Dusty Fiske – IVN contributing writer

The Illinois Valley High School girls wrestling team went to their first district tournament in Cottage Grove last weekend. They finished 32nd of 48 teams but have four of their five wrestlers back next year. The only senior, Sarah White, finished her career winning four of her six matches, three by pin, to finish in sixth place. Morgan Melton won three of her five matches while Kaitlyn White won one of her three. Coaches Jesse Clark and Shelbie Mason are extremely proud of the girls’ accomplishments in their first year of competition.
The boys go to Lowell this weekend to defend the district championship they won last year. This year’s team has been very successful and Coach Clark and Griffey hope to qualify enough wrestlers to move up one place at the state tournament. Last year they finished second.
Coach Clark, after two long days of seeding meetings, sent me the seeds in the district tournament

106

1 Mike Miller (17-5) #3 James Conn (18-6)

113

1 Micah Martinho (29-1) #3 Grit Charitram (4-7)

120

3 Ethan Green (16-11)

not seeded Devon Peters (3-5)

126

1 Talen Shaffer (24-10)

3 Ebyn Lindsey (27-7)

132

3 Alex Aiassa (2-2)

not seeded Samuel Serroni (5-7)

138

1

Ryon Martinho (32-4)
not seeded Jose Guerra (4-8)

145

3 Cole Nerple (10-10)

152

1 Ryan Griffin (18-0)

3 Jahsiah Demuth (14-12)

160

2

Jozia Williams (25-9)
not seeded Cameron Shinault (0-12)

170

3 Kaiden Green (16-15)

182
Not seeded Dylan Hall (4-18)

285

3 Riley Denlinger (4-8)

This year we have four defending district champions and three that took second in districts. Mike Miller and Ryon Martinho won districts in 2021-2022 and Ryon took second in 2019-2020.
The Cougars are sending a very strong team to districts and hope to see a very large and vocal crowd from Cave Junction to cheer them on.