Wilsonville Spokesman Online

State wrestling: Another step in the right direction for Wildcats

Neil Ochs, Mike Hadley place eighth on Saturday at state

• By: Alex Tam  
• Published: 3/4/2010 12:58:58 PM

Photo By: Alex TamState wrestling - Neil Ochs
Wilsonville junior Neil Ochs takes down Madras junior Adrian Phillips in the championship quarterfinals at 285 pounds on Friday.

Neil Ochs learned one thing from his first experience at the OSAA Class 5A state wrestling championships.

“You’ve got to always be ready,” the Wilsonville High School junior said. “You got to be prepared.”

Ochs helped lead the Wildcats as one of two state-placers on Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum.

Ochs took eighth at 285 pounds after falling to Klamath Union junior Will Morse by 1-0 decision in the seventh-eighth place match.

“It was a pretty solid (year) overall,” Ochs said. “A huge improvement from last year to this year.”

The Wilsonville heavyweight said he was slightly disappointed not to place higher after reaching the championship quarterfinals. Ochs led Madras junior Adrian Phillips early in the match, but got turned and pinned in 5 minutes, 16 seconds.

Ochs got a must-win in the consolation bracket, beating Eagle Point sophomore Manuel Valdovinos by 8-2 decision to reach the consolation quarterfinals, where he fell to Lebanon junior Andrew Vandetta by 2-1 decision to drop into the seventh-place match.

Ochs reached the championship quarterfinals after beating Willamette senior Dilloon Machado by fall in 2:24 in the first round; and defeating Morse in a pigtail match by 2-1 decision.

“He came in and I think he would’ve liked to have finished better,” coach Jason Milham said. “He had a couple matches that easily could’ve gone the other way and he could’ve placed higher than he did. But ultimately, he’s a junior and to make it through the tournament and place, a lot of kids would like to be in that position. He knows what to do next year and get higher on the podium.”

Wilsonville’s other placer was junior Mike Hadley, who also took eighth after falling to Dallas sophomore Josh Christianson by 12-7 decision in the seventh-place match at 145 pounds.

Hadley battled back from a loss in a pigtail match to Crook County junior Trevor Wilson by fall in 2:23, which forced him into consolation.

Hadley won three straight matches, including a fall in 4:46 over Lebanon sophomore Daniel Aranda to reach the consolation quarterfinals. He also defeated Cleveland freshman Jacob Del Savio by fall in 1:22 in the first round; and earned a forfeit against Springfield senior Nick Mattos in a consolation pigtail match.

Hadley fell in the consolation quarterfinals to Hermiston senior Cody Spradlin by fall  in 3:32 to drop into the seventh-place match.

“I think he wrestled well,” Milham said. “He came in and we talked to him a lot about not being happy just to be here and coming in to give yourself a chance to place. He won where he needed to win, and wound up getting into the placing round so I’m really pleased for him and happy for him.”

Wilsonville’s other state-qualifiers were senior Hunter Smith at 112 pounds and junior Adrian Escobedo at 215.

Smith went 1-2 in the tournament, losing in the championship first round to Churchill freshman Housten Ezell by fall in 1:32. Smith won his first-round consolation match over Cleveland freshman Moe Shay by fall in 1:35 before falling to Hermiston sophomore Sid Britt by 8-5 decision.

“(Smith) has been one of those steady kids all season and won a whole lot of matches,” Milham said. “And he has been a great silent leader on the team so we’re going to miss him a lot.”

Escobedo also went 1-2 in the tournament, losing a championship pigtail match by 8-4 decision to Marshall senior Abe Cabatic. Escobedo won a consolation pigtail match over Hillsboro sophomore Dylan Lindquist by 6-2 decision before falling to Mazama sophomore Jake Cox by fall in 2:55.

“Adrian is a lot like the other guys who had an opportunity to place,” Milham said. “I thought he had an OK draw of the bracket. Him coming back as a senior next year, it’s exciting to have three state-qualifiers back, two state-placers in the room so I think those guys are going to be great leaders for us.”

Wilsonville finished 23rd out of 38 teams with 22 points. Hermiston won the Class 5A state team title with 269 points, followed by Churchill (127.5), Lebanon (118) and West Albany (109), who all won state trophies.

“We realize that we still have a long ways to go but our numbers are better, the kids understand now what it takes to be successful,” Milham said. “We’re working towards that and the room is getting tougher. You factor in that we got three state-qualifiers and two state-placers in the room, that’s a huge step and we want to take the next step for where we want the program to be.”

Notes: Seniors Cindy Farfan and Akila Hoffman placed third and fourth, respectively, in the girls state tournament at 112 pounds.

“They’re kind of pioneers in women’s wrestling in Oregon,” Milham said. “It’s becoming a more popular high school sport for females but it’s definitely in its infancy. Both of them came out to wrestle and gave themselves an opportunity to compete against boys and girls, and that work paid off.” n

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