PORTLAND — It’s been 25 years since Pendleton last had a state wrestling champion. This year, the Bucks added two more names to the champions’ wall at Warberg Court.

Seniors Vance Nelson and Aidan Perkins joined a very elite group after winning titles at the 4A state championships Friday at Veterans Memorial  Coliseum.

“It was amazing,” Pendleton coach Trevor Hancock said. “They have both been in that spot before and lost. This was special. Vance and Aidan had a good week. They were everything they needed to be.”

The last Pendleton champions before Friday were Dylan Holcomb at 119 pounds and Roman Holcolmb at 112 in 2011.

The Bucks, who took 18 wrestlers to state, had 17 men earn team points and 10 place to finish second in the team standings. 

Sweet Home won the 4A team title with 283 points. Pendleton was second with 202, while rival La Grande was third with 197.

“It took all 17 kids and all 10 placers,” Hancock said. “It was fun to get them (La Grande) in the end. The seniors were sent out the right way. They earned what they got.”

The Bucks have never won a state title, but have been second three times before this season — 2012, 2005 and 1982.

Nelson, who was second at 150 pounds last year, ran the table at 175 pounds this week, ending with a 16-0 technical fall over Luke Rosa of Sweet Home in the championship match.

Nelson, who won both of his matches Thursday, opened action Friday with an 11-0 major decision over Griffin Copple of Cascade in the semifinals.

Over the course of four matches, Nelson had two pins, a major decision and a technical fall. He outscored his opponents 40-0. He finished the season with a 46-4 record.

At 190, Perkins finished his season with a pin of Seaside’s Carlos Silva-Villa in 1:39 in the championship match for his first state title.

Perkins, who was 39-5 on the year, defeated Charlie Becker of  Gladstone 5-4 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. 

Kainen Zimmerman (43-11) posted an 11-5 decision over Kyle Zajic of Sweet Home in the 165-pound semifinals to reach the championship match, but a gold medal was out of reach.

Cascade’s Hans Kamm posted a 23-3 technical fall over Zimmerman in the championship match.

Cole Roy, who finished his senior season with just five losses, was second at 150 pounds. Roy advanced to the finals with a 13-8 decision over Estacada’s Logan Riga in the semifinals.

In the championship match, Roy lost a 5-0 decision to Riley Barrett of Philomath, a three-time state champion, who finished the season at 26-0.

“Cole had a great tournament,” Hancock said. “I’m super proud of Kainen and Cole.”

Aiden Cox (120), who was one of six Bucks to reach the semifinals, lost his match Friday afternoon, getting pinned by Riley Vaughn of Sweet Home in 1:54. Cox rallied back in the consolation rounds to finish fifth. He won his placing match with a 7-2 decision over Kallen Blakely of La Grande.

Kaleb Lillie, who was pinned in his semifinals match by Skylar Folau of Marshfield in 57 seconds, came back to finish fourth. He was pinned in the third-place match by Gabriel Nunn of Molalla in 1:37.

Wesley Brown finished fourth at 106 for the Bucks, winning three consolation matches before falling in the third-place match 5-2 to Rhoan Rambo of Hidden Valley.

At 113 pounds, Hank Roy reached the consolation semifinals before dropping a match to Braiden Grochowsky of Estacada. Roy won the fifth-place match with a 7-4 decision over Emmett Oliver of Madras.

Adam Urbina, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, finished his senior year with a sixth-place finish at 157. He lost the fifth-place match 15-8  to Jake Kenton of Molalla.

Tugg McQuinn was also sixth for the Bucks. After winning three consolation matches, McQuinn lost in the consolation semifinals, then was pinned by Tyler Kenton of Molalla in 1:56 in the fifth-place match.

4A/3A/2A/1A girls

Pendleton freshman Harlee James had a successful first trip to the state tournament, placing third at 190 pounds.

James earned her way to the semifinals, where she was pinned by La Grande’s Madison Armstrong in 1:46.

James won her consolation semifinal match, pinning Hannah Travis of Central Linn in 4:39.

In the third-place match, James posted a 9-4 decision over Paige Baker of Willamina.

“She had a good tournament,” Pendleton coach Trevor Hancock said. “She wrestled well and came through when she needed to. It was a tough weight.”