By Ryker Burr
For The New Era
Lebanon’s boys wrestling team placed fourth out of 10 teams at the OSAA 5A Mid-Willamette Conference tournament at Crescent Valley High School Feb. 20-21.
Lebanon (212) had a ways to go to catch the victorious West Albany (354.5). Dallas (317.5) and Silverton (297.5) rounded out the top three.
The Warriors were dominant from 157-175, winning all three of them and two more finished in the top three.
Seven Warriors punched their ticket to Portland for state, which will take place at the historic Veterans Memorial Coliseum Feb. 27- Mar. 1.
Those state-qualifiers are: Michael Foubert (fourth at 106), David Brandt (fourth at 150), Tyson Trask (third at 157), Seth Wynn (first at 157), Cade Weber (second at 165), Grady Cox (first at 165) and Zech Halsey (first at 175).
Head Coach Michael Cox chalked up this group’s success to their brotherhood: “Those guys have amazing workout partners. They just grind all the time. Practices are way harder than the tournament because their partners are who they face in the finals.”
Cox also gave praise for freshman Cody Cruz, who wrestled the 175-pound weight class despite weighing in at 162. He placed sixth, just short of qualifying for state..
Cox said he expects his wrestlers to come back with medals.
“Our expectation is for them to compete to the best of their ability. If they compete we’ll come home with four or five placers. We point to this two-week stretch as the reason they work so hard all year.”
He also noted that four of these qualifiers are seniors, so this is their last dance.
Cox said Wynn, who is the top seed at 157, has already beaten second-seeded Jaxson Godley of Crater, though he noted that was a tight match.
Halsey goes into the tournament as the No. 3 seed at 175, while Grady Cox, the coach’s son, will be the No. 2 seed at 165.
The 5A boys and girls, including Lebanon’s two female qualifiers, Mary Jane Duty (110) and Zoee Ruonavaara (235) start Friday morning at 8 a.m. and runs till 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wrestling will resume Saturday, Feb. 26, at 9 a.m., with finals scheduled following a Parade of Champions at 6 p.m.