Woodburn Independent Online

Cougars split duals at league three-way

Gervais wrestling team defeats Clatskanie, falls to Colton

• By: Garrett Rudolph  
• Published: 2/2/2010 2:56:35 PM

Photo By: Garrett RudolphEdgar Rojas earned a win by pinfall on Thursday against Colton — the only Gervais wrestler to win his match in the dual.

COLTON — Clayton Burtis showed why he’s the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state at the 189-pound weight class at the 3A classification.
 
The Colton senior pinned Gervais sophomore Mac Martin in just 13 seconds to help lead the Vikings to a 42-18 dual win on Thursday at Colton High School.
 
Last year, Burtis placed second in the state at 171 pounds, and is one of the top contenders for a state title this season for No. 5 Colton.
 
Gervais coach Gil Miller said Burtis is a great wrestler, but he was surprised to see Martin pinned so quickly, because of work ethic.
 
“(Martin) is probably the one who works the hardest out of (everybody on the Gervais team),” said Miller. “He never stops.”
 
Martin scored a second-round pinfall in his first match of the evening, as the Cougars defeated Clatskanie, 30-24, at the three-team meet. Gervais’ win over Clatskanie was aided by several forfeits.
 
Edgar Rojas earned the Cougars’ lone win against Colton, not including forfeits at 145 and 171. Rojas pinned Colton’s Austin Langlaois in the 160-pound match.
Also earning a win on the mat for Gervais was sophomore Sam Martin, who defeated Colton’s Cody Bremer by first-round pinfall in an exhibition match.
 
“We’re still young, as far as maturity of the wrestling goes,” said Miller. “But my boys work hard all the time. I just like to see them go out and work hard. … They know how to work hard, they just need to get more experience on the mat.”
 
Gervais has been plagued with dwindling numbers this season, due to injuries, illness, and athletes quitting. The team began the season with about 30 wrestlers, but has dropped to about half that in recent weeks.
 
Miller said the team’s goal is to get healthy and prepared for the district meet, which will be held Feb. 19 and 20.
 
“I didn’t expect to come in here and win very many matches — Colton has some good wrestlers,” he said, “but I did expect us to compete a little better than we did.”
 
Miller said a big key for the future of the program is developing a youth club, which he plans to do next year.
 
“Back when I was in high school, we were tough,” he said. “We were like the best in the Valley and in our district every year and that was because we had a kids club sending us kids every year.”

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