Wednesday, December 11, 2013

David Douglas preps to defend title

Beating Roseburg for the Class 6A state title was a bit of a surprise last year for David Douglas, but not with some hindsight looking at results heading into the state tournament.

The Scots won the dual-meet Oregon Wrestling Classic prior to the tournament, and the winner of the top four classifications at that meet went on to win the state title.

The Scots, Hermiston at Class 5A, Crook County at 4A and Glide at 3A all won the OWC title and then the state title at the end of the season. Only Lowell failed to double up, having lost to Culver 45-36 in the OWC final. The Red Devils then upended Culver's six-year-run as state champion.

David Douglas begins the 2013-14 season as an underdog with almost all of its starters having graduated. The Scots had seven wrestlers reach the podium at the state meet as a top-6 finisher, and five of them graduated, including three champions.

That's the case across the state, though, as 13 of the 14 weights had seniors win. Only sophomore Chad Jones of Roseburg returns as a champion having won at 120 pounds.

Last year was the first time since the OSAA expanded to six classifications that at least one school did not repeat as team champion.

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