La Grande boys wrestling head coach Klel Carson wasn’t sure where his team would finish in the 4A Special District 4 meet.
With a handful of talented seniors and many more youngsters looking to make a name for themselves, the Tigers snuck Pendleton with 396 points compared to 394.5 for the Buckaroos.
Helping win the district title were 16 La Grande wrestlers finishing in the top four and qualifying for state, and seven of those won their weight class.
All in all, the group is ahead of schedule and blew by all expectations Carson had for the developing group.
“I think that kids just kind of come up and it's kind of their turn and they just have an expectation that they're gonna do well,” Carson said. “It's just really awesome to see those kids work hard and then have that hard work kind of pay off for them. Just seeing them believe in something like, ‘If I do these things and work hard and I follow this kind of process, then good things can happen for me and for our team.' They've been a group that's kind of surprised me throughout the year.”
Someone with no surprises is senior Tommy Belding at 157 pounds, a two-time state champion who is looking to become only the second Tiger to ever win three state titles. Kai Carson won three from 2022-2024.
Belding has a 30-2 record this season and won the 157 bracket at the annual Reser’s Tournament of Champions to cement himself as possibly the best in the state at that weight.
More importantly, he’s been an example to the younger Tigers on what it takes to not only be good on the mat, but in every aspect of life.
“He’s been great all the way throughout,” Carson said. “He’s just an example of there not being a lot of secrets. If you put in the time, work hard and do all the extra things that he does that a lot of people aren’t willing to do, that’s the thing that shows up on the mat. … He had great partners when he came into the program and obviously he’s been a great partner to a lot of other people too and built them up.”
The six other district winners include junior Darren Guzlow at 106, sophomore Deegan Nelson at 126, senior Bragen Anderson at 132, senior Colton Livingston at 138, sophomore Bryler Anderson at 144 and junior Dex Dunlap at 215.
Anderson finished third at state as a freshman before two second-place finishes the past two years. Livingston placed sixth as a freshman before missing state with an injury as a sophomore and falling short of the podium last season.
The final senior alongside Belding at 157 is Riley Krantz, who took second at the SD4 and will head to state as well.
“I think we had 12 in the finals, so that was huge,” Carson said. “It’s something you hope for, but then the kids really rose up to the occasion and it was really fun for sure.”
And it’s not just the boys getting the job done as La Grande is defending back-to-back champions on the girls side and will look to make it three in a row this season.
The Tigers will compete in the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 meet this weekend Feb. 20-21 at home in La Grande High School.
“We have 25-30 girls and it’s just awesome to see the girls program and how girls wrestling has just thrived and grown, even in Eastern Oregon,” Carson said. “To see where it’s gone and the buy-in of the community and people supporting them, it’s really exciting.”
As for the boys, they have the weekend off before the state tournament, which is set for Feb. 26-28 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
La Grande was tabbed as the No. 2 in the OSAAtoday midseason coaches poll in 4A, but No. 1 Sweet Home received all the first-place votes and will be the heavy favorites.
Still, with 16 in tow heading to the Rose City, the Tigers are ready to be dangerous and take their shot at that blue trophy.
“It’s great to be on a team where you’re competing for something rather than just an individual accomplishment,” Carson said. “We’re kind of an underdog for sure, but we’re going to show up and fight, that’s for sure.”
Crater pair looking to stay on track
There are six juniors across the state going for their third state title, and two of them reside with Crater boys wrestling in Aidan Godley and Jeremiah Oliva.
Starting with Oliva at 126, he’s 28-6 this year and faced some difficult competition from Thurston sophomore Tanner Brumble. The Colt was able to best Oliva by fall at the Oregon Classic in Redmond and then by a major decision at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions.
Oliva got his payback in a Feb. 11 dual, winning a major decision 17-8 over Brumble. The two will likely battle for the Midwestern League title before possibly meeting again at state.
“I think it’s been a good learning process, it’s made him step up his game a little bit, getting beat a couple times hasn’t happened in a few years,” Crater head coach Greg Haga said. “I think it’s made him focus a little bit more and to not take things for granted.”
Meanwhile Godley has dominated at 150 with a 21-3 record this season, which also includes a Reser’s individual title where he won the first-place match via a third-period pin.
There’s only been two wrestlers who have won three state titles all for Crater in the program’s history, and Godley could become the third with another crown in 2026.
“Our philosophy is the ones you've already won, they can't take away. So it's all about getting the next one,” Haga said. “Our focus is just for him to go be a state champion one time, which is this year. Everything else will fall into place as his career unfolds.”
Godley’s older brother Jaxon Godley has been excellent as well at 157 with a 29-5 record this season. Jaxon Godley has taken second at state the past two years and qualified as a freshman.
“I coached their dad while he was in high school, so I’ve had a relationship with that family for a long time,” Haga, in his 40th season coaching the Comets, said. “And both those guys are pretty competitive against one another and against other people. So it's always good to have those kind of competitors in your room.”
Those three are the head of the dragon for the defending 5A champions who are hoping to repeat come Feb. 26-28 inside Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
League foe Thurston is ranked No. 1 in the OSAAtoday midseason coaches poll for 5A with Crater right behind at No. 2.
Haga knows it’ll certainly be an uphill battle, but the Comets believe they have what it takes, especially after downing the Colts on Feb. 11 38-30 in a road dual.
“It’s always good to just be in the hunt, I’ve always said even in the bad years if you’re in the hunt, that’s a good year,” Haga said. “We’re gonna have to have a really good state tournament to win it. Thurston is loaded and has lots of guys. We’re gonna have to out shoot them a little bit and see where it lands.”
More district champions
The 6A/5A girls and 4A, 3A and 2A/1A boys wrestling districts all went down last weekend Feb. 13-14.
Starting with the girls in 6A/5A Special District 1, Century was able to sneak by Hillsboro for the team title. The Jaguars had 216 points to the Spartans’ 208. Southridge took third with 202.5.
Special District 2 wasn’t as close with Centennial running away with the team title. The Eagles had 266.5 points, besting McDaniel in second with 142.5.
Special District 3 was won by Dallas who scored 324.5 points to get by North Salem in second with 266.
And in Special District 4, Crook County dominated with 402.5 points to win the title. Redmond took second with 256.5 and defending state champion Thurston took third with 185.
Switching to the boys in 4A, Tillamook took the Special District 1 title with 376.5 points over Estacada in second with 271.5. Sweet Home blew out Special District 2 with 507 points and Marshfield won Special District 3 with 299 points, beating second-place Hidden Valley by 39 points. La Grande snuck by Pendleton as detailed above in SD4.
In 3A, Banks took control of SD1 with 444.5 points and Harrisburg dominated SD2 with 352 points. SD3 went to Pleasant Hill who won a tight battle over Coquille in second 206-187. And Nyssa won a close race over Burns in SD4, winning the title with 399 points compared to the Hilanders’ 331.
Down at 2A/1A SD1, Lowell won the district title with 218 points over second-place Waldport with 137. Oakridge won SD2 with 220 points, edging out Illinois Valley in second with 192.5. And defending state champion Culver was once again elite with 389.5 points to win the SD3 title.
The 6A and 5A boys wrestling districts are taking place across the state on Feb. 20-21, along with the 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling districts.
The state tournament will be Feb. 26-28 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
austinw@osaa.org
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