Vikings freshman wins Coast Classic title

Siuslaw freshman wrestler Bailey Overton

Siuslaw freshman Bailey Overton won the 115-pound division as Lady Vikings wrestlers picked up first-, second- and third-place finishes Saturday at the 30-school North Bend Coast Classic.

Junior Kinga Bugasjka, an exchange student from Poland, was runner-up at 145 pounds and freshman Hayden Muller was third place at 135.

"The girls caused the major stir this weekend," Siuslaw coach Neil Wartnik said. "Three competed and three made it onto the podium.

"They were very excited to be sure."

The Vikings also had seven wrestlers entered on the boys side.

"No one placed in the varsity tournament, but we had four wrestlers achieve impressive victories," Wartnik said.

"(Sophomore) Brady Libby made it to the quarterfinals after an impressive win in the Round of 16.

"(Sophomore) Elijah LaCosse had a pair of impressive wins.

"(Senior) Riley Jennings had an impressive win in the Round of 16, then nearly won his semifinal match (losing 10-9).

"(Sophomore) Christian Newlan had a pair of impressive wins and wrestled with a lot of heart in his other matches."

Wartnik also heaped praise on a couple of his junior-varsity entries.

"(Sophomore) Hector Garcia was a standout. He placed third in the 170-pound weight bracket, winning four matches and losing one.

"(Freshman) John Croser also had a strong showing, winning two and losing two."

Next up is the Grants Pass Winter Kickoff this Friday and Saturday.

"Rumor has it that 50 teams are registered," Wartnik said. "It should be quite a competition."