(Note: Siuslaw entries Yoskar De la Mora 126, Mason Buss 160, Joel Sissel 170, Dayne Muller 195, Cort Waggoner 220.)

By John Tawa, OSAAtoday

What: OSAA Boys Wrestling Class 4A State Championships (NFHS Network)

When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 (quarterfinals 12:58 p.m., semifinals 3:33 p.m., finals 7 p.m.)

Where: Cascade High School, Turner

2021 state champion: Sweet Home

2022 state favorite: La Grande

Most qualified wrestlers: Tillamook 19, La Grande 18, Sweet Home 17, Mazama 14, Baker/Powder Valley 14

Returning state champions:

• 106: Kyle Sieminski, 10, Sweet Home
• 120: Benjamin Hernandez, 11, Philomath (won at 113 last year; seeded fifth at 120)
• 126: Jake Sieminski, 11, Sweet Home (won at 120 last year; seeded fifth at 126)
• 132: Mauro Michel, 12, Stayton (3-time champion; won at 126 last year)
• 145: Braden Carson, 12, La Grande (2-time champion; won at 138 last year)
• 170: Blaise Pindell, 12, Philomath (seeded fifth this year)
• 182: Lance Van Hoose, 12, Cascade (won at 160 last year)
• 195: Gauge Bloomer, 12, Baker / Powder Valley (seeded fifth this year)

Storylines to follow: 

Braden Carson of La Grande followed a runner up finish at 126 his freshman year with back-to-back state titles.

Mauro Michel, who is seeking to win a fourth straight title, has won 63 straight matches since transferring to Stayton from Cascade. His competition at 132 pounds should come from second-seeded Dylan Smith of Banks, whom he has pinned; and third-seeded Brysen Penaloza of La Grande, a wrestler he has yet to face.

Mazama has 14 total qualifiers, including Tanner Wood, the third seed at 138 pounds. Wood is seeking to become the first three-time state placer in school history…Mazama has five other seeded wrestlers, including returning state placer Savien Burk at 145 pounds. Unseeded Tyson Van Gastel was district runner up at 195 pounds, not bad for someone wrestling in high school for the first time. "Our team goal is to earn a top four trophy at state," said coach Matthew Penrod. "If we come to wrestle, we have several competitors that can challenge for the finals and podium finishes." 

Stayton senior Eli Howard finished second at 138 pounds last year. He is the No. 1 seed in that division this year…Kolton Malone not only is undefeated on the year; the junior also won the Reser's Tournament of Champions at 138 pounds. He should be the No. 1 seed but, because of criteria – he was injured and did not wrestle last season after placing second at 120 pounds as a freshman – will start as the No. 4 overall seed. That's bad news for top-seeded Narcizo Garza of St. Helens, a senior who will likely have to tangle with Malone in the semifinals rather than for the title.