Woodburn Independent Online

Huskies earn first-ever trophy at state tournament

North Marion takes third behind six state placers, two champs

• By: Alex Tam 
• Published: 3/2/2010 1:01:39 PM
• Last Updated: 3/2/2010 1:09:26 PM

Photo By: Alex TamState
North Marion wrestlers (from left, in front) Cody Randall, Sarafin Sanchez, Lucas Randall, Jake Stigall and Fortino Sanchez accept the third-place state trophy at the OSAA Class 4A state wrestling championships Feb. 27 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Coach Mike Robinson and Michael Torres (background) also look on. Both Randalls won state championships.

PORTLAND — Smiles beamed and for one weekend, North Marion was considered among one of the state’s elite wrestling programs.
 
Behind two state champions, one finalist and two third-placers, the Huskies took  third place at the OSAA Class 4A state wrestling championships Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum.
 
It capped a historic year with six tournament victories, a school-record nine state-qualifiers with five district champions and the first state trophy in school history.
 
North Marion coach Mike Robinson knew his team was good enough for a trophy before the season started.
 
“We were just going for fourth, so to get third — that’s a little icing on the top there,” Robinson said. “So I’m really proud of them and I’m sure they’re all going to remember this forever.”
 
Freshman Lucas Randall won his first state title at 125 pounds, and his older brother, senior Cody Randall, became a three-time state champion after winning it at 145.
 
The Huskies had a chance for three state champions, but sophomore Jake Stigall gave a valiant effort before falling to La Grande senior Dylan McCallum by 7-5 decision in the 112-pound finals.
 
“I tried my hardest and I thought some things should’ve been called that weren’t,” Stigall said. “But I shouldn’t have left it so close where I left it in the refs’ hands. I just have to work harder next year.”
 
Stigall led 2-0 with the first takedown in the first round. McCallum tied it up with two escapes, then scored a takedown with 1 minute, 10 seconds to go in the second for a 4-2 lead.
 
Stigall rallied to tie it, 4-4, after a stall call and an escape to begin the third. McCallum took the lead back when Stigall was whistled for his third caution and was taken down with 1:37 left. Stigall closed to within 7-5 off another stall call but did not have enough in the end.
 
“He got ahead and then just held on for the rest of the match,” Stigall said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it now. ... I’m happy that I did better than last year but I’m disappointed I couldn’t take first.”
 
Stigall had an impressive tournament, reaching the finals after beating Sweet Home senior Mitch Grove, the No. 3 seed, by 14-9 decision in overtime in the semifinals. He also defeated Illinois Valley sophomore Jesse Orndorff by 6-5 decision in the quarterfinals, and beat Tillamook sophomore Jed Coon in the first round by fall in 1:21.
 
“He has nothing to be ashamed of,” Robinson said.
 
Junior Tyler Stigall finished third at 130 pounds after winning by forfeit over Douglas senior Trinity Castner. Stigall reached the third-place match after beating Scappoose senior Jordan Smith by 9-3 decision in the consolation semifinals.
 
He fell in the championship semifinals to Taft junior David Converse by a 9-5 decision, despite leading 3-0 early on.
 
“I am disappointed but there’s nothing I could do about it now,” Stigall said. “I had one bad match, but I came back and I wrestled better after my loss so I’m kind of proud that I have third.”
 
Senior Michael Torres placed third at 285 pounds, beating Stayton senior Alan Nix by fall in 36 seconds in a rematch of the Capital Conference district finals.
 
Torres lost his championship first-round match to Scappoose senior Andrew Jones by fall in 5:02 but finished the tournament with six straight wins — all by fall.
 
Torres said he tried a new wrestling style to begin the tournament, but once he lost to Jones, he went back to his old ways.
 
“I decided to go for shots and it worked out OK,” Torres said. “It worked out better than I thought it would besides me losing. … As soon as I lost that match, I decided to go back to my old style.”
 
Senior Fortino Sanchez also placed for the Huskies, taking seventh at 135 pounds after beating Tillamook senior Dillon Schieno by fall in 5:49.
 
Other state-qualifiers for North Marion were junior Sarafin Sanchez (112), sophomore Nick Kamis (130) and sophomore Gary Card (215).
 
Robinson said he hopes the recent success that included a league championship last season is the start of something special.
 
“We had people come out and see what it’s like and they wanted to try it,” he said. “So I think it’ll boost the interest here at North Marion and we said last year at the awards that we were trying to build a dynasty, and it’s working out well so far.”

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