carlos, jr., North Salem (152)
Season record: 24-0
Career record: 93-2
Carlos went undefeated in winning the 145-pound state title last season after taking second at state at 126 as a freshman, with his only two losses coming in the Greater Valley Conference and state championship matches. This year, he won the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions title at 152, beating Cadet Freestyle national runner-up Aaron Gandara of Somerton, Ariz., in the final.
Coach Andrew Pickett says: "Ein is already an amazing wrestler, but he will continue to improve because of his ability to learn, adapt and grow as a wrestler."
Anthony Cha, sr., David Douglas (138)
Season record: 20-3
Career record: 127-30
Cha hopes this is the year he regains the touch he showed as a freshman, when he broke through as the 6A No. 3 seed at 106 pounds and walked away as state champion. As a sophomore, he came in as the top seed at 113, only to fall in the semifinals to Sherwood’s Gaven Jolley and place fourth. Last year, he was the No. 4 seed but had to forfeit before his first-round match. This season, he’s bounced between 138 and 145, but based on how the Scots’ roster works out, 138 is his likely postseason home – he went 6-1 at 138 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, losing only to West Linn’s Cael Brunson.
Coach Anthony Weerheim says: "Anthony is a guy who just leads by example. He works hard all the time, putting in extra work all the time, just trying to improve himself day to day."
Joey Coste, jr., Westview (132)
Season record: 25-3
Career record 114-9
Coste started his high school career with a bang, winning the 120-pound Class 6A state title as a No. 4 seed, knocking off the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in succession on the final day of competition. Last year, he lost a heartbreaker to Roseburg’s Bennett Mesa in the 132 final. So far this season, he is undefeated against in-state competition, losing only to three Washington standouts – Orting’s Alex Cruz (Junior Nationals freestyle runner-up) in the Rose City final, Camas’ Tanner Craig (two-time state qualifier and Gut Check champion) in the Pacific Coast Championships final, and Kamiakin’s Austin Almaguer (top-ranked in 3A at 132) in the Gut Check quarterfinals, a loss Coste avenged hours later in the third-place match.
Coach Michael Delaney says: "Joey is a tremendous worker and does all the extra work that allows him to become a champion and excel at this level. Joey has aspirations to become an NCAA Division I wrestler and is an AP Course student with a 3.9 GPA. He has all the necessary tools to become very successful at the next level."
Treve Earhart, sr., Dallas (182)
Season record: 28-3
Career record: 141-25
Earhart, also an all-league selection for the Dragons football and baseball teams, won the Mid-Willamette district title last year before finishing second at the 5A state meet at 195 pounds. He placed sixth as a freshman and fifth as a sophomore. This season, he’s won titles at the Rose City Championship and Liberty Tournament.
Coach Tony Olliff says: "So far this season, Treve has been a huge asset to the team in dual meets, facing whichever opponent is tougher at 195 or 182. We still don't know where he will go for districts."
Cody Fettig, sr., Newberg (126)
Season record: 30-2
Career record: 112-18
Fettig has come a long way since his freshman season, when he weighed 90 pounds yet had to wrestle at 113 because of team needs. He finished second at 6A state to Roseburg’s Hunter Sparks at 106 as a sophomore, then defeated another Roseburg wrestler (Tristin David) to capture the 106 state title as a junior. This season, Fettig won the Best of the West Tournament in Pasco, Wash., with losses only to Westview’s Nick Capetillo in the Rose City final and Roseburg’s Thomas Spence in the Oregon Wrestling Classic final.
Coach Neil Russo says: "Cody is an outstanding young man and a tremendous athlete. He has invested a great deal of time into the sport, and it is paying off for him. He is always excited about wrestling, is a student of the sport, and is going to make a great college wrestler."
Taran Floyd, sr., West Linn (160)
Season record: 16-0
Career record: 85-9
Floyd finished fourth at state as a sophomore wrestling for Wilsonville, and his only loss last year came in the final to undefeated Layne Van Anrooy of Roseburg. This season, he has won titles at the Rose City Championship (beating McMinnville’s Michael Abeyta, who figures to be one of his toughest foes at the Coliseum, in the final) and the Pacific Coast Wrestling Championships, beating Washington’s No. 3-ranked 4A wrestler (South Kitsap’s Davonn Keyes) in the final.
Coach Doug Samarron says: "Taran is a talented athlete that is one dangerous young man. He has a powerful style that is in your face, and you have no time to deal with it as he imposes his will from the starting whistle."
Josh Grant, sr., Century (170)
Season record: 29-1
Career record: 102-33
Like teammate Adrian Rodriguez, Grant broke through during a junior season during which he went 38-8, won the Metro district title, and placed third at state at 152, losing 5-2 in the semifinals to West Linn’s Sean Harman (the only time Harman went a full six minutes during his title run). This year, Grant’s only loss is to Crater’s Logan Meek in the Coast Classic final. Since then, he won the Larry Owings Invitational and was named Outstanding Wrestler in winning the 170 title at the Bill Geister Invitational.
Coach Guy Takahashi says: "Josh's work ethic is unmatched. He is the best technical wrestler to come out of Century."
Sean Harman, jr., West Linn (170)
Season record: 16-0
Career record: 87-4
Harman won the 152-pound title last season after finishing second as a freshman, and he hasn’t missed a beat moving up two weight classes this winter. He owns titles at the Rose City Championship and the Pacific Coast Wrestling Championships, where he knocked off three-time Washington 4A state placer and No. 2-ranked Mason Eaglin of South Kitsap in the final. He wrestled at 160 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, going 6-0 with five pins. He also was a Cadet Greco-Roman and Freestyle All-American in 2016.
Coach Doug Samarron says: "Sean is one very focused athlete who finds a lot of joy in what it takes to be good at wrestling – discipline, attitude, personal accountability and building the right kinds of relationships. He sees himself wrestling after high school because it's not just his sport – it's his lifestyle."
Jonny Hernandez, jr., Putnam (132)
Season record: 20-1
Career record: 81-9
Hernandez is a two-time state placer, taking third as a freshman, when he won a district title at 106 and finished 34-2, and fourth last year at 126. This summer, he placed fifth at the state freestyle tournament, and he’s built upon that showing with a strong start to his junior season. He’s already won three tournament titles – Gladstone, Carey Larson and Don York – and has won 19 consecutive matches.
Coach John Telesmanich says: "Jonny is a great wrestler. He's tough, strong, quick, tenacious and absolutely hates to lose. But as great a wrestler as he is, he's an even better kid. He's so fun to coach and so awesome for all of his coaches and teammates to be around."
Max Hodge, sr., David Douglas (113)
Season record: 31-3
Career record: 88-30
Hodge is the picture of perseverance. He didn’t wrestle varsity as a freshman and qualified for the 6A state meet each of the past two years at 106. He’s ranked No. 1 in the state at 106 this season but has moved up to 113 as needed for the Scots. He finished third at 106 at the Coast Classic after losing in the semifinals to Crescent Valley’s Chance Lamer. His other two losses came at 113.
Coach Anthony Weerheim says: "He has a motor on him. He just goes and goes. I'm amazed by how hard he works every day. He's stepped up a lot from last year to this year. He's grown in his knowledge and his physicality."
Avery Jaramillo, jr., Thurston (195)
Season record: 30-1
Career record: 92-12
Jaramillo came into his own toward the end of last season, winning the 5A District 3 title before taking third at 195 at the state championships. He followed that up with Northwest Regional titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman, wrestling for an Oregon all-star team in Russia and earning All-American honors with a seventh-place finish in Greco-Roman and eighth in freestyle at the USA Wrestling Cadet Nationals. This season, he’s won four tournament titles, including the Sierra Nevada Classic.
Coach Mike Simons says: "Avery is a very dedicated and hard-working student-athlete. He puts in a ton of time on the wrestling mat. He is a very technical wrestler."
Brandon Jeffers, sr., Roseburg (195)
Season record: 28-5
Career record: 98-31
Roseburg produces quality wrestlers in droves, and Jeffers is another right off the assembly line. He’s qualified for state each of his high school seasons, placing second as a sophomore as a No. 7 seed at 170, then taking third last winter at 170, losing only to two-time state champion Trajan Hurd of Grants Pass (now wrestling for Clackamas Community College) in the semifinals. This season, he posted a fifth-place finish at the Doc Buchanan, a prestigious tournament in Clovis, Calif., and he reached the Round of 16 at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Coach Steve Lander says: "Brandon competes very hard. He is a pinner, and pins are good!"
Gaven Jolley, jr., Sherwood (132)
Season record: 11-1
Career record: 80-6
Jolley got off to a slow start his junior season after battling appendicitis in December, but he should be good to go by mid-February to continue his quest in becoming a four-time state champion. He won the 113-pound Class 6A title as a freshman, when he won the triple crown (high school, Greco-Roman and freestyle championships), and then took the 120 title as a sophomore last winter. He is Sherwood’s first state wrestling champion since 2001 and the school’s first-ever two-time champion.
Coach Jeff Wilson says: "Gaven is just a unique kid and athlete. He's one of those athletes that a lot of coaches don't ever get to coach. He's done a lot of things that have never been done by a wrestler in Sherwood, and it's been fun to be a part of it. I feel pretty blessed to have the opportunity to coach him."
Clay Keller, sr., Baker/Powder Valley (160)
Season record: 42-1
Career record: 106-13
Last February, Keller fought back from a 5-0 deficit to pin top-seeded Jake Porter of Sweet Home in the third period of the 145-pound Class 4A state final. He built off that success by earning All-American status with a fifth-place finish at 160 in the 18U Elite division of the Vegas Freak Show and earning an appointment to the US Naval Academy, where he’ll wrestle for the Midshipmen. This season, Keller has won four tournaments – Mullenburg, John Rysdam Memorial, Best of the West, Rollin Schimmel – and placed third at the Rollie Lane Invitational in Idaho, suffering his only loss of the season in the semifinals to Braydon Huber of Post Falls, a Reno Worlds finalist and University of Mary (N.D.) signee.
Coach Brandon Young says: "Clay's devotion to wrestling has made him the wrestler that he is. Everything he does is devoted to making himself a better wrestler, whether it's running cross country, going for a run with his family, working out on his own, traveling to find a workout partner in the offseason – he is constantly pushing himself."
Derrik Kerr, jr., La Pine (120)
Season record: 7-0
Career record: 64-8
Kerr finally got his season underway this past weekend after serving a suspension by sweeping all his matches at the Oregon Wrestling Classic. It was a smashing way to follow up a sophomore season in which he went 30-1 and upset Jordan Reyes of Willamina/Falls City in the 106-pound Class 3A final to win the state title – the third member of his family to do so, after his father Dave and three-time champion David, who graduated in June.
Coach Aaron Flack says: "Derrik is a very talented kid, and his mat awareness and scrambling set him apart from a lot of his competition."
Kody Koumentis, soph., Marshfield (113)
Season record: 20-7
Career record: 43-18
Koumentis came into the 4A state tournament last year as a No. 3 seed at 106 and went home a state champion, defeating Crook County’s Hunter Mode in the final. He’s moved up a weight class this year and suffered some growing pains, losing in the finals of the Perry Burlison Classic to Dallas’ Ryan Bibler and twice to Cascade Christian’s Gabe Vidlak in the finals of the Coast Classic and Grants Pass Winter Kickoff. He followed that with a seventh-place finish at the Sierra Nevada Classic, then went 5-1 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach Travis Wittlake says: "Kody, AJ (Lira) and (Travis Wittlake Jr.) came all the way up through club together with Team Bucs, so it's really special to watch them succeed together. Garrett (Lefebvre) was also a part of our middle school dual team, so these guys have been a team since they were young. I feel very privileged to have been their coach since the start."
Phillip Kue, jr., Centennial (126)
Season record: 36-0
Career record: 124-4
Kue finished third as a freshman at the 6A meet at 106 pounds, reaching the semifinals, before coming back last year with a dominant 48-2 season, capping his title-winning season at 113 by defeating All-American Hunter Sparks of Roseburg 4-3 in the final. He entered this season on a roll, finishing second at the state freestyle and Greco-Roman championships, just missing out on placing at Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman, and earning All-American status with a fifth-place finish at October’s Freak Show tournament in Las Vegas. He has won titles at the Herrin Holilday Classic, Larry Owings and Don York, and hasn’t had an opponent come within eight points of beating him this season.
Coach Roger Matthews says: "I've known Phillip since he was 4 and came to our wrestling camp. I knew even then that he was very athletic. It's pretty amazing what he can do on the mat. He attacks from every angle with lightning speed, and he's in on you and suffocates you. It just makes him really tough to defend."
Kaden Kuenzi, soph., Silverton (120)
Season record: 25-2
Career record: 67-4
Kuenzi dominated the 106-pound ranks as a freshman, rolling to the 5A state title and earning All-American honors at Reno Worlds with a fifth-place finish, and he hasn’t missed a beat this season while moving up two weight classes. He won the Liberty Tournament, then reached the final of the prestigious Gut Check Invitational in Washington, falling to three-time Washington state champion Brandon Kaylor of Bonney Lake (an Oregon State signee and ranked No. 18 in the nation at 120). En route to the final, he beat Wapato’s Jesus Rodriguez Jr. (defending Washington 2A state champion and top-ranked at 120) and South Kitsap’s Devin Gentz (No. 7 at 4A 120).
Coach Stryder Davis says: "Kaden's movement and transitions of wrestling technique are next level."
Chance Lamer, fr., Crescent Valley (106)
Season record: 18-3
Lamer entered his freshman season with a boatload of national honors under his belt. He won USA Folkstyle Nationals last summer, captured the 88-pound Cadet Nationals Greco-Roman title and finished second in Cadet Freestyle. He hasn’t lost to an Oregon wrestler this season, winning the Perry Burlison Classic, Coast Classic and Benton County Championships while taking second to Bonney Lake freshman Yusief Lillie (ranked No. 9 nationally at 106) in the Gut Check final.
Coach Chad Lamer says: "Chance is a lot of fun to watch at a very high pace working to score the whole six minutes. He has loved the sport since he was just a little fellow, and he is ultra-competitive in everything he does. That is what has brought him a lot of success on the mat."
Legend Lamer, jr., Crescent Valley (138)
Season record: 24-2
Career record: 110-4
Lamer is halfway to achieving the Holy Grail of Oregon high school wrestling – becoming a four-time state champion. He won the 106-pound Class 5A title as a freshman, then came back last winter to win the 120 title. Like his brother Chance, Legend hasn’t lost to an Oregon wrestler this season. His only two losses came in the finals of the Reno Tournament of Champions to Colton Yapoujian of Colorado (ranked No. 19 nationally at 138) and in the finals of The Gut Check to Orting’s Alexander Cruz, a three-time Washington 2A state champion and runner-up at Junior Nationals in freestyle.
Coach Chad Lamer says: "Legend is a completely different wrestler this year compared to last. He is wrestling with way more confidence, and his transitions from one move to the next are looking very good. He would like to continue his career at the Division I level, and he is showing that he is getting closer to that level."
Garrett Lefebvre, sr., Marshfield (152)
Season record: 22-5
Career record: 126-32
Lefebvre wrestled at Rainier his first two seasons, placing fifth and sixth at the 3A state meet for the Columbians. He moved to Coos Bay just before his junior season and definitely made the most of it, winning the 138 Class 4A state title for his new school. He got off to a slow start this season but hit his stride just before Christmas break, finishing second at the Grants Pass Winter Kickoff and the Sierra Nevada Classic – both times losing to Crater’s Logan Meek in the final – and going 7-0 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach Travis Wittlake says: "Kody (Koumentis), AJ (Lira) and (Travis Wittlake Jr.) came all the way up through club together with Team Bucs, so it's really special to watch them succeed together. Garrett was also a part of our middle school dual team, so these guys have been a team since they were young. I feel very privileged to have been their coach since the start."
AJ Lira, sr., Marshfield (138)
Season record: 23-5
Career record: 134-18
Lira made a steady climb up the state podium during his first three visits to the 4A meet. He placed third at 113 as a freshman, second at 126 as a sophomore, then won the 132 title last winter in dominant fashion – giving up only one point in four matches and pinning Elijah Banister of Baker/Powder Valley 68 seconds into the championship match. This season, he’s bounced between 138 and 145, winning the Grants Pass Winter Kickoff at 145 and placing fifth at 138 after reaching the Sierra Nevada Classic semifinals.
Coach Travis Wittlake says: "Kody (Koumentis), AJ and (Travis Wittlake Jr.) came all the way up through club together with Team Bucs, so it's really special to watch them succeed together. Garrett (Lefebvre) was also a part of our middle school dual team, so these guys have been a team since they were young. I feel very privileged to have been their coach since the start."
Daniel McClung, jr., Sprague (132)
Season record: 21-4
Career record: 97-17
McClung has steadily moved up the awards podium at the state championships, finishing third as a freshman and second as a sophomore, when he won the Greater Valley Conference title. He won the 2017 Cadet Greco-Roman state title and was a finalist in Cadet Freestyle. He finished second at The Gut Check, a prestigious Washington tournament where he beat defending Alaska state champion and previously unbeaten Luciano Fasulo of Homer in the semifinals.
Coach Nolan Harris says: "Daniel is a student of the sport. If he isn't in the mat room training, he's watching college or international wresting to get new techniques to add to his repertoire. He has an enthusiasm for the sport that has taken him far and will continue to propel him towards greater heights."
Logan Meek, sr., Crater (152)
Season record: 21-0
Career record: 111-7
The Oregon State signee is a two-time All-American, including last July when he finished eighth at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals at 145 pounds. He also went 6-0 and made the All-Tournament team at the Junior National Greco-Roman Duals in Tulsa, Okla. After finishing fifth at state as a freshman, he won back-to-back 5A state titles at 145. This season, he’s won the Doc Peterson Invitational, Coast Classic, Grants Pass Winter Kickoff and Sierra Nevada Classic, beating Marshfield’s Garrett Lefebvre in the Grants Pass and Sierra Nevada finals and Century’s Josh Grant at the Coast Classic.
Coach Greg Haga says: "Logan is very aggressive and looks to pin every opponent."
Michael Murphy, sr., Sprague (138)
Season record: 20-5
Career record: 128-33
The top-ranked wrestler at 138 is going for his fourth trip to the Memorial Coliseum, having finished third as both a sophomore and junior. He was a Western Regional Greco-Roman champion in 2016, he was a finalist at last year’s Reser’s Tournament of Champions, and he won the Greater Valley Conference title as a junior.
Coach Nolan Harris says: "Michael has been an integral part of Sprague wrestling the past four years. He is the type of kid you build a program around – a selfless leader, intense competitor and hard worker. He is consistent and reliable on and off the mat. I'm excited to be in his corner for one more year as he pursues his goals."
Beau Ohlson, soph., Mountain View (126)
Season record: 26-0
Career record: 56-1
Ohlson’s only career loss came last year; while en route to the Class 5A state title at 113, he lost to Nyssa’s Heath Hartley, who won a fourth state title at 4A 120 last February. He won the state Triple Crown, adding summer titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman. He also was a triple-crown winner three times in middle school – twice in Colorado before moving to Oregon as an eighth-grader. Of his 26 victories this season, 17 have come by fall, and only five matches have gone the full six minutes.
Coach Leslie Combs says: "Beau has an amazing love for the sport. He's a truly creative wrestler who just wants to be the very best."
Jorge Olivera, sr., Culver (145)
Season record: 16-4
Career record: 110-31
Olivera has qualified for state in each of his previous three seasons with the Bulldogs and figures to make it 4-for-4 next month. After failing to make the podium as a freshman, he came back to win the 2A/1A state title at 138 as a sophomore, beating teammate Saxton Schaffner in the final, and made it two in a row with a dominant performance last year at 145, not giving up a point in three matches. He entered the season off a fourth-place finish at Reno Worlds to earn All-American status, and he’s won titles at the Central Oregon, Culver and Adrian Irwin tournaments. His lone in-state loss came at 152 to Burns’ Evan Gunderson, ranked No. 3 in 3A. Olivera dropped back down to 145 and was unbeaten in four matches at the Oregon Wrestling Classic.
Coach J.D. Alley says: "Jorge has emerged as one of the most natural leaders we've ever had. I've given him responsibilities that I usually give to an assistant coach. He plays that leadership role better than just about anyone I've ever had. He's a great kid to have as the face of our program and a consistent winner to boot."
Jahzriel Peak, jr., David Douglas (145)
Season record: 21-3
Career record: 73-17
Peak qualified for the 5A state meet at 120 as a freshman at Parkrose before moving to Billings, Mont., that summer. He then went 29-10 for Billings Senior and knocked off two-time Montana state champion Trae Vasquez of Flathead (Kalispell) in the 132 final. He’s back in the Portland area now, bolstering a stacked Scots lineup at the middle weights. He’s already won titles at the Coast Classic and Larry Owings Invite at 145 and wrestled at 152 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, going 5-2.
Coach Anthony Weerheim says: "He's bounced around quite a bit, but he's been a great asset to come onto our team. He's a monster in the room. He works so hard all the time. He just outworks everybody; that's what he does."
Iosefa Polamalu, sr., Sandy (285)
Season record: 21-2
Career record: 62-22
After seeing his first two seasons cut short by injuries, Polamalu had a breakthrough junior campaign, reaching the 5A state final at 285 before losing to St. Helens senior Miguel Olmedo in a rematch of their district final the previous week (Olmedo won both by 3-2 decisions). This season, Polamalu is unbeaten against Oregon opponents, winning the Coast Classic, Carey Larson Memorial and Don York Invitational titles. His only losses came at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Coach Larry Topliff says: "Iosefa really turned a corner toward the end of last season, and this season, he has only gotten better. Iosefa is one of those rare athletes who can find success at just about whatever he puts his hands to, but doesn't let that success go to his head. He works hard, is eager to learn and leads by example."
Jordan Reyes, jr., Willamina/Falls City (106)
Season record: 21-1
Career record: 77-9
Reyes has finished second twice at the 3A state championships at 106 pounds, but after a strong offseason, he’s back once again to try to climb that final step on the medals podium. Reyes wrestled on Oregon’s Junior National Duals team in Tulsa, Okla., then in October finished second at 113 in the 18U Varsity Division of the Vegas Freak Show. This season, his only loss came to Bonney Lake’s Yusef Lillie (ranked No. 9 nationally at 106) in the Rose City Invitational final in early December.
Coach Ariah Fasana says: "He's one of the most focused kids I've seen. Wrestling is a passion for him, and he's a 4.0 student as well. He's just a great kid to have on your team."
Titus Rice, jr., Creswell (145)
Season record: 22-3
Career record: 86-11
Rice is another wrestler who is halfway to becoming a four-time state champion after capturing the 138 Class 3A title as a freshman and the 145 title last year. Both times, he came into state as the No. 2 seed and pinned the top seed in the final. His biggest obstacle next month to a three-peat might be Scio senior Brandon Zeiher, who has beaten Rice twice already this season in the finals of the Devon Dawson Memorial and Santiam Christian tournaments.
Coach Wayne Roberts says: "Titus is a very gifted natural wrestler who is the most well-balanced kid I have ever coached. Titus has potential to do great things his junior and senior seasons in wrestling, and if wrestling is an avenue he wants to pursue after high school, he will be great at it."
Perry Rodenbeck, sr., Wilsonville (170)
Season record: 23-2
Career record: 125-25
After missing out on the podium at state as a sophomore, Rodenbeck won the district title before coming up just short in the 152 final to three-time state champion Mitchell Willett of Redmond, losing a 7-5 decision. This season, Rodenbeck is undefeated against Oregon opponents. He has won titles at the Liberty Tournament and Don York Invitational, and he placed fifth at the Pacific Coast Championships after reaching the semifinals.
Coach Jason Milham says: "Perry is a great kid who wrestles all of his matches very competitively and analytically. He thinks multiple moves ahead in a match and is always prepared. He's smart in the way that he manages matches and situations, which makes coaching him a lot of fun."
Adrian Rodriguez, sr., Century (182)
Season record: 25-0
Career record: 73-15
Rodriguez came into his own during his junior season, when he went 32-4, won the Metro district title and finished second at state at 182 pounds to Roseburg senior Austin Harris. This season, he has won the North Bend Coast Classic and Larry Owings Invitational at 182, in which he is ranked No. 1 by Oregon Wrestling Forum. He has wrestled at 195 the past couple of weeks.
Coach Guy Takahashi says: "A-Rod's mental toughness is his key to all his success. He is by far one of the best athletes in the state, and it shows in every sport he competes in."
Jose Sanchez, jr., Nyssa (220)
Season record: 19-1
Career record: 97-18
Sanchez followed up a third-place finish as a freshman at the 3A state meet at 182 with a dominant performance last February in winning the 195 state title, pinning three of his four opponents – including a third-round fall over Glide’s Collyn Potter in the final. A three-sport standout for the Bulldogs – he was the Eastern Oregon League defensive player of the year at linebacker this fall as Nyssa reached the quarterfinals, and he placed seventh at state in the javelin in May – he doesn’t do a lot of summer wrestling, but he got this season off to a rousing start by winning the 220 title at the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno.
Coach Luke Cleaver says: "He's pretty athletic for a big kid. He's hard to wrestle because he doesn't move like he's a 220-pounder and he manages matches really well. You'd want a whole team of wrestlers just like him."
Louie Sanchez, sr., Cascade (220)
Season record: 26-0
Career record: 100-8
Sanchez burst onto the scene as a sophomore, when he won a district title at 220 and placed third at the 4A state meet. Last season, he wrestled again at 220, repeating as district champion before rolling to the state title. This season, only four of his 26 matches have gone the full six minutes, with 18 first-period pins.
Coach Jason Lovell says: "Louie is a great wrestler and captain on our team. He works hard every day in practice and will be a tough wrestler to replace next season."
Jason Shaner, sr., Hood River Valley (132)
Season record: 33-0
Career record: 145-17
Shaner has earned looks from Oregon State, Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon after a junior season that ended with a 5A state title at 126 pounds, followed by a runner-up finish at 132 in Greco-Roman at Junior Nationals and wrestling on the Oregon Duals national team in Oklahoma. He also was part of an Oregon Cultural Exchange team that visited Japan following his sixth-place finish at 120 as a freshman; he then placed third at state at 126 as a sophomore. This season, he’s won three tournament titles – MEHS Invitational, Liberty and Don York.
Coach Trent Kroll says: "Jason has a motor that doesn't stop. Sometimes, we've got to make sure that he doesn't overtrain. Sometimes, you have a junior who wins a state championship and comes back real cocky, but Jason knows there's a target on him, and he's extraordinary because he likes that. It fuels him."
Hunter Sparks, sr., Roseburg (126)
Season record: 28-4
Career record: 145-32
Sparks is the latest Roseburg wrestler who will compete at a Division I school, having signed with Pac-12 member Cal Poly. A two-time district champion, he won a 6A state title at 106 as a sophomore and reached the 113 final as a junior, losing to Centennial’s Phillip Kue, 4-3. This season, he won the Coast Classic and reached the Reno Tournament of Champions quarterfinals after placing twice there (sixth as a sophomore, fourth as a junior). He also earned All-American status in October with a seventh-place finish in the 18U Elite Division at the Vegas Freak Show.
Coach Steve Lander says: "Hunter wrestles with a relentless pressure and has been a joy to coach."
Russell Stigall, jr., North Marion (132)
Season record: 24-1
Career record: 81-7
Stigall followed a fourth-place finish at the 4A state meet as a freshman at 120 pounds by winning the 120 title last February, edging Scappoose’s Tyler Cooper 4-3 in the final to cap a 35-2 season that included a second regional title and being named Outstanding Wrestler of the regional tournament. His only loss to date this season came to Hood River Valley’s Jason Shaner in the Liberty Tournament final. He went 6-0 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic last weekend.
Coach Jared Wilson says: "Russell blossomed late as a wrestler. He wasn't the most successful youth wrestler, but he started to develop confidence his freshman year, and about midway through last year, once he really realized how good he could really be, something clicked, and he's really become unstoppable."
Isaiah Vazquez, sr., Rainier (126)
Season record: 18-0
Career record: 78-20
Vazquez has steadily moved up the podium at the 3A state tournament – from fourth as a freshman at 113 to third as a sophomore at 120 to second last year (also at 120) after coming back from a shoulder injury that sidelined him most of his junior season. He won two early-season tournaments this season and went 5-0 at the Oregon Wrestling Classic last weekend to earn Class 3A’s No. 1 ranking at 126.
Coach Peter Rintoul says: "It's been awesome to coach him. He's one of the most resilient wrestlers I've coached who's overcome a lot in his career. He destroyed his shoulder halfway through his sophomore year that carried into his junior year. Despite this, he was still able to come back to place second at the state tournament. He has tremendous heart and determination, and I believe it will carry him far this season and in his future."
Lorenzo Vazquez, jr., Culver (126)
Season record: 23-2
Career record: 91-14
Vasquez is halfway to becoming a four-time state champion, having rolled to 2A/1A titles at 106 as a freshman and 113 as a sophomore. This season, Vasquez has bounced between 120 and 126, winning three tournaments at the heavier weight and placing third at the Sierra Nevada Classic and second at the Rollie Lane Invite at 120.
Coach J.D. Alley says: "I've known Lorenzo for a long time. I call him 'Little Man' because he may be small in stature, but he's a man. He's grown up and become a leader for us. He's 100 percent a wrestler, 100 percent of the time. Kids like him don't come along too often for a coach."
Gabe Vidlak, soph., Cascade Christian (113)
Season record: 16-0
Career record: 46-4
Vidlak broke onto the scene last season with a third-place finish at the 3A state meet at 113 pounds. He won the 106-pound title at The Best of the Northwest tournament at Eastern Oregon University in April, a meet open to all medal winners from the Oregon, Washington and Idaho state meets. This season, he owns two wins over Marshfield’s Kody Koumentis in the finals of the Coast Classic and Grants Pass Winter Kickoff, and he also won the Santiam Christian Screamin’ Eagle tournament.
Coach Dan Vidlak says: "Gabe is a very hard worker who is extremely competitive and driven. We at Cascade Christian could not be more proud of his efforts."
Travis Wittlake Jr., sr., Marshfield (170)
Season record: 26-0
Career record: 163-2
(23-time national champion and five-time national Triple Crown winner)
Wittlake will go down as one of the most renowned wrestlers in Oregon high school history. The Oklahoma State signee won a bronze medal in freestyle at the Cadet World Championships in 2016 and only gave up a spot on the 2017 team because of injury. He is ranked No. 2 in the nation among all wrestlers regardless of weight class and will be going for a four-peat at February’s state championships at Memorial Coliseum. He’s already won an unprecedented fourth consecutive title at the prestigious Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno (earning the Hammer Award for Most Outstanding Wrestler) to go with titles at the Perry Burlison, Coast Classic and Grants Pass Winter Kickoff. His last loss in a high school match came in December 2015 to Roseburg’s Layne Van Anrooy, now wrestling as a freshman at Michigan.
Oklahoma State coach John Smith says: "He is a two-time Cadet World qualifier, and those are the kinds of guys we want. He's a World bronze medalist and has a very impressive career at this high school. We're very excited about having him in our program."
MORE WRESTLING: OREGON CLASSIC PHOTOS
Find dozens of photos from the 2018 Oregon Wrestling Classic at the following link:
Wrestling notebook: Familiar teams rule at Oregon Classic
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