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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW Man wields samurai sword in Medford robbery ... AIFF hires new executive director ... UPDATED: Woman who died in Central Point house fire identified ... Man wields samurai sword in Medford robbery ... AIFF hires new executive director ... UPDATED: Woman who died in Central Point house fire identified ... PREP WRESTLING In pursuit of more Three-time state placer Winningham chasing first district, state titles Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:09 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:09 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM --> Tommy Winningham WHO: A 5-foot-9 senior on the Crater wrestling team. WHAT: Winningham has placed fourth, third and fourth, respectively, in his last three state to... » Read more X Tommy Winningham WHO : A 5-foot-9 senior on the Crater wrestling team. WHAT : Winningham has placed fourth, third and fourth, respectively, in his last three state tournaments and is ranked No. 2 overall at 170 pounds with a 33-4 record entering this week’s district tourney. UP NEXT : Saturday, Midwestern League district championships at North Eugene. » Social News CENTRAL POINT — It doesn’t take a championship title to be considered a standout wrestler but, then again, it doesn’t hurt. Tommy Winningham is one of those wrestlers who has definitely made his mark in his time on the mat at Crater but, as proud as the 5-foot-9 senior is of his prior accomplishments, there just seems to be something missing. That missing ingredient is a championship title. Or, hopefully, two. “It bothers me a little bit because I’ve come so close,” says Winningham, who has reached the state semifinals the past two seasons. “That hump just kind of eats at you. Everything in your being wants to get over that and keep going. Hopefully this is the year.” Even though he hasn’t secured a district title or state title heading into his final go-round — the Midwestern League district championships are Saturday in Eugene — it’s not as if Winningham hasn’t enjoyed success in the sport he loves most. As a freshman, Winningham scrambled back after suffering a tough overtime loss in his Class 6A state tourney opener and placed fourth at 138 pounds after losing in the third-place final to No. 2-seeded senior Zach Zehner of Sprague. As a sophomore, Winningham upset top-seeded senior Alex Hada of Hillsboro to reach the 6A semifinals at 152, only to fall short against Roseburg junior David Harker in a tug-of-war season in which Winningham beat Harker at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions but fell shy against him in the district and state tourneys. Winningham went on to beat Hada again in the third-place final to score his best finish. Last year, a broken fibula and dislocated ankle suffered on a helmet tackle to his leg during the football season cost Winningham almost his entire wrestling season. He was cleared with three weeks to go in the season and, despite limited training and a bout with a flu bug, Winningham still advanced to the district final at 160 but lost 2-1 to Churchill’s Riley Jaramillo. In the 5A state tourney, he again reached the semifinals but lost 4-3 in overtime to top-seeded Colton Sallee of Lebanon in the ultimate tiebreaker. In an all-out effort during the final seconds of his third-place final, Winningham trailed 3-2 and went for a desperation move that didn’t land and ultimately placed fourth after the 7-2 loss to second-seeded senior C.J. McKinnis of Sandy. “I think if you look back at last year, heck it was amazing he got to the semifinals with a broken leg and really only two weeks of practice,” says Crater head coach Greg Haga. “For a guy missing that much of the season and to lose to the defending state champion in overtime … that’s pretty special.” That’s why no matter what happens over the next two weekends, Haga has no qualms with giving credit to where credit is due when it comes to Winningham. “Some people would look at a career where you’re a three-time state placer and you still have your senior year to become a four-time state placer, that’s a pretty good career,” says the veteran coach. “He’s just a tough kid who battles through things. He’s a hard worker and that always puts him right in the match.” Winningham boasts a 33-4 record and No. 2 overall ranking at the 5A level at 170 pounds entering the district tournament. It’s safe to say that he’s also not interested in anything less than reaching the championship final, at district or state. “I know what I’m capable of and I know where I’ve been at and that’s just not good enough for me,” says Winningham, 18. “I don’t want to settle for good enough. I’ve always trained hard enough to be the best and to get second, third or fourth … I’m capable of more.” Count senior teammate Cavin Gillispie as one of Winningham’s biggest supporters. The two are training partners in the Crater wrestling room and are on a similar mission, since Gillispie, too, has yet to earn a district or state title despite advancing to state three years in a row. Gillispie placed third at 182 last year and was fourth at 170 in 2014, and the duo earned all-state recognition at linebacker this past fall. “He’s a real down to earth guy and he deserves everything he’s worked for,” Gillispie says of Winningham. “I think what really makes him tough is how much he wants it and how hard he works for it. Wrestling is a sport that he really loves and has loved since he was a kid. I know both of our goals is to win a state title and me pushing him and him pushing me, that’s how we’re going to get there.” Gillispie says Winningham’s ability to stay in good position and capitalize when he attacks and gets others in bad position has been his strength over the years. Haga says a willingness to battle every second he’s on the mat has served Winningham well. “He’s always been one that I never put the realm of winning out of the picture,” says Haga. “Definitely this year he has a better shot than he’s had the last three years. I think he’s right there and if he just follows suit with what he’s done in the past where he wrestles his best at the end of the year, that makes him real tough to beat when it comes to those tough final matches.” If anything, Winningham says his desire to become a state champion has more to do with those who came before him at Crater than anything else. “Nobody remembers that guy won Reser’s or whatever,” he says. “You look at the end and say that guy’s a state champion and then you’re up on the Crater wall forever.” Being on that wall, with some of the best wrestlers in any era, is a huge deal for someone like Winningham, who began wrestling at age 8. “Almost every practice I look up and see all the state champions and I’ve always wanted to be there,” he says. “Ever since I was little going up there in that wrestling room, I was mesmerized by that wall and I’ve just really wanted to be up there with them.” Only time will tell if that happens, but Winningham vows he won’t be holding anything back. “I’m geared up for everything and I’m going to give it my all at district and at state,” he says. “Both times I’ve come so close and just haven’t got it done but I know what I’m capable of and what I can accomplish.” Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:09 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Challengers make it back on top in softball Winning the Southern Cascade League title seemed like a pretty bold goal this spring considering the recent history of the Cascade Christian... 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