The Philomath High School wrestling team opened the season on Saturday with an appearance at the GFP Central Oregon Officials Tournament in Sisters. The Warriors wrestled duals against Henley and Toledo and won both handily.
Despite the name, the tournament was not operated under the traditional format with teams instead wrestling in pools against two other schools. Philomath was placed in Pool F with the Hornets and Boomers.
Philomath won eight of 10 matches on the mat in a 54-16 victory over Henley. The closest bout occurred in the heavyweight division with Joseph Choi taking a 7-2 decision. Ben Hernandez at 120 pounds also won on a decision but prevented his opponent from scoring, 6-0.
All of the Warriors’ other victories came on pins. Blake Niemann stuck his opponent in 3:08 at 126 pounds; Chase Ringwald was a winner in 4:00 at 132; Caleb Blackburn took down his opponent at 138 in 3:21; David Griffith had the fastest pin at 1:00 at 160; Blaise Pindell was a winner in 3:30 at 170; Isaiah Blackburn won on a pin in 1:40 at 195; and Connar Kohn pinned his opponent in 5:17 at 220.
The dual included each team winning a weight division on forfeits. There was a double forfeit at 106.
Philomath defeated Toledo, 48-18, in a dual that featured many more forfeits with a limited roster for the Boomers. The Warriors scored 36 of its 48 points on forfeit victories. On the mat, the two teams split with each winning three.
Caleb Blackburn was involved in a high-scoring bout at 138 but he survived to take a 16-13 decision. At 182, Pindell took a 6-1 victory over his opponent. Issiah Blackburn won at 195 on a pin in 1:17.
In all for the two duals combined, Philomath won 12 of 17 bouts.
Philomath’s next action is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at home. Gladstone, South Albany and Newport are slated to participate in a series of duals.
Philomath 54, Henley 16
Saturday, May 22, at Sisters
| Wt | Result |
|---|---|
| 106 | Double forfeit |
| 113 | Dylan Clark, HHS, won by forfeit |
| 120 | Ben Hernandez, PHS, dec. Kyle Nichols, 6-0 |
| 126 | Blake Niemann, PHS, pinned Jaxon Mengis, 3:08 |
| 132 | Chase Ringwald, PHS, pinned Enrique Rodriguez, 4:00 |
| 138 | Caleb Blackburn, PHS, pinned Nick Tellez, 3:21 |
| 145 | Austin Turner, HHS, pinned Adam Hernandez, 0:34 |
| 152 | Morgan McCoy, HHS, maj. dec. Gradin Fairbanks, 16-6 |
| 160 | David Griffith, PHS, pinned Sam Mckeen-Hornbeck, 1:00 |
| 170 | Blaise Pindell, PHS, pinned Dominic Ingle, 3:30 |
| 182 | Jacob Williams, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 195 | Issiah Blackburn, PHS, pinned William Barrett, 1:40 |
| 220 | Connar Kohn, PHS, pinned Scott Renslow, 5:17 |
| 285 | Joseph Choi, PHS, dec. Brayden Roach, 7-2 |
Philomath 48, Toledo 18
Day, Date at Match Site
| Wt | Result |
|---|---|
| 106 | Double forfeit |
| 113 | Double forfeit |
| 120 | Logan Gerding, THS, pinned Ben Hernandez, 3:06 |
| 126 | Blake Niemann, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 132 | Chase Ringwald, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 138 | Caleb Blackburn, PHS, dec. Sterling Buckkley, 16-13 |
| 145 | Adam Hernandez, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 152 | Gradin Fairbanks, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 160 | David Griffith, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 170 | Jacoby Simonds, THS, pinned Jacob Williams, 1:50 |
| 182 | Blaise Pindell, PHS, dec. Trenton Hutchinson, 6-1 |
| 195 | Issiah Blackburn, PHS, pinned Ash Blomstrom, 1:17 |
| 220 | Connar Kohn, PHS, won by forfeit |
| 285 | Kenneth Johnson, THS, pinned Joseph Choi, 1:21 |
Pool F Standings
1, Philomath (2-0); 2, Henley (1-1); 3, Toledo (0-2).