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Nyssa wrestlers sweep district tournament

Jonathan Lopez controls a foe on the mats at the district tourney, held last weekend in Burns. (Submitted photo)

BURNS – Malheur County wrestlers traveled to the 3A Special District 4 tournament in Burns last weekend, where the Nyssa Bulldogs notched an impressive first place-finish in Class 3A.

Nyssa scored 354.5 team points.

Burns was second 241.5 points, followed by Irrigon at third with 192 points, Vale at fourth with 94 points, and Riverside, fifth with 70 points.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to the State Championships to be held this weekend, Feb. 22-23, at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

Nyssa wrestlers Efrain Caldera (113), Raul Ruiz (120), Elijah Cleaver (152), Dearden Woodruff (160), Adam Simpson (170), Johnny Lopez (182), Bryan Flores (195) and Jose Sanchez (220) notched individual titles for the Bulldogs.

Nyssa’s Santiago Miranda was also a finalist in the 138-pound division, finishing second after getting pinned by Wyatt Epling of Burns during the title match.

Also advancing to the state championships next weekend are Nyssa’s Christian Murdock (132), Landon McDowell (145), Roy Rendon (195) and Marlin Miles (285), who each had third-place finishes at district.

Nyssa junior Noelle Acosta will represent the Lady Bulldogs in the all-girls 155-pound division.

Five Vale wrestlers qualified for state.

Logan Cox (113) and Clay Siddoway (152) picked up second place finishes at district, while Ronnie Norton (138) and Yahir Paz (220) placed third.

Vale freshman Tyler Richardson will represent the Vikings in the all-girls 140-pound division.

Meanwhile, Ontario is sending eight male wrestlers and one female wrestler to state, where the boys will compete in the 4A brackets.

The contenders are: Froylan Santiago (106), Trey Trejo (126), Kyle Wulf (132), Ruben Hernandez (132), Brandon Rodriguez (152), Austin George (170), Johnny Vega (182) and Elizar Ramirez (285). Ontario freshman Abby Osei will compete in the 235-pound weight class at the all-girls tournament.

For the 2A/1A conference, Adrian is sending senior Cole Kennedy-Gooch to Portland to compete in the 220-pound division.

Elijah Cleaver flips his opponent, taking control in the 152 pound class. (Submitted photo)

Jo Jo Sanchez maneuvers an opponent to the mat en route to his first-place finish at districts. (Submitted photo)