Former state champion among JV Reser’s TOC winners to watch at wrestling state championships

Here are five wrestlers to watch from the JV tournament

A state champion wrestling in the JV bracket at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions? 

That speaks to the depth of the teams taking part in the 22nd edition of the state’s premier tournament. Newberg swept the varsity and JV brackets at Hillsboro’s Liberty High School, and the Tigers should see several of their JV standouts make it through the upcoming Pacific Conference district tournament and qualify for state.

Here are five wrestlers to watch from the JV tournament for this month’s OSAA state championships. 

Kanoe Kelly, Thurston, senior (113): A year ago, Kelly had his hand raised as a Class 5A state champion at 106 pounds at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum. But with promising freshman Michael Salas Sanchez at 106 (he took fifth at Reser’s) and junior Mason Hakki (sixth at 113) on the roster, Kelly was dropped to the JV division.

Jack Olsen, Roseburg, freshman (120): Olsen wrestles in the same weight class as teammate and two-time state champion Gage Singleton, but with a 26-3 record after winning in the TOC JV division, the freshman could make noise at the 6A state meet.

Jacob Smith, Newberg, senior (138): Smith came within one win of placing at state as a junior last year, and he wrestled at 144 pounds all season, placing at Rose City, Gut Check and Best of the West. He dropped to 138 for TOC — the same division as three-time state champion Zachary Keinonen — and pinned all four opponents en route to the title.

Parker Hughes, Harrisburg, senior (175): Hughes’ path at 175 pounds is blocked by teammate Brody Buzzard, a sophomore who won a 3A state title at 145 last season and reached the TOC final last weekend. Hughes won the JV title and has wrestled at 190 during the season, so could he move up to give the Eagles two potential state placers next month? 

Arik Brecht Crabtree, Dallas, junior (285): The heavyweight division in the Mid-Willamette Conference is stacked, with TOC champion Brash Henderson of Silverton and third-place finisher (and Crabtree’s teammate) Kyron Dodds among the contenders the JV heavyweight champion will face in a couple of weeks at the district meet.

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