Sisters youth shine on the wrestling mat

Ryan Haney, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Sisters Middle School, has been wrestling since he was seven years old.

Haney wrestled for Gene O’Brien through SOAR for 2-1/2 years and then joined the Central Oregon Stud Club (COSC), an elite wrestling club in Bend.

Haney loves the sport.

“I think it’s a beautiful sport,” said Ryan. “It’s very fun but it’s a lot of work and you have to be dedicated.”

Haney competes in all three styles of wrestling:

Collegiate, style of wrestling at junior high, high school and college levels; International Freestyle; and International Roman Greco.

Jim Haney, Ryan’s father, said, “The only real difference between the styles of wrestling is how the points are scored.”

Ryan just finished competition at the Oregon State Collegiate Kids Championships which were held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Haney finished third in the 75-pound novice division. In his final match Haney defeated Morgan Walter of Crater by a 7-0 decision. Haney only lost one of his six matches at the championships. The 8-7 loss was to last year’s state champion, Ian Thomas of Roseburg.

“Ryan has only wrestled him (Thomas) twice and he’s lost both matches,” said Jim Haney. “But both were very good matches and very close.”

Several big events are still ahead for Ryan. He will compete Sunday, February 26, at the Northwest Collegiate Championships at Westview High School in Beaverton. On Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26, the Stud Club will host the Western Regional Collegiate Championships at Summit High School in Bend and on March 31-April 2 Ryan will travel to Reno and compete in the Cliff Keen Reno World Championships.

Reno is the event Haney is most looking forward to.

“I think I should be able to place at least third at the World Championships because I’ve been close to beating Ian Thomas two times and he got fourth place last year at Reno. I really think I’m a better wrestler and I know I can beat him,” said Haney.