NAMPA — The Hermiston Bulldogs entered the 13th-annual Rollie Lane Invitational as the proverbial favorites, labeled as the “team to beat” by tournament director Todd Cady.
They lived up to their billing.
The eastern Oregon school produced three tournament champions and 99 team points to win its second Rollie Lane title in the past three years, thus thwarting second-place Pomona, Colo. (80 points) and defending IHSAA 4A state champion Kuna (63 points).
Hermiston all-American freshman Sammie Colbray won the 195-pound title and both Tyler Berger (138 pounds) and Abraham Rodriguez (160) won their second straight Rollie Lane titles for the Bulldogs, who won the Tri-State Tournament three weeks ago.
“This is a great win for us,” said Berger, a junior who was named Most Outstanding Wrestler among all light-weight competitors. “We won Tri-State as a team, and we knew this was going to be our next toughest one. We really trained hard for it.
“Coming in and getting a win, that’s great.”
Berger, who owns back-to-back 5A Oregon state titles, won Saturday’s 138-pound championship with a 14-1 major decision against Columbia senior Tomaz Gonzalez, a three-time 4A state placer and two-time finalist.
Colbray, who won the 182-pound Greco-Roman Cadet national championship in July, downed Centennial’s Logan Blackwood by a 7-4 decision to win the 195-pound title.
Rodriguez, who won last year’s 152-pound 5A state title, earned a 15-7 major decision Saturday against Seth Nonnenmacher of Burns (Ore.)
Their titles were instrumental bonus points for Hermiston, which finished with eight placers. Pomona, which finished with two champions (Tomas Gutierrez, 98; Travis Torres, 113), also had eight placers.
“At one point, I actually thought we were going to end up second,” said Hermiston coach Shaun Williams, whose team is ranked 40th in the nation by Intermat.com’s Fab 50 rankings, one spot above Pomona.
“We had to battle to get it.
“It’s fun for the kids. This is good for us.”
Cook wins third straight Rollie Lane title
Kuna junior Michael Cook is notorious for a humble demeanor, one who never expresses satisfaction and always looks ahead.
Cook, a two-time defending 4A state champion, earned his 100th victory earlier Saturday, then capped yet another masterful Rollie Lane tournament in the 126-pound title match with a 2-0 decision against Justin Thomas of Santiago High (Corona, Calif.).
It’s the third straight Rollie Lane championship for Cook. Next year, he can become the second four-time champion in the 13-year history of the tournament (Casey George, Lewiston, 2008-11).
“I got one more to go,” said Cook with a laugh.
Melba’s Richardson wins 170-pound title
Melba 170-pound senior Troy Richardson didn’t even know the resume of his opponent — and it was an awfully good one.
Michael Billingsley (Lowry High, Nev.) has three state championships under his belt. He also entered Saturday’s final match trying to earn a second straight Rollie Lane title.
Richardson, however, used a leg ride and earned a pin in 3 minutes, 7 seconds.
“I didn’t know he was that good, actually,” said Richardson, who won last year’s 160-pound 2A state title, the third straight year he earned state placement.
“I only placed in Rollie once in all my years, so I feel great.”
Richardson noted that the Rollie Lane Invitational has more competing teams (48) than the 2A state tournament (35 last year). That considered, it makes Saturday’s victory that much sweeter.
“It’s definitely a lot tougher, and I look up to it,” Richardson said.
Columbia’s Schaffer seizes opportunity
Columbia senior Austin Schaffer finished as a runner-up in two 4A state tournaments (2010, ‘12). He calls it a “sick feeling” in his stomach and wants to seize opportunities when they arise during his final high school season.
He didn’t disappoint on Saturday.
Schaffer won his 182-pound championship match with an 11-0 major decision against Meridian’s Harley Dilulo, thus adding to a resume that includes three 4A District III titles.
“It’s awesome,” said Schaffer, who missed chunks of last season with a partial MCL tear. “I worked hard up until this point.”
Centennial 152-pounder Kris McFarlane won a title with a 7-1 decision against Wood River’s Tommy Bailey. … Boise 220-pounder Canyon Purcell pinned Middleton’s Jacob Harvey in 2:38 of the championship match. … Reno (Nev.) 145-pounder Joey Lavallee was named Most Outstanding Wrestler among higher weight competitors.
