Wrestling, swimming state meets run today through Saturday

BILL POEHLER
Statesman Journal

February 14, 2008

Sprague junior R.J. Peña goes for his third state championship in three years starting today at the OSAA state wrestling meet.

The meet opens with the first two rounds of championship bracket matches starting at 9 a.m.

The quarterfinals start at 9 a.m. Friday, and the semifinals are at 7 p.m. Championship matches are at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Peña is the No. 1 seed at 140 pounds in the 6A classification, and his junior teammate, Bryce Whitehead, is the No. 2 seed at the weight. Peña won state championships at 112 pounds as a freshman and 125 as a sophomore.

There have been 82 three-time state champions in Oregon history and 13 four-time state champions.

Sprague junior Alex Kostenborder is the No. 1 seed at 103 pounds.

In the 5A meet, Silverton junior Steven Quesada is the No. 1 seed at 125.

Woodburn senior Kipa Piatkoff is the No. 1 seed at 130. Silverton's Richard Quesada is the No. 4 seed despite beating Piatkoff in the district championship.

In the 4A meet, Cascade junior Zach Clark is the No. 4 seed at 112 pounds. He was a state runner-up last season at 5A Silverton.

In 3A, Willamina senior Brandon Linton, a defending state champion, is the No. 2 seed in the 125-pound weight class.

His junior brother, Denny, a two-time state champion, is the No. 2 seed at 130.

Gervais senior Mihial Kalugin is the No. 1 seed at 152.

In 2A, Scio senior Mike Kennison is the No. 1 seed at 160.

The state swimming meets get under way today at Gresham's Mount Hood Community College.

The 6A meet starts with prelims today at 5 p.m. today and finals at 4 p.m. Friday.

The 5A meet has prelims starting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and finals at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The 4A/3A/2A/1A meet has prelims at 9:30 p.m. Friday and finals at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

In the 6A meet, McNary senior Amber Boucher, a state champion as a sophomore, is the No. 2 seed in the 100 freestyle.

McNary senior Hannah Braun is the No. 3 seed in the 100 back.

In the 5A meet, freshman Kyle Wicks, who attends Willamette Valley Christian but competes for Woodburn, is the No. 1 seed in the 100 breast.

In 4A/3A/2A/1A, Blanchet senior Andy Ottolia is the No. 1 seed in the 200 IM and the 100 breast by almost four seconds. Ottolia will try to add to his three state championships in each event.

Cascade sophomore Crystal Kibby is the No. 1 seed in the 200 IM by more than three seconds.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6701