Eight Baker County wrestlers help Eastern Oregon Elite place sixth at state

Eight youth wrestlers from Baker County helped Eastern Oregon Elite finish sixth out of 119 teams at the Oregon Wrestling Association Folkstyle state tournament held Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Redmond. The team produced seven state champions, including Baker’s Riley Johnson, who won the 8 and under, 43-pound division.

Eastern Oregon Elite’s placement came against a broad field from across Oregon, highlighting the program’s depth and the contribution of Baker County athletes. Individual Baker County results included Romyn Myer, 2nd in the 14-under, 110-pound division; Cooper Bain, 2nd in the 16-under, 150-pound division; Traxton Tanzey, 3rd in the 14-under, 88-pound division; and Wyatt Hansen, 4th in the 14-under, 110-pound division. In addition to those finishers, Waylon Gregg, Braylen Mayo and Mason Shank competed for Baker County on the Eastern Oregon Elite roster.

The performance matters beyond medals. Youth wrestling events like the OWA state tournament provide structured physical activity for children and adolescents at a time when community health leaders are increasingly focused on prevention and well-being. Regular participation in sports supports cardiovascular fitness, motor skills and social-emotional development, and successes such as state placings can strengthen community ties and pride in Baker County neighborhoods and schools.

But the results also point to systemic issues that affect access and equity in youth athletics. National event materials from USA Wrestling emphasize administrative and safety requirements that can create barriers for smaller programs. USA Wrestling’s event page notes, "Please Note : Copper or Bronze Coach NCEP certification is REQUIRED for this event." That kind of mandated certification supports coach education and wrestler safety, yet it can add training time and cost for volunteer coaches in rural areas. The same national materials make clear the financial stakes of entering events: "USA Wrestling Event Refund Policy: Your USA Wrestling event purchase through the USA Wrestling membership system (tournament entry, coaches pass, tickets, etc.) is non-refundable. Any cancelation that takes place after purchase, or after the event has been passed, will not be refunded. By completing this event purchase, you understand that all purchases are non-refundable for whatever reason."

Local organizers, parents and policymakers should weigh those realities as they work to expand opportunities. Travel, certification, entry fees and nonrefundable policies can disproportionately burden low-income families and volunteer-run clubs, constraining participation even when talent is present. Programs that subsidize travel, cover certification costs for coaches or provide sliding-scale entry support can help ensure that a county like Baker continues to produce wrestlers who compete at the state level.

For Baker County readers, the takeaway is both pride and planning: celebrate Riley Johnson, Romyn Myer, Cooper Bain, Traxton Tanzey, Wyatt Hansen, Waylon Gregg, Braylen Mayo and Mason Shank for representing the community, and consider how local leaders and boosters can reduce barriers so more youth can reap the physical, social and developmental benefits of sport. Local clubs and school programs will likely turn next to offseason training and coach development as they build toward the next season and future tournaments.