Cruiser Wrestlers Compete In Oregon

The Eatonville High School wrestling team showcased their grit and determination over the weekend, with both the girls and boys squads delivering commendable performances in two highly competitive tournaments.

Eatonville's Kasey Whitney puts Weiser High School's Cole Ingle in a head and arm in his final match of the tournament. He would go on to pin Ingle to take home a 3rd place finish. Photo: Trinity Potter

In the Safeway Buckle Classic at Eastern Oregon University, featuring 21 teams, the Eatonville girls faced tough competition with only one wrestler, Brooke Ostendorf. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ostendorf displayed outstanding skill and determination. Improving on last week's 3rd place finish, she secured a 2nd place spot. Ostendorf, after earning a first-round bye, impressively pinned each of her next two opponents, propelling her to the finals where she faced a formidable challenge in Lake City's Jalyssa Beach and ultimately secured the 2nd place finish.

Turning to the boys, who participated in the Muilenburg Tournament at La Grande High School against 22 teams, Eatonville claimed the 13th position overall. The individual performances were notable and included:

• In the 132-pound category, Kasey Whitney secured a 3rd place finish. Despite dropping the semifinal match to Price Thomas of Glenns Ferry High School in Idaho, Whitney displayed resilience in the consolation bracket. He bounced back with two consecutive pins to capture the 3rd place spot.

• Ethan Rogers, competing in the 175-pound category, mirrored Whitney's performance by reaching the semifinals but losing to La Grande’s Ridge Kehr. Rogers rebounded in the consolation bracket, securing a 5th place finish by defeating Barlow High School’s Samuel Abraham after dropping his previous match.

• Jacob Ostendorf, wrestling in the 165-pound category, fought his way to a 7th place finish. Following a bye in the opening round, he experienced a setback with a loss to Mitchell Johnson of Oregon City HS. Undeterred, Ostendorf navigated through the consolation bracket, winning all four matches and securing the 7th place finish.

Looking ahead, the Eatonville wrestling team is set to continue their competitive season with upcoming events. On December 12th, the JV boys will compete at Rogers HS. On December 15th and 16th, selected boys will participate in the Tri State 2023 Tourney at North Idaho College. Additionally, on December 16th, the boys will compete in the Rogers Holiday Tournament at Rogers High School, while the girls will Lady Mountaineers Invitation tournament at Rainier High School.

The Eatonville High School wrestling team's resilient performances and commitment to excellence highlight their promising season as they face formidable opponents in upcoming tournaments.