Cougars held to fourth in state
From our weekly issue dated March 04, 2009
Cougar Jesse Orndoff on his way to a 6-0 win in the finals. (Photo by Ward Winter)
The Illinois Valley wrestling team finished fourth in the state 4-A tournament which was held on Feb. 26, 27 and 28 in Portland’s Memorial Coliseum. With ten qualified wrestlers the Cougar’s scored 118.5 team points to finish behind Sweet Home (142), McLoughlin (122.5) and La Grande (121). Four team points short of a second-place finish.
The Cougar’s Sam Winter (140) and Jesse Orndoff (103) were individual state champions in their respective weight classes. Five other teammates finished in the top eight.
Winter assured his place in the Illinois Valley record book by defending his title and becoming a two-time state champ. He earned his victory against Phoenix’s Eleazar Deluca, 5-0, beating the Phoenix wrestler for the fourth time this year. Winter had an early 2-0 lead and then scored a take down in the final minutes to capture the crown.
Orndoff took charge against Henley’s Zorg Loustalet and won decisively, 6-0. Orndoff, the freshman sensation, scored on take down in the first and second periods to take the first championship of his young Cougar career. With his raw talent, dedication and amazing work ethic this should be the first of many to come.
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Other Cougar wrestlers did their part to help the team to the fourth-place finish. Lance Tausaga (215), who was the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class this year, placed third with a 10-3 victory against Nick Watts of McLoughlin. Tausaga lost in the semi’s on a 3-2 overtime decision. Chris Culver (112) became a two-time state placer when he beat Jesse Sargent of McLoughlin for fifth place. Landy Wells (171) also finished in fifth place with a 7-5 decision against J.R. Gates of Cascade. Quayde Fisher (135) took seventh, and Skyline Champion Jon Anderson (125) was eighth in the state.
The Cougars, who are rich in tradition, didn’t disappoint Head Coach Jay Miller.
“We got the most out our wrestlers,” said Miller. “They really stepped it up. The Cougar’s year-round program will have this young team ready, for more to come next year.”
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