FEBRUARY 2025 OSAA STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

What a fantastic tournament! The Parade of Champions with its stirring background music was inspirational and a reminder of how popular high school wrestling is. It was actually one of the best OSAA tournaments I have attended since we first started awarding the trophy in 2016. Congrats go out to Kelly Foster, the tournament director! Well done!

Our 2025 TSW Memorial Trophy girl recipient was Aurianna Van Houten, 120 lb. bracket, from 2A Oakland High School, Oakland, OR. Congratulations, Aurianna! (Unfortunately, we do not have a photo to share of her trophy presentation.)

Our 2025 TSW Memorial Trophy boy recipient was Owen Hull from Grants Pass. It was an exciting night for him as he not only received the trophy but also capped it off by winning his championship match, placing 1st in the 165 lb. 6A bracket!! Congratulations, state champion Owen! Retrieved from: https://www.osaa.org/today/article/4254/view: "Grants Pass senior Owen Hull (165), who won a title as a sophomore but missed the end of his junior season after having knee surgery, picked up his second championship. The top-seeded Hull pinned the No. 2 seed, Sprague senior Sullivan Puckett, in 50 seconds. β€œIt's kind of an exclamation point,” Hull said. β€œI wanted to come out and make a statement in my final match in high school.”

Our fantastic team of TSWWF directors and supporters deserve special thanks as follows:

  • To Kirk Klebaum and Chris Stratman for ensuring that the perpetual trophies came "home" to be presented again;
     
  • To Debbie Wilson for her invaluable minutes, vote tabulations, and last-minute handholding and pragmatic counsel;
     
  • To Melissa Papp for her expert PR and organizational skills (tracking down the over 190 addresses for wrestling coaches for the trophy ap mailer);
     
  • To Coach Doug Samarron for all his efforts in communicating with OSAA to make sure the arrangements were in place and we had a spot on the program.
     
  • To Patrick Barnes, Chris, Doug, and Ryan Biebler for being available for the Friday and Saturday night presentations at Memorial Coliseum center court;
     
  • To Ryan Biebler, our 2018 recipient, for his continued presence and support at OSAA State Wrestling tournaments.
     
  • And finally, thanks to each member of our team for taking the time to read, assess, and vote for their 2025 choices. It's a difficult and challenging task which we do not take lightly. The applications we receive reflect an outstanding segment of Oregon high school senior athletes who are accomplished, dedicated, skilled, and demonstrate great character. It encourages and inspires TSWWF to witness the caliber of student/athletes/citizens that are coming up as new generations assume their role in society. And lastly huge gratitude to all our local and national financial and nonprofit supporters. Without you, we could not continue to honor Tyrone by providing the financial assistance (over $140,000 since 2015 and $8000 each year for trophy and honorable mention scholarships) to the youth wrestling community. We are grateful for our donors!!!

As TSWWF president, I am personally grateful to our outstanding group of directors for their individual and team contributions to our cause as we continue to establish our nonprofit reputation to maintain Tyrone's heroic legacy as an American hero and to provide financial support for these fantastic young athletes.

Looking forward to the 2025-26 wrestling season! We hope you are, too.

TSWWF Cheryl, Kirk, Debbie, Doug, Bill, Chris, Jeff, Melissa, and Pat

 
news & events
Oregon City's Tyrone Woods to receive Congressional Gold Medal
Click here to read article

US Senators Wyden, Merkley Applaud Passage of Legislation Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Heroes Killed in 2012 Benghazi Consulate Attack
Click here to read article

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