Raider Wrestlers Set School Record with 7 State Qualifiers

Eight Raider Wrestlers traveled to Lakewood High School for Individual Regionals with the goal of qualifying for Individual State Finals at Ford Field on March 6th and 7th. In order to qualify for individual states, a wrestler must place in the top four in their weight class at regionals, making them one of the top 16 wrestlers in the state.

Of the eight Raiders who wrestled Saturday, seven wrestlers placed and qualified for states, setting a new Portland record (previously 6, in which the team tied last year). Caiden Pelc at 119 lbs took 1st, Isaiah Pelc at 125 lbs placed 4th, Trent Treirwieler at 135 lbs placed 4th, Jared Thelen at 140 lbs placed 3rd, Marty Thelen at 152 lbs placed 2nd, Dillon Vroman at 171 lbs placed 3rd and Branson Goodman at 215 lbs became Portland’s first ever freshman to win a regional championship!

Coach Pulling said, “It was our mission on Saturday to wrestle well and that morning we set a goal to break the school record for state qualifiers. This is a special group of guys who are capable of meeting very high expectations. We are postseason warriors.”

The Raiders are off this week and will travel to Ford Field Thursday night to prepare for the state tournament which takes place Friday, March 6th and Saturday March 7th.

If you’re planning on supporting the Raiders contact Coach Pulling for details and a link to their team-specific state finals merchandise: apulling@portlandk12.org

Image courtesy of Renae Goodman.