PORTLAND — Mission accomplished. The La Grande girls are state champions.

The Tigers cruised to the OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A girls wrestling title on Friday, Feb. 23, by 22 points over Harrisburg, 102-80, claiming the crown a year after finishing fourth. The team earned a 21-point lead the first day (50-29) and never looked back at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

It is the first state crown for the Tiger program.

“Last year, we were hoping to get our first title, but this year really solidified how well the program is growing and how much the team is progressing,” said Tigers head coach Krystal Fabricante, of a program in its third season.

Eight of La Grande’s 13 state qualifiers — most at the tournament — entered the semifinals with seven of their 12 victories coming with bonus points.

“The difference this year for our returners was their understanding of the risk of loss,” Fabricante said. “We were hoping to do well last year, and this year a lot of the girls really stepped up and showcased themselves.”

Lyndie Isaacson claimed the Tigers’ first individual state title for the girls program, posting a pair of decisions at 115 pounds before pinning Crook County’s Taylor Echeverria in 1:31 seconds in the finals.

“Lyndie is always upbeat, happy and she always has a smile on her face,” Fabricante said. “She is always willing to listen to the criticism and adapt her wrestling style. Some athletes are go-getters, and I don’t have to tell her much because she knows her strengths.”

Isaacson tuned the tables on Echeverria, who beat her by a point in the finals of the regional tournament, by hooking up a cradle and putting her to her back.

Maleigha Azure also reached the finals at 125, pinning her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents. While Azure would fall to Sweet Home’s Bailey Chafin by pin in 1:15, it was a strong showing for a wrestler in her first year in the program after moving in from Montana.

“I was proud of Maleigha because she came in and understood nothing was going to be given to her — she had to go out and earn it,” Fabricante said.

Paige Allen rebounded from a 6-5 loss to Gervais’ Sariah Zepeda in the semifinals with a pair of dominating wins to take third. She pinned Banks’ McKenna Word in 22 seconds in the third-place match.

Maddy Armstrong also took third place at 170, dropping a 4-2 decision in sudden victory to St. Helens’ Jadyn Pense in the semifinals. Armstrong posted a 5-0 decision to reach the third-place match and pinned Tillamook’s Addison Josi in 50 seconds.

Nine wrestlers scored points at state to help the Tigers secure the title. Fabricante hopes her wrestlers will use the success and experience to springboard to even better things next season.

“At the beginning of the season, it seemed like we were a quarterfinals team (at state). We talked about pushing through and making it to the semifinals, and we did that,” she said. “Hopefully, next season we will get more in the finals and build on this success.”

The effort of the team and quick rise to the top was not lost on La Grande boys head coach Klel Carson.

“There is a great culture for wrestling in La Grande, from the little kids up to the middle school program,” he said. “It is a wrestling community, and it is amazing to be part of that. The people really support us.”