CRESWELL – By sending three wrestlers – juniors Micaiah Cranson and Javier Bautista, and senior Brandon Church – to the state tournament, Creswell’s wrestling team came up big at the most critical time of the season – the OSAA Special District 2 3A meet.
The city of Creswell, which hosted the all-day event Saturday, also came up big, attracting a sellout crowd for the six-team event, and running a smooth tournament as state powerhouse Harrisburg dominated on the mat.
“It was good exposure for wrestling,” Creswell coach Jeff Cardwell said after the meet. “Creswell is sort of a basketball-volleyball kind of place, so we’re just trying to say, ‘Hey, what about wrestling?’ The kids club is growing, the junior high group is growing, our high school numbers are growing, so we’re just step-by-step trying to get better.”
The plan is working. The Bulldogs are getting better, but they’re not even close to catching up with Harrisburg, whose strong youth program is the foundation for its long-term success.
Javier Bautista (Jr.) 157, and Brandon Church (Sr.), 285, are also going to state.
“It’s tough because Harrisburg is the best team in the state and they’re very deep and (in this district) they only qualify three in each weight class,” Cardwell said of the district’s rules. “We were hoping for five or six guys (going to state) but two guys were ahead in their matches but ended up losing – we have some young guys and sometimes it’s tough winning those tight matches against guys with more experience.”
Cranson’s victory at 150 pounds – the only Creswell wrestler to take a district title – avenged a recent loss.
“He beat me in league a couple of weeks ago,” Cranson said. “I really wanted to win that match, though, so I kept working hard and kept on persevering. He tried to cradle me but he slipped through so I rolled through and I bulldogged him and I underhooked him and I bulldogged him to his back and I pinned him right there.
“This is my first time qualifying for state as a junior. The guy who knocked me out last year, I came back and pinned him this year. Knowing that I’ve put in the work and I got to win the title here on my home turf … I’m just happy I get to represent Creswell at the state tournament.”
While Bautista (157 pounds) and Church (285) were also able to qualify for state, the Bulldogs had their share of heartbreaking setbacks.
“A lot of work goes into getting ready for this moment, then when you make a mistake or things don’t go your way,” Cardwell said, his voice trailing off. “We had a lot of disappointing losses. Mateus Archibek was ahead 13-3 in a 4th-place match and got pinned – he’s had an incredible year, great work ethic, great young man – that’s a tough way to go out because he broke his leg last year as a junior.”
Cardwell also singled out the matches of Coleman Breslaw (132) and Sawyer Downard (138) – Sawyer lost his match in OT – as ones that got away from the Bulldogs.
Pleasant Hill also competed in the Class 3A Special District 3 regionals on Saturday.
The Billies defended their title as they became back-to-back champions with 206 points. Bryson Boyles (113), Kamdyn Greene (120), Nolan Perkins (126), and Ryder Swaim (285) all placed first here.
