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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW John Lennon Tour Bus teaches North Medford students about music recording ... State bill would bar medical pot grows in rural residential zones ... Bates' suction-dredge bill dies in committee ... John Lennon Tour Bus teaches North Medford students about music recording ... State bill would bar medical pot grows in rural residential zones ... Bates' suction-dredge bill dies in committee ... PREP WRESTLING Back for more North Medford senior Westfall eyes repeat title Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 5:56 PM Updated Feb 24, 2016 at 8:56 PM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 5:56 PM Updated Feb 24, 2016 at 8:56 PM --> Wyatt Westfall WHO: A 5-foot-11 senior on the North Medford wrestling team. WHAT: Westfall became the second wrestler in North Medford history to earn a state title... » Read more X Wyatt Westfall WHO : A 5-foot-11 senior on the North Medford wrestling team. WHAT : Westfall became the second wrestler in North Medford history to earn a state title and is the No. 1 seed at 170 pounds for his bid to repeat. He boasts a 20-2 record heading into the tourney. UP NEXT : Friday-Saturday, Class 6A state tournament, Memorial Coliseum in Portland. » Social News Wyatt Westfall proved last season at the Class 6A wrestling state tournament that he doesn’t mind a challenge. This season, it’s not about proving anything for the North Medford senior standout. For Westfall, who was the state champion at 170 pounds in 2015, this weekend’s tournament is all about making the most of his abilities and enjoying one final run as a Black Tornado. “I’m excited for it,” he says. “I’m counting down the days.” Westfall is the No. 1 seed at 170 this time around, and expects to be considerably more comfortable on the Memorial Coliseum stage than in his two prior trips to state. He didn’t place as a freshman, was injured and didn’t qualify during his sophomore year but took the tourney by storm last year when he took down the Nos. 3, 2 and 1 seeds in order en route to only the second state title for the North Medford program since the Medford School District split into two high schools in 1986. “Coming in this year, I feel like I’m a little more confident and already know what the big stage is like so every match is going to feel a little more normal,” says Westfall, 17. “I think it’s going to be a lot more fun this year.” Westfall is one of 10 wrestlers from North Medford who will compete at the state tourney beginning Friday in Portland, and one of several capable of finishing as a state placer. Senior Henry Cox is the No. 2 seed at 113 pounds and has placed third for the past two seasons, while senior Cole Hornbrook is seeded seventh at 160 but placed third last year and senior Luke Mackey is the No. 5 seed at 138. Senior Caleb Dix is seeded seventh at 145, with juniors Dominic Deitrick (126) and Justin Geyer (182) joined by freshmen Tanner Ulrey (106), Thomas Hamilton (132) and Julian Stone (285) also qualifying for state. “We’ll have a lot of kids being right up there but it’s always up to them whether they place or not,” says Black Tornado head coach Phillip Lopez. That sentiment certainly took hold with Westfall one year ago when faced with obstacles at every turn in pursuit of his ultimate goal. His drive for the title truly kicked in with a 6-3 decision over No. 3 seed Jacob Taylor of West Linn in the quarterfinals, then he topped No. 2 seed Zephraim Childs of Barlow 4-3 in the semifinals before taking the match to top-seeded Corson Davis of Sprague for a 3-2 win in the finals. Not bad for someone who was admittedly nervous when he trotted out for his first-round match as the No. 6 seed against McMinnville’s Josh Blanchard, which he won 11-4. “Last year when I walked out there, because I hadn’t been there since I was a freshman, that first day my knees got a little weak,” says Westfall. “But after that first match I was ready to go.” While the nerves won’t necessarily be there this time around, a high expectation level certainly will be present. “There’s probably a little pressure just because I won state last year,” says Westfall, “but I’m still going into it like I did last year, working hard inside the wrestling room and outside the wrestling room with my running and getting the cardio I need so I can come back and defend my title.” One thing is sure, Westfall and his senior running mates definitely have what it takes to finish on top. “Those guys have never held anything back,” says Lopez. “Just knowing it’s almost the end of the road for their high school careers and that they’ve all grown up together and each other will be moving on after this, I’m sure they’re going to give it all they have.” Given that he’s done it before, Westfall obviously is North Medford’s top hope at gaining a state title for a third straight year. Trent Wilson won in 2014 but a torn biceps muscle limited him to a fourth-place showing last year. Westfall knows all about overcoming adversity of his own, battling through injury last year and coming back from a dislocated elbow suffered at the beginning of this season. “He’s just a tough kid,” says Lopez. “He won a state title last year with a torn meniscus and never complained about it and then after the season had surgery. It’s just one of those things, he’s not going to let anything stop him.” Westfall enters the tournament with a 20-2 record, with both losses coming by virtue of injury defaults earlier this year, and hasn’t given up a takedown all season. “He’s pretty stingy and fights for everything and doesn’t give up anything,” says Lopez. “If he wrestles good, I think he’ll have a better than good chance at winning it.” Missing time earlier this season, especially not being able to compete at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions or Doc Buchanan Invitational, makes this weekend’s state tournament all that more special for Westfall. Even though he’s ranked first at his weight, he vows that he won’t be taking anything for granted once he steps out on the mat. “I’ve just got to focus on my wrestling,” says Westfall, who is a two-time district champion after being runner-up as a freshman. “It doesn’t matter who’s there in front of you, you’ve still got to wrestle tough and have great position and work hard all the time.” That said, earning a second state title and possibly joining with his teammates to earn the program’s third state trophy — North placed third last year and in 2010 — won’t be far from his thoughts while in Portland. “Getting that second state title would probably be a lot better than just one I feel like and also help get our program a lot bigger than it is right now,” he says. “I feel like our team’s really tough this year and we have a goal of a top three or four team trophy so hopefully we can all wrestle hard and make that happen.” Roseburg, winner of two straight team titles and seven of the last nine, is the overwhelming team favorite again. David Douglas, Newberg, McMinnville and Glencoe also expect to contend for a 6A trophy. 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. 24, 2016 at 5:56 PM Updated Feb 24, 2016 at 8:56 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry OSAA puts pitchers, coaches on notice The art of pitching has always been a subject near and dear to the heart of North Medford baseball coach Brett Wolfe. So when the Oregon... Varsity 541 Photos South vs Grants Pass South vs South Eugene South vs Roseburg North vs. Willamette North vs Grants Pass Cascade Christian vs. St. Mary's » More Photo Galleries Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Contact Us | Advertise | © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.