Third time still the charm for Newberg’s Gus Amerson against his West Linn rival at Reser’s TOC (145 pounds)

“Being a Reser’s champion feels good. But my focus is still on three weeks from now.”

By René Ferrán | Photos by Leon Neuschwander 

Newberg sophomore Gus Amerson had an inkling of what kind of match his 145-pound final against West Linn’s Charles Spinning at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions would become Saturday evening at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

“Yeah, he’s a tough wrestler and has good defense,” Amerson said. “It comes down to the ride on top in those matches.” 

And Amerson proved himself capable of riding out the third period after Spinning chose the down position to pull out a 1-0 victory and his first Reser’s TOC title.

“I’m pretty confident in my ability on top,” said Amerson, who scored the match’s lone point with an escape 13 seconds into the second period. 

It was the third time the two met this season and the third time Amerson eked out a close win over his rival, a junior who wrestled in the OSAA 6A 138 final last winter.

Amerson won 4-2 in sudden-victory overtime in the Rose City final in December and 1-0 in a dual at the Oregon Classic three weeks ago. Could the two meet again in three weeks at Memorial Coliseum in the state final? 

“Being a Reser’s champion feels good,” Amerson said. “But my focus is still on three weeks from now.” 

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