Wrestlers gaining momentum

As the wrestling team enters the core of its season, the squad is filling out the weight classifications, and individuals are gaining valuable experience. They put that experience on display at the King of the Hill Invitational hosted by Pleasant Hill High School January 5-6.

Jozua Miller emerged from the meet with the high place for the Outlaws in the 285 pound class. He recorded three straight wins before falling in the championship match. He beat Overton Silk-Clarence of North Eugene in round one (Fall 1:38), took just 25 seconds to pin Luke Ward of North Douglas in round two and earned a spot in the title match by taking down Vincent Huckins of Willamette (Fall 1:10).

David Finch of Lowell got the best of Miller in the first-place match with a fall at 1:27.

Carter Van Meter and Tyson Kemp each placed third in their respective weight classes.

In the 126-pound class, Van Meter topped Koa Duerst of South Eugene (fall 1:11) and Lane Hill of Camas Valley (fall 1:28) before losing to Harley Hardison of Lowell (fall 1:18). He came back in the consolation round to beat Connor Perez of North Bend (Fall 1:31) and then dispatched Hill for the second time (fall 1:58) to snag third place and improve his record to 21-7.

Kemp (144 pounds) had an equally busy weekend losing only once when David Ode of Camas Valley beat him in the quarterfinal with a 5-2 decision. He worked his way through the consolation round with four matches, the first of which was against his own teammate Jake Beutler who he beat by fall (2:25). He then took down Freeman Pearson of North Eugene (Fall 2:07), and Colton Stephens of Willamette (Fall 0:27) which earned him a rematch with Ode. Kemp got his revenge with a 16-9 decision for third place.

Jace Owens went 4-2 to take fifth place in the 165-pound division. After losing to Jamen Love of Springfield in the opening rounds, he picked up three straight wins including two pins and a sudden victory before dropping a match against Coen Egner of Oakland (Fall 1:42). He bounced back with a hard fought pin against Ryan Pelroy of Lowell (fall 3:03).

Lex Jeffrey, 120 pounds, also placed fifth for the team, finishing off a 4-2 weekend with a 16-11 decision in the final match over Victor Olivera-Ruiz.

Jake Beutler added three wins to his record with falls over Summer Yin of South Eugene, Blake Bender of Pleasant Hill, and Bradley Sharp of North Eugene.

Brooklyn Cooper took on the boys in the 132-pound class and picked up a win over Damian Jaszay of North Bend (Fall 4:47) and lost a pair to Erik Meske of Oakridge and Trevin Truesdell of Monroe.

Junior varsity wrestlers Brennan Frutos, Jackson Spor, Chris Roach and Jude Howland also competed in the tournament.

The Outlaws placed eighth among 17 teams with 103.5 points. Lowell won the tournament with 152.

The Outlaws are scheduled to compete next at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, one of the biggest tournaments in Oregon at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds January 12-13.