PORTLAND – Two weeks ago, Thurston coach Mike Simons said it would be a “disappointment” if the Colts took anything other than first place at both the Midwestern League district meet and the OSAA Class 5A boys wrestling state championships.
After coming in second place to Crater at both events last season, the Colts were tired of finishing second. Its coach and competitors were eager to end the state title drought that has gone on for two decades.
While they already avenged the losses to Crater at this year’s district meet, the job wasn’t finished. The Colts needed the championship – and got it. Thurston came out victorious, edging Crater 291-283 in a rematch of last year’s top two teams.
While the Colts never trailed on Saturday, Crater stayed close behind all night. Ultimately, the wrestler who swung the match was Colts 150-pound senior Bill Matheus.
After the Colts’ Lukas Salas-Sanchez suffered an upset loss in the 113-pound division, Crater had the Colts on their back foot. To swing the meet back in their favor, the Colts likely needed Crater to lose two more matches – this seemed unlikely given Crater had the seeding advantage in each of their remaining matches.
But when Crater’s No. 1 seeded defending champion Jaret Hickey fell 5-0 to Crook County, it seemed the pieces for a Thurston triumph were still in place.
“We’re still in it,” Simons said as he walked to the mat for Matheus’ 150-pound match against Crater.
Matheus’ teammates joked prior to Saturday that he would be the game-deciding match. Now in that situation, Matheus rose to the occasion, beating Crater’s No. 1 seed Aiden Godley 11-9 to secure both his first state championship, as well as the Colts’ team victory.
“I don’t (enjoy the pressure), I got really nervous,” Matheus said. “But it was kill or be killed.”
This wasn’t Matheus’ first match against Godley this year, but it was his first victory. After going 0-4 in their previous matches, Matheus decided to take a more conservative approach.
“I realized a lot of the time I was being too aggressive, not waiting for my shots. This time I wanted to play far and keep my legs away,” Matheus said.
Alongside Matheus as champions on Saturday were Samuel Greenstreet (106) and Michael Salas-Sanchez (120). While Michael may have won, seeing his brother Lukas lose in the preceding match caused a somber celebration. While most kids did backflips or hugged their coach after a win, Michael immediately went to find his brother.
“They love each other, man. They just grind. I’d be surprised if tomorrow they’re not in their garage working out,” Simons said. “This is gonna stew on Lucas until next year. He hates to lose. Both of them do.”
When asked about balancing the pride of being a back-to-back state champion along with the feelings he has for his brother, Michael initially didn’t have an answer. After a long pause he said, “I just know he could have performed a little bit better. I know he’s better than that kid.”
While he got the win, Michael still felt he could have performed better.
“I didn’t really feel like I did my best out there, I’ve been fighting a fever and allergic reaction and I just wish I could have put on a little bit better of a show,” Michael said.
Greenstreet was the Colts’ leadoff wrestler in the championship round, and he set the tone. After winning by technical fall in his prior two matches, No. 1 Greenstreet took the championship over Redmond’s No. 2 Tate Lawrence 12-9.
“It feels great. I’ve been training really hard and to go out and win, it feels really good,” Greenstreet said. “I trained Monday through Friday all year. I always remained consistent and trusted the process.”
Now, finally with a state championship for the Colts, Simons plans to enjoy the win.
“The trophy’s probably gonna sit on my desk at school so I can stare at it for a little while. Then it’s coming home with me,” Simons said.
