Central Oregon wrestlers capture state titles at OSAA championships
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon wrestlers put on a powerful performance at the 2025-26 OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union Wrestling State Championships, held Thursday February 26th through Saturday February 28th, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Crook County’s girls team led the way, capturing the 6A/5A state title with seven podium finishes. The Cowgirls tallied 140 points to edge Dallas, which finished second with 130. For first-year head coach Sam Schmitz, who previously wrestled for Newberg and served as an assistant for Crook County, it was a special debut season.
“I think it just shows the resilience of our kids,” Schmitz said. “Even when it wasn’t going great, they were still fighting and battling and standing behind each other. It’s pretty cool to be a part of.”
The Cowgirls were led by sisters Lauren and Taylor Echeverria, who both reached the finals, while teammates Chevelle Boynton, Emerie Cox, Maylee Yancey, Hazell Harris and Jolisa Martinez also earned top-six finishes to secure crucial team points.
On the boys’ side, Crook County placed third in the 5A division with 187.5 points, while the Redmond Panthers finished fourth with 119.5 — marking their sixth straight season with a state trophy. In the 2A/1A bracket, the Culver Bulldogs claimed first place, continuing their strong wrestling tradition.
In individual competition, Crook County junior Chase Hemphill captured his first state title, while Bend High’s Leif Larwin continued his dominance with a third straight championship in three years.
KTVZ News extends a big congratulations to all of Central Oregon’s wrestlers and teams that competed at this year’s state championships.
For the full list of competitions and results, visit the OSAA website.
