Tiger boys wrestling placed first out of 17 teams at the Class 3A Bill Hagerty Invitational tournament Dec. 21 in Nestucca while the Tiger girls showed teeth at their tournament in Hillsboro.
The most successful season in school history aside, Taft High wrestling coach Robb Ellis took away much more Saturday from the thrill of watching his kids battle for glitzy medals and glowing accolades.
The 138-pound sophomore joined senior Cody Knott by placing at least sixth in a three-overtime thriller to mark the first time in school history that more than one Tiger will take the podium at the OSAA State Wrestling Championships.
Third-seeded Taft High senior Cody Knott advanced with a bye, then defeated Burns junior William Johnson 15-1 Friday at the Class 3A OSAA State Wrestling Championships in Portland.
Taft High qualified a school-record eight wrestlers Saturday to next week's OSAA Class 3A State Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Saying they were “getting our win on at Districts,” Taft High stood in second place Friday night following the first day of action in the Class 3A Special District 1 Wrestling Championships at Warrenton.
Robb Ellis spent last year learning the ropes as a first-time head wrestling coach. This season, he’s trying to lead his team to a school record for success and satisfy some lofty expectations.
Taft High prepped for its bid to challenge for Special District 1 supremacy and goal of qualifying a school-record six wrestlers for the Class 3A State championships Thursday in its final home match of the season.
