Sickness takes its toll on O'Brien

After a strong league finish, junior Josh O'Brien (138 pounds) was hoping to finish in the top five at the state tournament which was held at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, February 24-25.

Josh had to battle top wrestlers while weak and very sick. O'Brien wrestled No. 1 seed, Cole Hannan of Brookings Harbor in his first match on Friday. He made it three rounds but it took its toll, and Josh lost by a technical fall in a final score of 16-1.

"Josh was so sick and he couldn't breathe and he could barely move," said Coach Gene O'Brien. "If he would have been 100-percent I believe he would have won the match."

O'Brien dropped to the consolation bracket and went up against Spencer Bradford from Estacada. Josh lost the match in a 5-4 decision. With 30 seconds left, Josh got trapped and wasn't able to escape.

Coach O'Brien said, "Josh got sick Wednesday and we left on Thursday. By Friday morning he was at his worst and I knew it just wasn't going to work. It's too bad he had to get sick now. It was his chance to shine, and it didn't happen."