Strong Outlaws wrestling squad gets busy in the New Year

The boys and girls wrestling teams have seen a lot of competition already in 2025 after hosting a home tournament in late December. The action doesn't let up any time soon, as the squad moves into the heart of the season.

Wrestling on their home turf, the Outlaws turned in strong performances on Saturday, December 21.

Photo provided

Zack Kemp lifts his hand in victory on the way to first place at the Outlaws' home wrestling tournament last month.

Freshman Zack Kemp won the 126-pound weight class under the lights at home.

"Zack stepped up huge at our home tournament," said his coach and father Dave Kemp. "Getting two first round pins and making his first finals was a fine accomplishment for him."

In the finals Kemp was up 16-0, earning a technical fall, then continued to get the pin.

Perhaps the most telling statistic underlying his strong performance was that Kemp was not scored on throughout the entire tournament.

"That's rare," said Coach Kemp.

Zack's older brother Tyson made the finals in the 150-pound class as did Jace Owens at 165. Brennan Frutos wrestled well and placed third, according to Kemp.

The girls team continued their strong performances finishing just two points out of winning the team title.

Tallis Grummer, a senior in her first year in the sport, won four straight matches to win her weight class.

Two freshman girls, Tanner Gibney and Sofia Clark, along with senior Brooklyn Cooper, all took second place in their respective weight classes.

At the Pac Coast tournament in Ridgeview, Washington, on December 27–28, five girls placed in the top six, led by Gibney, who took third at 100 pounds.

"Tanner had an incredible performance," said Coach Kemp. "After losing her opening match to the eventual champion she pinned her next five opponents in a row."

Brooklyn Cooper took fourth place at 125 pounds and Kisten Elbek matched her at 155 pounds. Sierra Jaschke placed sixth at 190.

With 44 girls teams in the tournament - Sisters placed 13th - it was by far the biggest event the girls have been part of in school history. Sisters did not have any boys place in the top eight, but Coach Kemp said that the trip was well worth it.

"This was an amazing opportunity for the girls and boys to go up against competition from all classifications from both Washington and Oregon," said Coach Kemp.

The girls team traveled to Madras on January 2 to start 2025 at the 12-team Lady White Buffalo Invitational, placing fifth.

Sierra Jaschke won both of her matches on her way to first place, while Gibney and Cooper placed second in their respective weight classes. Elbek worked her way through the consolation round that included six total matches on her way to third place.

On Saturday, January 4, the boys competed at the King of the Hill Invitational at Pleasant Hill High School with 25 other teams from throughout the state.

Zack Kemp continued his impressive freshman season with a second-place finish in the 126-pound class, falling to Trayton Forbes of Marshfield in the final. To get to the final Kemp beat Tyler Wingfield of Junction City, Braedon Crawford of 5A Willamette, and Victor Olivera-Ruiz of 5A North Eugene.

"Zack was not intimidated by his opponents despite them being from larger schools," said Coach Kemp.

In the 132-pound competition, senior Carter Van Meter placed fourth in what Coach Kemp described as a "super tough" bracket. Junior Tyson Kemp placed fourth after having to forfeit the third-place match due to injury.

The Outlaws finished mid-pack in the team race in 13th place, with 64.5 points. Lowell High School, perennial power, won the team trophy with 215 points.

Next on tap is the Oregon Wrestling Classic January 16–18 at Deschutes County Fairgrounds, which is the largest wrestling event in the state featuring nearly 90 teams from throughout Oregon in all classifications.