Collin Swinehart, one of the top wrestlers in Class 5A, practices on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at Central High School in Independence, Ore.
INDEPENDENCE – Collin Swinehart has been close to being a champion so many times that it seems unfair.
The Central High School senior placed second or third at district and state tournaments four times in his first three years of high school wrestling.
He knows well how it feels to come close to being a champion, but not being close enough.
“It kind of sucks, but I feel like it kind of pushes you to work harder,” Swinehart said. “I worked hard all these years and I still didn’t quite make it. I pretty much have to work hard and keep pushing myself.”
It pushed him to spend a month last summer at a wrestling camp.
Being close, but not quit a champion is what has motivated Swinehart to get better.
As a junior Swinehart lost in the district and state finals to Crescent Valley senior Alex Rich, the latter by a pin in 26 seconds.
“Last year it was a pretty easy solution to figure out, don’t wrestle the four-time state champion,” Central coach Van Holstad said. “That’s the variable we had to deal with last year.
“This year, there comes a point when if you do all you can do outside of the season and then do everything your coaches ask you to do inside the season, you live it, you breathe it, you still only have a 90 to 95 percent chance of winning, and that’s the upper level.”
Being the youngest of three wrestler brothers Swinehart grew up tough.
The games the brothers made up and played sound unnecessarily tough.
“They used to beat the crap out of me when I was little,” Swinehart said. “I remember once they tied me to the trampoline in the middle of summer.
“We’d play like we’d call it trampoline football on our knees and we would just beat the snot out of each other. Or couch football. We’d beat the crap out of each other.”
Swinehart’s older brother, Tanner, was the state champion at 170 pounds as a senior last season.
The youngest Swinehart started this season ranked No. 2 in the 152 pound weight class.
Being overlooked is nothing new to him.
“I’ve been taking the Swinehart’s around the state for a long time because they were the ones who wanted to do it with the USA stuff, so I’ve been taking Tanner and Collin around,” Holstad said.
“It always seemed like Collin was in the most brutal weight class every time. And I knew he was tough back then. Usually the little brothers are used to trying to hold their own against the big brothers. I’m the youngest of my family, too, so I know what it’s like to stand your grown. Collin, he’s a tough kid, and he’s a fearless competitor, which is nice.”
Swinehart spent the past few summers in Michigan with his mother, Clarissa, but last summer he decided to spend time wrestling since he was in the Midwest already.
He spent 28 days of his summer at the J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp at Minnesota.
It was exactly the edge he needed to get to the level of being a champion.
“You work out like four times a day,” Swinehart said. “It’s crazy. I liked it a lot, though. Kids there are like I can’t wait to get home. I get to the last week, and I’m like I don’t want to go home.
“I like it a lot because pretty much it’s like you’re just focusing on wrestling. Everyone’s there to get better. That’s what everyone’s goal is to be a state champ and just to get better.”
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Collin Swinehart, right, one of the top wrestlers in Class 5A, practices with Marlon Tuipulotu on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at Central High School in Independence, Ore.
Greater Valley Conference
McKay
Coach: Troy Thomas, second year
Last year’s placing: Seventh in GVC, 41st in 6A
Key athletes
Matthew Jarding, Jr.,: A returning state qualifier and strong athlete who makes an impact.
Adam Dryden, Sr.: Placed fifth at the district meet at 160 pounds last year.
Jaime Lara, Sr.,: Was one match short of placing at the district tournament a year ago.
Outlook: The Royal Scots have a young team, but the numbers are up significantly this season and the team has the potential to place in the top five of the conference.
McNary
Coach: Jason Ebbs, 13th year
Last year’s placing: Third in GVC, 13th in 6A
Key athletes
Brayden Ebbs, So.: Placed sixth at the state meet as a freshman and was a district finalist who has the tools to reach new heights.
Joey Kibbey, Sr.: A district runner-up last year who qualified for the state meet.
Jon Phelps, Sr.: A strong wrestler who was a district runner-up as a junior.
Outlook: The Celtics return eight wrestlers who placed at the district meet last year and have the potential to challenge for the top spot of the conference.
North Salem
Coach: Andy Pickett, sixth year
Last year’s placing: Fifth in GVC, 20th in 6A
Key athletes
Adan Ramos, Sr.: Placed third in the district as a junior and placed at the state meet.
Ian Carlos, Fr.: One of the top freshmen in the state, he was a triple crown champion a year ago in middle school.
Brandon Quezada, Jr.: A state meet qualifier as a sophomore who also made the national meet in freestyle and Greco last year.
Outlook: The Vikings have an experienced group of upperclassmen and combine them with a strong group of young wrestlers that give the team potential to move up.
South Salem
Coach: Eric Zehner, fourth year
Last year’s placing: Ninth in GVC, 22nd in 6A
Key athletes
Tanner Stones, Sr.: Placed fourth at the state meet as a junior.
Edwin Montez, Sr.: Had a strong junior year, including placing fifth at the state meet.
Vincent Villarreal, Sr.: A state qualifier as a junior who will be tough to beat at the upper weights.
Outlook: The team has a good group of seniors and a promising group of young wrestlers.
Sprague
Coach: Nolan Harris, first year
Last year’s placing: GVC champions, seventh in 6A
Key athletes
Jordan Short, Jr.: Placed fifth at the state tournament as a sophomore.
Jacob Nelson, Sr.: A conference runner-up and state tournament qualifier as a junior.
Tanner Sorensen, Jr.: The conference runner-up who starts the season ranked No. 1 in the state.
Outlook: Harris, a Sprague graduate who spent six years ending in 2013 as coach at North Medford, has a strong group between eight district placers and some accomplished newcomers.
West Salem
Coach: Mike Baker, third year
Last year’s placing: Eighth in GVC, 25th in 6A
Key athletes
Hunter Lucas, Jr.: Placed fourth in the district at 152 pounds last season.
Matt Manus, Fr.: A wrestler with the potential to be one of the team’s top heavy wrestlers.
Outlook: The Titans are young this year and its athletes will be an up and coming team.
The rest of the GVC
Forest Grove: The Vikings have some solid wrestlers, but not the depth to compete for the top spot in the conference.
McMinnville: The Grizzlies are ranked No. 3 in state in the preseason and will compete for the top spot in the conference.
West Albany: The Bulldogs are young, but have the potential to have several district champions.
Area leagues
Mid-Willamette Conference: Dallas has ruled the conference in recent years, having won six straight district championships. The Dragons are a heavy favorite to win the conference this season, and place high in the state with state placers Jeffy Dunagan, Tanner Earhart, Noah Sickles, Sammy Chung, Cody Janssen and Treve Earhart. Central returns a pair of state runner-ups in senior Collin Swinehart and junior Marlon Tuipulotu along with a district champion in David Megrete and has the athletes to move up in the conference.
4A Special District 2: Sweet Home is the favorite to win the conference again, but Cascade’s depth will make it a contender. Stayton returns a regional champion in senior Timothy Coblentz along with district placers in Cleveland Smith, Ryan Ninman and Levi Summers, who qualified for state as a freshman.
3A Special District 2: Scio and Willamina should have a tight battle for the top spot in the conference. Willamina returns district champions in Michael Reyes and Austin Howard while Scio has a strong group of heavyweights in Avery McDaniel, Dillon Robison and Justin Parazoo. Jefferson returns district champions and state placers in Justus Arlandson and Jacob Sobel and will be a contender at the district level. Amity has a state qualifier in senior Louden Andrews and a promising senior in Troy Cole. Sheridan has a state placer in Remy Tapia-Bravo and senior Oscar Tapia-Bravo will challenge for a spot in the state tournament.
2A/1A Special District 3: Culver is always the favorite in the conference and Central Linn should be competitive. Santiam has a former state qualifier in junior Robbi Archer and a district placer in senior Michael Dayton.