By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore. — North Salem’s Demothi Ryan was exhausted towards the end of the second period of his 126 pound, third-place match against West Salem’s Brady Miller Saturday night.
Ryan battled through three Consolation Rounds to even reach the third-fourth match and a place in the State Tournament on the line. But the sophomore was driven. Ryan was not going to disappoint his coaches despite his fatigue and running on empty.
“Just thought of being able to go to State and the thought of my coaches being disappointed if I gave up right there, so I tried to push through it. I can’t disappoint my coaches,” Ryan said.
He led 10-6 with thirty seconds left, by the end of the frame, Ryan’s lead was 15-6. Miller cut it to 15-10 in the third period, but Ryan closed out the match with a pin with 38 seconds remaining in the match.
“It was a struggle. I wanted to go home after the first loss, but I kept going and wrestled the four matches and look at where I’m at now,” Ryan said.
Ryan was one of seven Viking wrestlers to have qualified for the State Wrestling Tournament in Portland here in a few weeks. Deacon Odom was the lone North Salem wrestler to win a District Title, winning the 150 pound Title. Yandel Basham (106), Kyler Howry (113), Maximus Rodriguez (165), Roberto Garibay III all finished District Runner-Up’s in their respective weight classes as the Vikings finished fourth as a team.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
