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Tigers return with two titles in tow
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Carson’s nervous system took a hit over three days at the OSAA State Wrestling Championships. “I couldn’t do it again,” Carson said. “It was an amazing weekend that couldn’t have ended any better. “Well we could have won six state championships.” Following the statement Carson admitted he shouldn’t be so greedy. After returning from Memorial Coliseum with two state champions and four other medalists, the first-year head coach had a remarkable ending to his return. The Beginning At 103-pounds, Dyllan McCallum opened the championship round with a heart palpitating performance. McCallum cruised into the final match, earning two falls and a 12-2 decision on the way. However, facing Brandon Bowers of Umpqua proved to be the true test. Bowers entered the match as the No. 1 seed, McCallum No. 2. The match played to form — tight until the end. McCallum led 6-3, but the lead made the Tiger wrestler too passive. “He stopped wrestling,” Carson said. “He slowed down, and held on to the lead, instead of wrestling his way.” Bowers picked up five points in the third period. McCallum earned a reversal with nine seconds left in the match. Overtime ended with McCallum picking up two points, for a 10-8 win. “What a way to open the state tournament,” Carson said. “Everyone was watching, because the other matches were done. It’s not easy to be at your best three days in a row, but (Dyllan) did it.” Carson had an hour to allow his heart rate to return to normal. The shaky head coach still had one more final to endure. A giant comeback John Tuck like McCallum breezed through the opening three matches. And like his teammate, he left his coach digging his fingernails into the seat. Molalla’s Cody Weishoff jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the championship match. Slowly, Tuck whittled his way back. A take down with 20 seconds left him trailing by one point — at least that’s what Carson thought. “I thought it was over,” Carson said. “I didn’t realize we received a point for a stalling call.” And there was Carson again, enduring another overtime in a final match. Tuck earned a take down with two seconds left in the overtime. “(John) showed so much heart,” Carson said. “To be down by eight, and fight back is a testament to his mentality.” La Grande finished sixth as a team, with 114 points. While two championships fueled a top-10 finish, four other wrestlers brought home valuable points. Andy Godfrey reeled in a third-place finish. “(Winning third) is not an easy thing to do,” Carson said. “You have to bounce pretty quick and stay on your game.” Chase Shirley tacked on a fourth-place finish and Ryder Willmarth and Trent Hardwick earned sixth-place finishes. The medals by Shirley and Willmarth earned significant praise from their coach. “It’s a great way for two seniors to finish up their high school careers,” Carson said. “Anytime you can place at the state tournament, it’s an amazing thing. It takes a lot of mental toughness to endure three days of wrestling.” The Observer will follow up on the state titles won by McCallum and Tuck later this week. |
