Tribal member Jordan Reyes wins state wrestling title

After two consecutive frustrating years of finishing second at the Oregon School Activities Association’s state wrestling tournament held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Grand Ronde Tribal member and Willamina High School junior Jordan Reyes finally won his final match of the year to take home a state title.

Reyes, wrestling at 106 pounds in Class 3A, defeated Cascade Christian’s Ryan Vidlak 3-0 to win his first state championship.

“I’ve been working really hard for this,” Reyes told the Salem Statesman-Journal. “For two years, I’ve lost in the state finals, so to be that close and not get your goal, it hurts. (This win) is indescribable. Just looking at my coaches and knowing how hard they’ve worked and how hard they’ve helped me, they deserve it, too.”

On his way to the title, Reyes defeated Jessie Valles of Illinois Valley, Efrain Caldera of Nyssa and Russell Talmadge of Harrisburg all by pins.

Reyes’ championship helped the combined team of Willamina and Falls City win the Class 3A wrestling team title.

Other Willamina wrestlers who did well included Keegan Cook, who won the 3A state title at 285 pounds; Noah Sickles, who finished second at 160 pounds; and Jordan Mode, who finished second in the 220-pound division.

Tribal member and Willamina freshman Moses Mercier finished fifth in the 113-pound division in his first high school championship event.

In addition, Tribal spouse and Willamina High wrestling coach Ariah Fasana, who is married to Tribal Court Administrator Angela Fasana, was named Class 3A Coach of the Year.