PORTLAND — When Jared Henry is on a wrestling mat, he gives people reason to notice.
North Marion’s Lane Stigall tries to break free of Tillamook’s Tylor Garcia at the OSAA state wrestling tournament on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. Stigall won the match up.
When the Dayton High School junior pinned Brady Jarrett of Coquille in 2:45 or McKay Bennett of Vale in 3:45 in Friday’s first two rounds of the OSAA Class 3A wrestling tournament at Memorial Coliseum, he was as dominant as he was in his run to winning a state championship two years ago.
When Henry isn’t on the mat, people notice.
Henry is the No. 1 seed in the 138-pound weight class and wrestles Pleasant Hill’s Jim Pray in Saturday morning’s semifinal round.
“I think I can win another state championship,” said Henry, son of Dayton coach Rob Henry. “I’m feeling good. Obviously Titus Rice (the No. 2-seeded freshman from Creswell) is a tough opponent, but I think I can do it.”
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He’s already overcome a lot off the mat so any obstacles on the mat seem less important.
Just after Christmas he was T-boned while driving in McMinnville, sustaining a strained MCL in his left knee and more.
“I jacked up this shoulder,” Henry said, pointing to his left shoulder. “We haven’t gone to the doctor for it yet. We were waiting until after the season.”
He missed a month of the season due to the injuries, but his comeback has gone well.
Henry won the district championship a week ago, but that – as he learned last year – is no guarantee.
Despite being a state champion as a freshman, he failed to make weight before the first round of the state meet a year ago and was forced to forfeit.
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“At the time it was really hard, especially while watching the finals matches,” Henry said. “I just came back here. I wanted to redeem myself from that.
“It was hard, but it was definitely a learning experience. Don’t leave it up to the scale that you have, definitely.”
Jefferson’s Justus Arlandson, a No. 4 seed, was upset by Glide’s Zach Holland in the quarterfinals by a 4-1 decision at 132 pounds.
Also at 132, Santiam Christian freshman Jason Manzi upset No. 3-seeded Glide junior Kasey Collier by a 4-3 decision in the quarterfinals.
Willamina junior Chase Onstot upset Riverside junior Anthony Kernal, the No. 3 seed, by a 3-2 decision in his 220-pound quarterfinal.
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Class 4A
In his chase for a second consecutive state championship, North Marion junior Lane Stigall dispatched two opponents with a pin and a technical fall to move into Saturday’s semifinal round where he will face a familiar opponent.
Stigall will face off in the 152-pound semifinals against Cascade senior James Baxter, who he defeated 15-4 in the district finals a week ago.
Baxter upset No. 4 seeded Cole Skramstad of McLoughlin by a 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals to advance to the rematch with Stigall.
North Marion’s Triston Rostocil upset No. 1 seeded Grayson Jensen of La Grande by a 5-3 decision at the 120-pound weight class then pinned Alvin Lopez of Gladstone to move into the state semifinals.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Dayton’s Jared Henry holds onto Vale’s McKay Bennett at the OSAA state wrestling tournament on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. Henry won the match by fall.