As the 2024-2025 wrestling season came to an end, two wrestlers representing the High School claimed their state champion titles. Oscar Doces, senior, and Darion Johnson, freshmen, became state champions, leaving their legacy on the wrestling team’s history. 

On Feb. 28, the process began as 15 wrestlers headed to the state competition at the Colosseum Museum. The tournament concluded on March 1, and the team returned home ready to collect two more state championship trophies and to see their names added to the coveted West Linn wrestling hall of fame. 

Among the names that are soon to be added to the record, Ryder Sprague, junior, will be remembered for his victory as state champion runner-up. 

“We may not be the best team every year, but we have the best groups of guys, the best coaching staff, and we have this super cool culture,” Sprague said. 

One of the youngest wrestlers on the team currently, Max Bell, sophomore, took fifth at the state competition, but the more important victory in his mind came from results at the district tournament. 

“My proudest moment was probably winning districts after making a pretty big upset in the final,” Bell said. 

Prior to claiming first at districts, Bell placed fourth at Reser’s Varsity Tournament of Champions this season. 

When the wrestling season kicked off on Oct. 14, it signified a start to a rigorous season for many wrestlers. 

“Preparing for state was actually pretty hard, it was three practices a day for three months,” Bell said. “[Wrestling] is a winter sport, but it’s also a year-round sport. We started preparing in August.” 

Extensive training is often a shared experience between teammates. Long hours in the weight room and on the mats, all for a common goal. 

“For me specifically, it’s a whole year of preparation,”  Sprague said. “I’m still training now, in preparation [for next season].” 

For Nate Gusdorf, these preparations include cutting weight. Weight classes in wrestling organize athletes into categories in which they compete. A common wrestling strategy involves cutting weight to fit into the lower weight class, which can lead to success during matches. 

“You want to cut water out 24 to 48 hours out from a tournament. 24 to 48 hours before you don’t want to drink water because that’s what weighs the most,” Gusdorf said.

Gusdorf finished eighth in the state. As a senior, this was his last season of wrestling. The team competed at senior night on Feb. 6, honoring the eight total seniors on the team. 

Gusdorf has spent all four years of his high school career on the wrestling team, competing in tournaments and paving the way for success. 

“Hopefully, I made my coach proud,” Gusdorf said. “It’s a sport I’ve had all my life, and it’s something I can always go back to. Even when I don’t wrestle, it’s something I can be proud of.” 

Sprague finished second in state, his third season at the school. 

“I come from a wrestling family, my dad, my uncle, my grandpa, they all wrestled,” Sprague said. “A lot of people thought I was going to be pressured into wrestling, but my dad didn’t want that for me.”

Last season, Sprague placed fourth at state, and his hard work since then allowed him to claim second place in this year’s state tournament. 

“I ended up choosing wrestling, which I think was significant. Maybe I started a little late, but I chose it and I think that’s significant because that’s how much it means to me,” Sprague said.

Their season ended on a high note with the team earning a second place trophy.