By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– North Salem’s Madelyn Littlejohn found a way to get it done in the 235 pound 5A/6A Special District 3 Regional Championship Match against Dallas’ Mahala Collins on Saturday.
Regulation wasn’t enough as both were tied at eight apiece. One overtime period wasn’t enough as the two grapplers were still tied at eight apiece.
The West Salem High School gym was electric as it went to a double-overtime period. Littlejohn found the first groove during the first 30 second period to take the lead thanks to a four-point nearfall.
In double overtime, each wrestler gets a chance to start in the top or bottom position to try to score some points, so Collins still had a chance to win the match and the title.
But that’s when Littlejohn locked-in once more to put herself in a position to win the match. In the second 30 second overtime period, Littlejohn got a two-point reversal and then picked up another four-point nearfall to close out the 18-8 Championship bout.
“It was really hard to win that match. I had to think really hard on what I wanted to do and I really wanted that match, so it was a lot of mental to help me to win,” said Littlejohn. “I felt like I did really well.”
Just focusing on her mindset and that mental game will be her focus over the next two weeks in preparation for the 5A/6A State Tournament in Portland.
Joining her in Portland are eight of her teammates as the Vikings finished second as a team in the tournament with four total Champions and four Runner-Ups in the tournament.
One of those Champions was Sole Luna Sanchez. The 110-pounder has been battling a shoulder injury all season that has limited her. But Luna Sanchez made the most of her opportunity this past weekend to clinch her spot in the 5A/6A State Tournament here in two weeks.
“I didn’t know I was wrestling until Thursday night. I felt like I should give it a shot and I did, and God really carried me through it. It wasn’t what I did, but what he did for me,” said Luna Sanchez.
In her Championship bout against Lebanon’sMary Jane Doty, Luna Sanchez trailed Doty 11-2 before an escape started her rally towards what would be a pin with 46 seconds left in the match.
“I worked hard to be here. The last two year’s, it haven’t gone my way…but God has blessed me with this opportunity and I knew that, even though she went in and got the takedown, there’s still so much more in me. I can’t let that stop me and get out and get going,” said Luna Sanchez.
North Salem finished second as a team at the tournament with 266 team points, finishing behind Dallas on Saturday.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
