La Grande's Bragen Anderson turns his opponent during the Muilenburg Tournament in La Grande on Dec. 9, 2023. 

PRINEVILLE — Crook County had the advantage of the home mat for the 4A Special District 4 meet and claimed the district team title after a day of wrestling action on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The Cowboys ended the day with 440.5 points, while La Grande compiled 324.5 points on its way to claiming six individual district champions. Pendleton finished the day in third with a 260-point total, while Baker/Powder Valley picked up fourth with 183.5 points. The Dalles rounded out the top five with 110.5 points, followed by Ontario in sixth and Madras in seventh.

The Tigers will send 12 to the OSAA Class 4A state wrestling tournament. Included in those qualifiers will be newly crowned district champion sophomore Bragen Anderson. Taking the mat at 106 pounds, Anderson garnered an 11-4 decision over Crook County’s Casen Villastrigo in the battle for first place and will make a state title run after wrestling to a 35-4 record this season.

Senior and Eastern Oregon University-bound Kai Carson will make his final trip to the state tournament after claiming the district title at 132 pounds by taking a major decision win over Crook County’s Alberto Flores by a score of 13-1. Carson stands with a 24-6 record on the year.

At 144 pounds, sophomore Tommy Belding also claimed a district championship after taking a major decision 16-5 win over Crook County’s Chase Brumble in the final match. Belding has been busy on the mats this season, wrestling 45 matches and ending the season 40-5.

In the closest title match on Feb. 10, Riley Krantz handed the Tigers a district championship with a 5-4 decision over Pendleton’s Kainen Zimmerman wrestling at 157 pounds. Krantz will make his push for a state championship sporting a 26-13 season record.

La Grande senior Ridge Kehr will make his final trip to Portland as a district champion in the 165-pound class after he pinned Pendleton’s Aidan Perkins at the 1 minute, 2 second mark in the final match. Kehr has compiled a 39-8 mark for the year.

At 285 pounds, Kenai Huff also won by pin. Huff was crowed a district champion after taking Pendleton’s Nathan Neveau to his back at the 2:22 mark and will compete for a state title after a season that saw him finish 30-5.

The following La Grande High wrestlers qualified for the OSAA Class 4A state tournament Feb. 22-24 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland:

106 pounds: Bragen Anderson, sophomore, Special District 4 Champion

106 pounds: Darren Gulzow, freshman

120 pounds: Bobby Gulzow, junior

126 pounds: Michael Gisi, senior

132 pounds: Kai Carson, senior, Special District 4 Champion

132 pounds: Mason Wolcott, senior

144 pounds: Tommy Belding, sophomore, Special District 4 Champion

157 pounds: Riley Krantz, sophomore, Special District 4 Champion

165 pounds: Ridge Kehr, senior, Special District 4 Champion

175 pounds: Preston Westenskow, junior

215 pounds: Dex Dunlap, freshman

285 pounds: Kenai Huff, junior, Special District 4 Champion