By James Day
The Cascade High wrestling team is riding high heading into this weekend’s OSAA state championships at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
The Cougars claimed the Special District 4 team title and qualified 10 wrestlers for the state championships Feb. 21-22 at Cottage Grove. Cascade scored 296 points, 24 more than perennial rival Sweet Home. The Cougars and Huskies have been swapping the district title in recent years. Cascade won it this year and 2012, and Sweet Home claimed the top spot last year and in 2011.
One of the key battles that helped determine the team title was at 120 pounds, where Cascade’s Logan Humphrey scored a 5-1 upset win against Sweet Home’s Tyler Schilling. Humphrey and teammate Spencer Crawford, champion at 160 pounds, shared most outstanding wrestler honors.
Other Cougars to advance to state are Connor Kelly (113), Jared Riesterer (126), Cole Cade (132), Mattija Weeks (145), Bryndyn Gardner (170), Kuloly Tudela (170), Hayes VanDeHey (182) and Malachi Gonzales (220).
“This past weekend was a great one for the Cougars,” Coach Jason Lovell told Our Town. “We battled all season long and had many obstacles to overcome, but when the tournament came all the boys showed up and competed.”
Regis girls basketball: The Rams have finished another championship season in the Tri-River Conference and are one home playoff win from advancing to the OSAA Class 2A championships in Pendleton.
Regis, which is ranked No. 1 by the OSAA, finished the regular season with a 24-2 overall mark and won the Tri-River with a 13-1 record. The Rams hosted Reedsport (10-12) on Feb. 28 after Our Town’s presstime and will advance to Pendleton with a win. “We have been playing well and working really hard to improve our defense,” Rams co-head Coach Kyle Tower. “We know that defense will be the key to accomplishing our goals this season.”
Jesse Morris and Beth Lorenz both received first-team all-Tri-River honors and Morris also was nominated for the McDonald’s all-American team. Monica Webb and Becca Lorenz were second-team choices for the Rams, whose lone losses have been to Class 4A Sutherlin and Tri-River rival Western Mennonite. Monica Webb, a junior guard, received special praise from Tower. “Monica has been doing a great job on defense this entire season,” Tower said. “She really sets the defensive tone for our entire team.”
Stayton dance: The Highlights, who have won 11 consecutive OSAA championships, are rounding into shape for the tournament season, Coach Robin Meier said. Stayton, which hosted a 20-team event Feb. 1, went on the road Feb. 15 and was the highest-scoring squad at a competition at Sherwood. Stayton participates in a competition March 1 at Sprague that Meier called “ our toughest competition this far of our season.”
“We are looking strong, and are ready for the challenge,” Meier said. “We are the highest scoring team in the state right now, and will continue to work hard and make that final push into state.”
Crystal Kibby: The Oregon State senior swimmer from Cascade High School won the 200 breaststroke (2:20.61) and took fourth in both the 400 IM and 1,000 free in a dual meet loss at Boise State in the last tuneup for the Beavers before the conference meet. Kbby and the Beavers participated in the Pac-12 championships at Federal Way, Wash., from Feb. 26 through March 1.
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