The La Grande girls wrestling team celebrate a 4A/3A/2A/1A District 1 team title and a host of state qualifiers on Feb. 17, 2024. 

SCAPPOOSE — Preparing for a run at a state team title, the La Grande girls wrestling team overwhelmed the competition, claiming the 4A/3A/2A/1A District 1 team title on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Scappoose High School.

Claiming three individual titles and 13 wrestlers qualifying for the state tournament, the Tigers ended the meet with 328 points, well ahead of second-place Crook County’s 152.5 points. Tillamook, Vale and St. Helens closed out the top five in the team scores.

The Elgin girls finished 22nd in the team scores with 31 points. Imbler placed 24th after putting up 28 points and Union/Cove tied with Enterprise/Wallowa for 35th.

The top five individuals in each weight class qualify for the upcoming state meet.

In addition to the team title, La Grande’s Maleigha Azure was named Outstanding Wrestler of the event and head coach Krystal Fabricante, in her first year of coaching, picked up District Coach of the Year.

At 105 pounds, the final match was all Tigers as junior Kierstyn Azure pinned teammate and senior Dora Galindo for the district title at the 3 minute, 52 second mark of the match. Both could see each other again in the finals of the state tournament.

Maleigha Azure also took her district title by pin, downing Nyssa’s Abigail Mardock at the 1:01 point in the match. Azure heads to the state tournament with a 30-7 season mark.

The third district title went to La Grande senior Kaitlin Brock at 155 pounds. Brock went the full three rounds, taking a 6-1 decision over Baker/Powder Valley’s Marli Lind for the first place showing.

Elgin will send two competitors to the state tournament as Olivia Farris (105 pounds) and Jacie Lathrop (120 pounds) both managed fifth place showings.

The trip to state will be solo for Imbler’s Lucy Camacho as the junior is the lone Panther to qualify for the state meet after placing third at 155 pounds.

The following local wrestlers qualified for the OSAA Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament Feb. 22-24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland:

100 pounds: Carleigh Radke, La Grande

105 pounds: Kiertyn Azure, La Grande; Dora Galindo, La Grande; Olivia Farris, Elgin

110 pounds: Florecita Villagomez, La Grande

115 pounds: Lyndie Isaacson, La Grande; Avery Robinson, La Grande

120 pounds: Jacie Lathrop, Elgin

125 pounds: Maleigha Azure, La Grande

130 pounds: Rilley Robinson, La Grande

135 pounds: Paige Allen, La Grande

145 pounds: Lainey Wolfe, La Grande

155 pounds: Kaitlin Brock, La Grande; Lucy Camacho, Imbler

170 pounds: Maddy Armstrong, La Grande

235 pounds: Macy Iramk, La Grande