Photo By: Diana Cox
Colton's Clayton Burtis won his first state wrestling title at the OSAA State Championships Feb. 25-28 in the 189-pound weight class when he defeated No. 2 seeded Ricky Balentine of Waldport by a 6-5 decision.
Burtis took down each opponent by fall until he reached Balentine in the finals.
Against Alex Chase of Gold Beach in the semi-finals Burtis got the pin a mere 38 seconds into the match.
"It was a good tournament for him all the way across the board," said head coach Kerry Benthin. "Balentine was tough. We had not seen him at all during the season, so we weren't really sure how it would turn out but Clayton wrestled real solid."
Five of the seven Vikings wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament found spots on the 3A podium at the end of the event.
Ben Norgren was the fifth place finisher in the 103-pound weight class after pinning Glide's Tyler Jenks at 1:04. Jenks lost to Norgren by fall at 1:16 in round one of the tournament as well.
"He has really come a long way. His skills have improved dramatically in the last year," Benthin said.
Kyle Seifert, who began wrestling last year after not hitting the mats since sixth grade, brought home a six place finish for the Vikings. The 152-pound junior lost by fall at 3:24 to Riverside's Briton Hansen.
"Kyle placed in all but one tournament this year. To be district champion and place at state in only your second year is very outstanding," Benthin said. "We are looking forward to big things from him next year."
Alex Greer found a spot on the 3A podium in third place for the second year in a row when he beat Grant Union's Zach Stegman by a 13-1 major decision.
"The hardest place to take is third. After losing in semis their dreams are crushed and it is hard to get it together enough to wrestle another match," Benthin said. "But he came back and wrestled solid all day. We got in his ear that we needed it as a team and he stepped up and did it. There are a lot of kids out there that wouldn't do that their senior year so we are really proud of him."
Greer was taken out of the running for a title by Clatskanie's Brad White in an 8-5 decision in the semi-finals.
A week ago Greer beat White for the district title by a technical fall 16-1 in round two.
Blake Greer improved on his 2009 sixth place finish, coming in second to George Swartzlender of Burns by a 5-2 decision in the 285-pound weight class.
Swartzlender, who won the state title in the 215-pound weight class last year while wrestling for Lakeview High School, was undefeated this season. The only matches he did not win by fall were the ones against Colton's senior heavyweight.
"The final was an outstanding match. Making it that close against a kid like George who has been beating 5A and 6A kids all year long was outstanding," Benthin said.
Greer advanced to the finals after defeating defending state champion Travis Hickman of Nyssa by fall at 4:47 in the semi-finals.
Brennan Olsen was sent to the 112-pound consolation rounds by Willamina's Josh Perry during round, losing by fall at 3:21. Olsen was then knocked out of the consolation rounds by Tanner Briley of Jefferson by fall at 1:58 and did not place.
"He has had two knee surgeries in one year, so being able to come back and wrestle at state is pretty respectable," Benthin said. "We are looking for him to do well next year."
Like Olsen Forrest Ham lost his chance at a state title to a Willamina wrestler. Ham was pinned by B.J. Wilson at 1:05 in round one of the tournament in the 145-pound weight class.
In the consolation rounds Ham won by a 9-0 major decision over Nyssa's Alejandro Conchas but then lost to Kole Freeman of Reedsport in a 14-12 decision in overtime to miss a state finish.
"The important thing is that he won matches, some guys come to the state tournament and lose two matches and are done," Benthin said. "He scored points for the team and there is nothing to be ashamed of in that."
The Vikings also brought home a fourth place team trophy, their third in six years. Prior to a fourth place finish in 2004 Colton High School had not seen a state wrestling trophy since 1969.
"These kids all did their part and wrestled well across the board," Benthin said.