Taft High’s William Calderon proved Saturday he’s slightly ahead of his time.
The 138-pound sophomore rookie wrestler joined senior veteran bronze medalist Cody Knott by placing sixth in a triple-overtime thriller to mark the first time in school history that more than one Tiger commandeered the podium at the OSAA State Wrestling Championships.
“Amazing for a first-year sophomore,” Taft coach Robb Ellis said.
The third-seeded Knott led a record contingent Ellis referred to as the “Fab Five” into today’s final matches by clinching sixth place at 160 pounds Friday. He then finished third by winning two of his three matches at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Calderon captured a tiebreaker over Jacob Huse of Douglas to lead the way for the “Tough Two” early in Saturday’s Class 3A competition, then lost by fall at 2:53 to Wyatt Epling of Burns.
Commemorative OSAA State Wrestling Program
Knott, who finished the season 26-3, lost his early semifinal match 9-5 to second-seeded Pleasant Hill sophomore Asher Ruchti to drop into the consolation bracket, but downed Clatskanie’s Trent Bernsten with a pin at 3:46 and William Johnson of Burns by technical fall, 17-2.
“Cody finished his stellar career living up to his third seed by getting third place and dominating his last opponent,” Ellis said.
Above, senior Cody Knott’s final match as a Taft wrestler
Three other Taft wrestlers – seniors Gio Salazar at 126, DeVon Lindquist at 145 and David Jin at 170 — were defeated earlier Saturday in their podium-seeking matches.
“David fought a tough match in the last match of his career against one of the top-ranked kids in his bracket who placed third at State last year, and Gio and DeVon left it all on the mat,” Ellis said.
Taft, which took a school-record “State Eight” wrestlers to the tournament — three more than the previous mark — placed 16th overall behind team champion La Pine. Three fellow Class 3A Special District 1 members — defending State champion Willamina/Falls City (fourth), Dayton (fifth) and Rainier (ninth) — all placed in the top 10.
“Now it’s time to get some rest before getting back to some offseason training soon so we bring more wrestlers to State next year,” Ellis said.
126
- Champ. Round 1 – Giovanni Salazar (Taft) 8-17 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Chance Hendrickson (Harrisburg) 38-4 won by fall over Giovanni Salazar (Taft) 8-17 (Fall 3:02)
- Cons. Round 2 – Giovanni Salazar (Taft) 8-17 won by decision over Kaiden Abell (Dayton) 12-19 (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Round 3 – Logen Matthews (La Pine) 24-18 won by fall over Giovanni Salazar (Taft) 8-17 (Fall 1:33)
138
Riley Ellis (14-16) scored no team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Bryce Olsen (Sutherlin) 28-8 won by decision over Riley Ellis (Taft) 14-16 (Dec 8-2)
- Cons. Round 1 – Riley Ellis (Taft) 14-16 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – William Calderon (Taft) 17-20 won by major decision over Riley Ellis (Taft) 14-16 (MD 11-1)
138
William Calderon (17-20) placed sixth and scored nine team points.
- William Calderon (17-21) placed sixth and scored nine team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – William Calderon (Taft) 17-21 won by major decision over Santiago Miranda (Nyssa) 12-23 (MD 14-5)
- Quarterfinal – Jacob Mask (Scio) 32-0 won by fall over William Calderon (Taft) 17-21 (Fall 1:12)
- Cons. Round 2 – William Calderon (Taft) 17-21 won by major decision over Riley Ellis (Taft) 14-16 (MD 11-1)
- Cons. Round 3 – William Calderon (Taft) 17-21 won in tie breaker – 1 over Jacob Huse (Douglas) 27-17 (TB-1 10-8)
- Cons. Semi – Wyatt Epling (Burns) 36-8 won by fall over William Calderon (Taft) 17-21 (Fall 2:53)
145
DeVon Lindquist (22-12) scored one team point.
- Champ. Round 1 – Devon Lindquist (Taft) 22-12 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Anthony Moulton (Burns) 17-16 won by tech fall over Devon Lindquist (Taft) 22-12 (TF-1.5 5:42 (20-5))
- Cons. Round 2 – Devon Lindquist (Taft) 22-12 won by decision over Landon McDowell (Nyssa) 19-12 (Dec 7-1)
- Cons. Round 3 – Kaleb Reid (Willamina/Falls City) 31-11 won by fall over Devon Lindquist (Taft) 22-12 (Fall 4:32)
160
- Cody Knott (26-3) placed third and scored 18.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Cody Knott (Taft) 26-3 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Cody Knott (Taft) 26-3 won by major decision over William Johnson (Burns) 24-7 (MD 15-1)
- Semifinal – Asher Ruchti (Pleasant Hill) 5-0 won by decision over Cody Knott (Taft) 26-3 (Dec 9-5)
- Cons. Semi – Cody Knott (Taft) 26-3 won by fall over Trent Bernsten (Clatskanie) 8-7 (Fall 3:46)
- 3rd Place Match – Cody Knott (Taft) 26-3 won by tech fall over William Johnson (Burns) 24-7 (TF-1.5 5:10 (17-2))
170
David Jin (21-13) scored four team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Trentyn Tennant (La Pine) 37-5 won by major decision over David Jin (Taft) 21-13 (MD 13-2)
- Cons. Round 1 – David Jin (Taft) 21-13 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – David Jin (Taft) 21-13 won by fall over Logan Wilson (Willamina/Falls City) 11-21 (Fall 3:41)
- Cons. Round 3 – Alex Miranda-Walls (Irrigon) 41-3 won by major decision over David Jin (Taft) 21-13 (MD 11-1)
195
Eriq Aquino (7-8) scored no team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Eriq Aquino (Taft) 7-8 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Leithan Briggs (Harrisburg) 39-5 won by fall over Eriq Aquino (Taft) 7-8 (Fall 1:11)
- Cons. Round 2 – Russel Brown (Amity) 13-11 won by fall over Eriq Aquino (Taft) 7-8 (Fall 1:18)
220
Jace Phippen (16-15) scored no team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Jace Phippen (Taft) 16-15 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Riley Zimmerman (Scio) 19-10 won by decision over Jace Phippen (Taft) 16-15 (Dec 9-2)
- Cons. Round 2 – David Bowlin (Dayton) 24-18 won by fall over Jace Phippen (Taft) 16-15 (Fall 4:37)
|
|---|
