The Dufur Rangers had four top-10 finishes, headed by Andrew Richman, who led the way with a fourth in keyhole and added a pair of ninth-place outcomes in pole bending and individual flags at the second OHSET meet of the season, held on March 15-17 at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte.
For a decade, Paul Beasley and his assistant coaches have wanted to build The Dalles High School wrestling back to its successful past. This past year, the varsity program achieved several goals, which included winning a dual meet, getting a top-10 finish in a tournament, and sending four wrestlers to the OSAA State Tournament, all things that have not happened in the past 10 years.
The Dalles wrestling head coach Paul Beasley was emotionally spent following two days of district action this weekend in Pendleton.
There were tears of joy, consoling hugs to athletes that were unable to qualify for state and there was a feeling of pride that the program is headed in the right direction.
Last week, The Dalles wrestlers were road warriors with league duals at Ridgeview and Hood River, and Saturday at the White Buffalo Invitational in Madras, the team had a season-high eight placers, led by seniors Andrew Richman and JR Scott, who won a combined five matches, four by pinfall, to take top honors in their respective weight classes.
Last week, The Dalles wrestlers were road warriors with league duals at Ridgeview and Hood River, and Saturday at the White Buffalo Invitational in Madras, the team had a season-high eight placers, led by seniors Andrew Richman and JR Scott, who won a combined five matches, four by pinfall, to take top honors in their respective weight classes.
JR Scott took home first place, Andrew Richman and Mauricio Carrera each tallied runner-up finishes, and Steven Preston claimed fifth place to lead The Dalles wrestling team to 92.5 points and seventh place overall at the 10-team Tigard Invitational Saturday. For Richman, it was his first finals appearance in his four-year career and Carrera’s first title berth in three campaigns. “I am so proud,” TD coach Paul Beasley said.
The Dalles equestrian team competed in the first of three District Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET) meets Feb. 16-18 in Redmond and posted 14 top-10 finishes. Some of those top performances were highlighted by first-place honors by the freestyle fours drill team of Tate Howell, Summer Kendall, Jaeden Biehn and McKenzie Shaw.
JR Scott endured his share of physical challenges through the wrestling season, as lingering sickness nearly derailed his state-championship hopes. As time has gone on, however, Scott is rounding into form, entering Special District 4 Wrestling Tournament in Redmond with a streak seven wins in his last eight matches.
HOOD RIVER – When looking at the 182-pound mindscape, The Dalles junior JR Scott figures to be one of the main threats to the competition. Scott moved his overall record to 18-3 on the year, as he won all three of his matches for championship recognition at the Hood River Elks Invitational Saturday.
Hitting double digits over the past two tournaments, The Dalles wrestling squad reeled off 23 victories, 18 by pinfall, and the trio of Andrew Richman, Glenn Breckterfield and Michael Parrish picked up top-5 outcomes at the two-day Don York Invitational Tournament ending Saturday at Cleveland High School in Portland.
