Mt. Hood Conference Athletes to Watch: 2024-25 Wrestling

Published 12:24 pm Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Aaron Burke, Sandy junior

Burke is back, bringing continuity to a Pioneers squad hit hard by the loss of several talented seniors to graduation. On the heels of a 6th-place finish at state, he has bumped up to wrestle at 113 this year. He is the standout leader on the mat and in the locker room for a Pioneers program with plenty of buzz, and will be key in the team’s Mt. Hood Conference title defense (which would make it three in a row).

Dominic Macon, Nelson senior

Perhaps the most imposing figure to matchup against on the mat, the Nelson star doesn’t know much about losing. Last year he won the state championship without losing a match all season. It is hard to imagine anyone being able to pin him — with size, strength and surprising quickness that often catches rival grapplers wrongfooted.

Kevin Thogonmar, Gresham senior

Last season’s district runner-up and a state qualifier at his weight class, Thogonmar is the heart and soul of a surging Gophers program. He has a passion for the sport and has spent the offseason further honing his skills. He is a true technician on the mat, using his footwork and knowledge to secure pins.

Abby Richard, Barlow junior

As an underclassman, Richard draped herself in historic glory last year, earning distinction as the Bruins first girls state placer after claiming a bronze medal. She has plenty of grit — last year she bounced back from an opening round loss to cruise through the consolation bracket, including a victory over the No. 2-seeded wrestler. Richard leads a strong contingent of Barlow girls this season, all of whom want to join her in making some postseason noise.

McKenzie Mills, David Douglas senior

Another local girl wrestler who showed a whole bunch of resilience last season. Mills was the No. 2 seed in the 6A/5A girls 190-pound state tournament, but lost a 5-2 decision in the semifinals to Eagle Point’s Alixia Hernandez. But she bounced right back to win her final two matches and take home a third place finish. With state champion Ali Martinez of McNary gone due to graduation, Mills is likely a favorite once again at 190 if she stays at that weight class.

Travis Hull, Reynolds senior

The football star is just as impressive on the mat. He is able to overwhelm opponents with his speed and strength for the early pin, as well as come out ahead of a prolonged duel thanks to his equally impressive technical skillset. Last year wrestling at 157 pounds he won at districts.

Garrett Head, Barlow senior

No you aren’t reading that incorrectly, one of the most talented wrestlers has switched uniforms. After a strong stint with Sandy, Head now joins Barlow for his final year. He is a talented grappler coming into the year with a lot to prove — a deadly combo. After winning a district title and placing 5th at state as a sophomore, he dropped out of the district meet after a quarterfinal victory with the Pioneers. Now as a Bruin he will look to return to his winning ways.

Caleb Enoch, Clackamas sophomore

Enoch burst onto the high school wrestling scene last year with a 32-7 regular season record which earned him the No. 3 seed at state in the 106-pound division. His success continued at state — in the semifinals against the No. 2 seed Elijah Borrayo from Lincoln, Enoch won a 12-4 major decision before dropping the state bout 7-0. Back in 2024-2025, look for Enoch to carry the torch for a Cavaliers program that took fourth last year as a team, but graduated many seniors.

Owen Granberg, Gresham senior

A returning bronze medalist at districts and another Gopher state qualifier, Granberg is a scrapper on the mat with a strong ability to counter his opponents moves. He is precise, and a dangerous athlete to face due to his versality and bag of tricks. He is also a vocal leader for Gresham.

Nick Yarnell, Bradley Green, Nick Harrell and Jared Scott, Sandy seniors

How do you pick just one? The Pioneers roster is filled with talented seniors ready to step up. All four of Yarnell, Green, Harrell and Scott and battle-tested grapplers, with plenty of experience and talent to draw upon. They all have the potential to not only get to state, but place highly. This is the core of what has Sandy so excited, and why the Pioneers were picked to finish 7th in the state in the preseason coaches poll.

James Korman, Barlow senior

Another returning leader for the Bruins, Korman had a strong showing last year — he placed third at the district meet. He is powerful on the mat, able to leverage his size to overwhelm opponents and seek out those quick pins. In his final year he will once again look to bolster Barlow’s program and have a strong showing in the late tourneys.

Jorge Docasal, Gresham junior

Docasal’s coaches call him the “future of Gresham wrestling,” a moniker well-earned through his talent and work ethic. Last season as an underclassman he was one placement shy of earning a berth to the state tournament. That will likely change this time around. He has relentless aggression and tenacity on the mat.

Olin Storlie and Layth Qouchbane, Barlow freshmen

Storied examples of the Bruins robust youth program. Both talented newcomers to high school wrestling come with skills and knowledge well beyond their youth, courtesy the Barlow Mat Club, which works with elementary and middle school wrestlers. That program, helmed by Coach Scott Luna, grew to 120 participants this year, instilling a love of the sport that has uplifted the growth of the high school team. Storlie and Qouchbane are the latest in what should be a continuous pipeline of young grapplers.

Cassidy Nelson, Gresham sophomore

One of two returning girls to the mat for the Gophers. Nelson brings quickness and athleticism, and is a vocal leader for the program. She has a great shot to not only win big duels in conference, but push for a coveted ticket to state.