The Elmira wrestling team competed at the Special Districts 2 championship this Saturday at Elmira High School.
The team had 10 boys place in districts and four will be joining junior Falcon wrestler Caetlyn Lillie at the state championship on Thursday.
Junior Mathew Lawson qualified for the 120 weight class after going 3-1 in the tournament and placing third, pinning fellow teammate sophomore Dayton Imbler in 4:29 minutes.
Lawson is nervous and doesn’t know what to expect heading into state.
“I’m hoping [I will do] good, but I know there’s gonna be some tough kids so I have to wrestle hard.”
Sophomore Tucker Christiance will be going to state for the second consecutive year for the 190 weight class after going 4-1 in the tournament and placing third, pinning a Santiam Christian wrestler in 4:00 minutes.
Sophomore Jonah Cooper will also be going to state for his second consecutive year in the 215 weight class after going 4-1 in the tournament and placing third, pinning a Taft wrestler in 3:01 minutes.
Cooper is feeling confident going into state this year.
“The season didn’t go as planned,” Cooper told Falcon News, “but I’m gonna make it up at state.”
Senior Zane Clemmer will be going to state for the first time. He will be wrestling heavyweight (285) after going 4-1 in the tournament and placing third by decision of 7-2 over a Creswell wrestler.
Other wrestlers who placed in the tournament are: sophomore Kyland Whittington, fourth in the 113 weight class; sophomore Dayton Imbler, fourth in 120; junior Hunter Shannon, sixth in 138; sophomore Tristyn Bell, fourth in 144; junior Ryan Pew, fifth in 175; and junior Braiden Agnes, fifth in heavyweight (285).
The Elmira wrestling team placed third in the tournament with 163.5 team points. Santiam Christian came in second with 283.5 points and Harrisburg placed first with 379.0 points.
There were several points deducted from Elmira due to wrestler misconduct.
The state tournament will take place at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland on Feb. 27 and 28 for 4A-1A. Competitions for 6A-5A will be Feb 28 and Mar 1.
