REDMOND — Crook County crowned six champions Saturday during the final day of the Adrian Irwin Memorial Tournament at Ridgeview High en route to running off with the event’s team title.
The Cowboys totaled 426 points at the two-day tourney, easily besting runner-up Redmond (306 points) and third-place Cascade (246 1⁄2). Mountain View, which was the tournament host, finished fourth with 207 points.
“We did some good things and we’re getting better," Crook County coach Jake Huffman said. “It’s all a process as you work toward that final goal of how you want to finish (the season)."
Freshmen Brent Bannon (106 pounds) and Hayden Bates (132), sophomores Trayton Libolt (113) and Collbran Meeker (138), and seniors Dean Smith (170) and Gunner Crawford (195) all won brackets for the Cowboys. Bannon knocked off teammate and fellow freshman Trey Shores in the 106-pound final, and Bates was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Dawson Barber added a second-place finish for Crook County at 152 pounds.
Fifteen wrestlers in all placed for the Cowboys at the 20-team tournament.
“Technically, we’re getting better," Huffman emphasized. “We’re getting off the bottom better and didn’t beat ourself."
Second-place Redmond boasted a pair of champions in Sarek Shields (160 pounds) and Sumner Saulsbury (285). Chance Lindquist took second at 145 pounds and Austin Rystedt (120), Brandon Short (126), Ty George (132), Tanner Barichio (170) and Casey Gates (225) all managed third-place finishes for the Panthers.
J.T. Ayers paced Mountain View with a runner-up showing at 113 pounds. And Halen Jolley placed third for the Cougars at 106 pounds, beating teammate Zach Howe in the consolation final.
Other Central Oregon teams competing in the tournament were Bend (12th, 104 points), Madras (13th, 104), La Pine (15th, 59.5), Summit (16th, 53), Ridgeview (17th, 49.5) and Gilchrist (19th, 16).
Miguel Vasquez highlighted the tourney for Madras, finishing second at 138 pounds. Bend’s Justin Vinton was third at 152 pounds to lead the Lava Bears, Thorin Wilson took fifth at 106 pounds for La Pine, and Jevon Painter turned in a sixth-place finish at 220 pounds for Gilchrist.
