In the News: Russo carries on family tradition

Junior leads Newberg to fourth place by capturing the state championship at 125 pounds

PORTLAND — Wrestling has long been a family affair in Newberg, with the Russos regularly at the heart of a tight-knit community.
The state championship tournament has often been a showcase of the Tigers’ success over the years, but for a short while on Saturday night, Memorial Coliseum felt more like a family reunion as three generations of Russos briefly shared the spotlight.

After devastatingly close losses in the semifinals the past two years, junior Peter Russo defeated Nathan Piader of Grants Pass 10-5 to capture the 6A state title at 125 pounds and lead Newberg to fourth place.

After having his hand raised to raucous cheers from the Newberg fans, Russo embraced his father and coach, Neil, on the edge of the mat.

Then, 50 years after he won his first individual state title, legendary Tigers coach, National Wrestling Hall of Fame member and Neil’s father, Pete Russo, completed the circle by presenting his grandson with the championship medal and trophy on the podium.

“That was great,” Peter Russo said. “That was one of the best moments of my life.”

The moment almost didn’t happen, as Russo nearly suffered his third consecutive semifinal loss early in the day, but he survived four overtime periods to beat Josh Reyes of David Douglas 5-4.

Tied after three periods, neither wrestler scored in sudden victory or managed an escape in the ensuing two extra periods.
Russo had the option for position in the fourth and final overtime. He chose the down position and managed to escape with four seconds remaining to secure the victory.

“That’s about as close as you could cut it,” Neil Russo said. “If he gets ridden out, he loses.”

The first period of the championship match was a rollercoaster that saw both wrestlers fight off their backs as Russo took a 5-4 lead.
Piader then rode out the entire second period and was able to secure an escape early in the third round to tie the match at 5-5.

“I knew it was going to come down to being on our feet again,” Peter Russo said. “He’s real tough on the mat, but I knew I could take him down again.”

Russo not only took Piader down, but secured three back points and rode out the rest of the period for a vindicating 10-5 victory.
“It’s been a heartbreaker for him the last two years and as a dad, it’s been a heartbreaker for me,” Neil Russo said. “For him to get this was great. Kids that deserve it, you want to see them get that. And nobody works harder than that kid.”

Sophomore Garrett Rider avenged an earlier loss at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions by beating Hillsboro’s Dauki Willburn 7-0 in the championship quarterfinals, but fell 4-1 to Oregon City’s Kyle Sether in the 103-pound final.

“He had a great tournament,” Neil Russo said. “He didn’t place here last year, so to be a finalist and perform that way is excellent for him. I think he got a little taste of center mat on Saturday night and, hopefully, that drives him a little bit.”

Senior John Hatch, the No. 1 seed at 215 pounds, was upset 3-2 by Mick Dougharity of Barlow in the semifinals, but rebounded with a major decision and a pin to place third.

“He got taken down early in the match, kind of got caught straight-legged and in fact hurt his knee,” Neil Russo said. “He was not himself after that. The kid from Barlow is a good kid and I would have liked to see that match go another 20 seconds, or even two seconds, because (Hatch) had a takedown as time expired. But it wasn’t to be.”

Senior Nick Hettinga, seeded third at 140, also fell in the semifinals and came back to take third, beating Redmond’s Boomer Fleming 2-1 in the final match of his career.

“Neither (Hettinga) or (Hatch) came here to get third and it’s heartbreaking when you get stopped along the way and realize that everything you have worked for for a year or four years or 10 years is no longer possible this weekend,” Neil Russo said. “It’s a credit to those kids to come back and get third. That’s outstanding and I think they secured a trophy for us.”

Russo said he had no illusions about catching Roseburg, which cruised to its second consecutive team title with 212 points. Sprague took second at 105.5 and Grants Pass was third with 100.5, while the Tigers finished with 99.5 to finish well ahead of McNary and Oregon City, who tied for fifth at 88.

“We come here every year trying to be in the trophy race,” Neil Russo said. “You never know what’s going to happen here, so you put yourself in a position to win a trophy and if everything falls into place it’s the right color.”

Junior Christian Storm was Newberg’s only other placer after going 4-2 to finish fifth at 103 pounds.

Senior Cole Niehaus was seeded fifth at 160 pounds, but was upset 5-3 by Thurston’s Austin Miller in the first round and later fell 6-3 to Francisco Toledo of Century in the blood round.

Senior Christopher Dean went 0-2 at 112 pounds. After falling to top-seed and eventual state champ Jared Groner of Oregon City in the quarterfinals, senior heavyweight Nate Reichenbach was eliminated with a 1-2 record.

“Our standards our so high, we’ve walked out of here dragging our heads with a fourth-place trophy when there are 41 other teams in the tournament that would kill for that trophy,” Neil Russo said. “We’re not going to change our expectations anytime soon, but you also have to be a little bit realistic and understand what kind of weapons you’re coming in here with. When you get a trophy, you have to be proud.”

Seth Gordon, the Newberg Graphic