PORTLAND — Pendleton wrestling coach Trevor Hancock knew he had a special team this season.
The Bucks sent 18 wrestlers to the 4A state tournament that started Thursday at Veteran Memorial Coliseum. After the first day of action, 17 had earned points for the team, six reached the semifinals, and four were battling in the consolation bracket and can finish no worse than sixth.
“It has been a fun day,” Hancock said. “We wrestled really well today. I’m super proud of the way the team performed today.”
Sweet Home has a commanding lead in the field of 28 teams after the first day with 161 points. Pendleton is second with 129.5, with La Grande third at 115.5.
The Bucks have never won a state title, but have been second three times — 2012, 2005 and 1982.
Advancing to the semifinals are Aiden Cox at 120 pounds, Cole Roy (150), Kainen Zimmerman (165), Vance Nelson (175), Aidan Perkins (190) and Kaleb Lillie (285).
Cox, the No. 4 seed, opened the tournament with a 1:22 pin of Eden Axmaker of Molalla, and beat La Grande’s Kallen Blakely 8-3 in the quarterfinals.
Cox will meet No. 1 seed Riley Vaughn of Sweet Home in the semifinals.
Roy, the No. 2 seed at 150, zipped through his first match, pinning Malachi Richman of Hidden Valley in 19 seconds, then earned a 6-1 decision over James Hearick of Sweet Home in the quarterfinals.
In the semis, Roy will wrestle No. 3 seed Logan Riga of Estacada.
At 165, Zimmerman won both matches by technical fall, starting with an 18-3 win over Coleton Kuhn of Scappoose, and finishing with a 21-6 victory over Martin Chelstad of Sweet Home.
Zimmerman, the No. 2 seed, will take on Kyle Zajic of Sweet Home in the semifinals.
Nelson, the top seed at 175, put in less than 2 minutes’ worth of work at 175 pounds. He pinned Teegan Tice of Marshfield in 38 seconds, then needed just 1:16 to pin Zeek Gosnell of Sweet Home in the quarterfinals.
Nelson will take on Griffin Couple of Cascade in the semifinals.
No. 2 seed Perkins mowed over his opponents in the 190-pound bracket, starting with a 17-0 technical fall over Giovani Cruz of Tillamook. He pinned Preston Taylor of La Grand in the quarterfinals in 1:11.
Perkins will face No. 3 Charlie Becker of Gladstone in the semifinals.
Kaleb Lillie was a pleasant surprise at 285. Limited in matches because of a late start because of a foot injury in football, Lillie won his first match by a 13-6 decision over Elijah Sandoval of Cascade, then won by medical forfeit over No. 2 seed Adrian Balli of Astoria.
He will wrestle Skylar Folau of Marshfield in the semifinals.
“They had great days,” Hancock said. “They all wrestled really well. That comes with experience. This is their last go-round at it and they want to make it count.”
Still alive in the consolation bracket are Wes Browning, Hank Roy, Adam Urbina and Tugg McQuinn.
Browning opened the day with an 18-2 technical fall over Cylas Hevern of Estacada at 106 pounds. He lost his quarterfinal match 6-3 in overtime, but bounced back with two consolation wins.
Browning pinned Shawn Perez of North Bend in 33 seconds, then earned a 6-0 decision over Michael Hoye of Cottage Grove to live to play another day.
At 113 pounds, Hank Roy won his opening match by fall over Colton Riesterer of Cascade in 1:43, but lost his quarterfinal match 15-9 to Henry Rollins of Seaside.
In the consolation side of the bracket, Roy pinned Kamden Svedin of La Grande in 1:59, then took care of Weston Miles of Phoenix in 4:46.
“Hank, went to his back early in the match and was down 7-0,” Hancock said of the quarterfinal match. “He got it within six. He had to take a risk at the end and didn’t come out his way.”
Adam Urbina, who had limited matches before state because of a shoulder injury, opened action at 157 pounds with a pin of John Willett of North Bend in 2:55. After losing his quarterfinal match, Urbina pinned both of his consolation round opponents — Gavin Baker of Sweet Home in 2:11, and Kash Davidson of Marshfield in 1:54.
“I’m so proud of what he has been able to accomplish this year,” Hancock said of Urbina. “He couldn’t wrestle last year because of his shoulder. We worked him in slowly this year. To see him place is great.”
McQuinn had to work his tail off to stay alive for Friday. He lost his first match of the day 23-12 to Tyler Kenton of Molalla, then steamrolled his consolation opponents.
He started with a 17-1 win over Wylie Robinson of Marshfield, then pinned Martin Chelstad of Sweet Home in 2:50, and finished with a pin of Psylis McNutt of St. Helens in 4:32.
4A/3A/2A/1A Girls
Pendleton sent a contingent of five to state, and Harlee James is still alive in the semifinals.
James, wrestling at 190 pounds, won her first-round match with a 4:41 pin of Kaylee Stockman of Rogue River. James earned a 4-0 decision over Ciela Garcia of Scappoose to reach the semifinals.
James will wrestle No. 2 seed Madison Armstrong of La Grande in the semifinals.
At 155 pounds, Thiri Dahl went 1-2 on the day, losing her first match, but bouncing back with an 11-3 decision over Emelyn Aguayo of Nyssa in the consolation round. Thiri lost her final match to Opal Taylor of North Valley 7-3.
Gabby Kennedy received a bye in the first round at 235, then got pinned in her quarterfinal match by Vivoanna Scott of St. Helens in 3:08. Kennedy won her next match by fall over Cinthia Madrigal of Irrigon in 2:29, but lost her final match to finish 1-2.
Also for the Bucks, Hazel Case (130) and Madison Chase (170) went 0-2 in their matches.
