PORTLAND – In a season that might have been considered a rebuilding year, the Roseburg wrestling team found a way to continue its dominance over the 6A classification on Saturday at the OSAA/US Bank/Les Schwab Tires state wrestling meet.
The Indians placed 10 wrestlers on the podium, including two individual state champions. Roseburg tallied 252.0 points to edge out second place Newberg, which finished 28.5 points behind the Tribe.
Seniors Hunter Sparks and Brandon Jeffers stood atop the podium Saturday night. Top-seeded Sparks won his second individual state championship, this time at 120-pounds. The senior defeated second-seed Nick Capetillo of Westview in the finals. Sparks pinned his opponent in 3:15. He won three matches by fall and one by technical fall.
Jeffers won his first individual state title at 182-pounds, following a third place finish at state last year. The senior upset the top-seed Adrian Rodriguez of Century with an 8-4 decision.
Roseburg advanced a total of four wrestlers into the finals. Senior Thomas Spence, the eight-seed at 126-pounds, upset the top-seed to reach the finals, but lost due to medical forfeit to place second. Junior Austin David bested the second-seed at 152-pounds to reach the finals, but lost due to injury against top-seed Ein Carlos of North Salem.
Other top placers for Roseburg include Garrett Russell (3rd – 170lbs), Kahleb Diaz (4th – 120lbs), Caleb Jeffers (4th – 132lbs), Logan Folsom (5th – 160lbs), Terrell Jacks (5th – 160lbs), and Archer Bergeron (6th – 138lbs).
The state championship is Roseburg’s fifth consecutive and 10th in 12 seasons.
The Glide Wildcats finished third in the 3A state championship tournament. The Wildcats led the team standings after day one of competition, but couldn’t hold off the charge eventual champion Willamina/Falls City.
Zach Holland was the lone individual champion for the Wildcats this season. Collyn Potter and Cayden Kangiser also reached the finals, but suffered defeat to place second. Overall the Wildcats had seven wrestlers place on the podium.
Zack Welker placed third (285lbs), Giovanni Allison took fifth (152lbs), and Zach Vigil (220lbs) and Rhett Syverson (170lbs) each finished sixth.
The third place finish improves Glide’s fourth place finish from last year.
Other state placers from the Umpqua Basin include Glendale’s William Kidwell (2nd – 195lbs), Sutherlin’s Kyla Keen (2nd – 160lbs) and Andrew Smalley (6th – 220lbs), Riddle’s Shawn Scott (4th – 285lbs), and South Umpqua’s Samantha Stroud (3rd – 220lbs).