The Coaches
In 1961, Oregon High School created its first wrestling team. Erv Kissling was the team's first head coach. Over the next five years the head position would change five times.
Erv Kissling 1961-1962
Ralph Bloomer 1962-1963
Fred Lehrke 1963-1965
Cal Callaway 1965-1966
In 1966, John Bauman would take the helm for the next 24 years. John is still the longest veteran coach Oregon has had. John finally stepped down as head coach in 1990. In those 24 years John had 51 wrestlers become conference champions, 32 wrestlers qualify for the state tournament, 1 team conference title, and 2 state champions.
Mike Manix would take over the program at the start of the 1990 season. In his 5 year stint as head coach, Mike would have 4 individual conference champions, 11 state qualifiers and arguably one one of the most successful Oregon teams in history (1993 team).
Again Oregon would go through five head coaches over the next 26 years. These five coaches would have 24 state qualifiers and 12 conference champions.
Erick Jensen 1995-1997
Brett Nelson 1997-2005
Brady Reinke 2005-2010
Ned Lease 2010-2021
Brian Hookstead 2021-Present
The Greats
Oregon has had 2 State Champions. The first was Guy Gibney in 1976. Guy wrestled at 119 pounds and along with his state title was a 3 title conference champion (wrestling at 98 lbs, 112 lbs and 119 lbs). Oregon would collect their second State Champion, Chester Nelson, in 1980. Chester won his title at Heavyweight. Chester was also a 2 time state qualifier and 2 time conference champion.
Guy and Chester have lots of company in both categories of conference champs and state qualifiers. The list is too long to list here but as of the 2021-22 season Oregon has crowned 71 conference champions (51 different individuals) and had 75 state qualifiers (51 different individuals).
The 1992-93 team. While this team did not win a state title, no conference team title and only had 2 conference champions, they will go down in Oregon wrestling history as one of the best teams ever. This team sent six individuals to the state tournament. This was and is still the most Oregon has ever had at the state tournament. Oregon did not put any of the six on the podium but again six wrestlers advancing is something to talk about.
Over the years wrestlers have been recording more and more matches a year. With more matches means the career wins can grow and grow. Oregon has had four wrestlers achieve the honor of 100 career wins. Brian Zimmerman was Oregon’s first with an exact 100 career wins from 2003-2006. Luke Ballentine (113 wins) and Dustin Lee (108) both did it from 2006-2009. David Beers compiled 109 wins over the years of 2007-2010.
The Firsts
1st Team 1961
1st Coach 1961 - Erv Kissling
1st Match won 1961 - Dennis Kjellstrom
1st Conference Champ 1964 - Dennis Strander, Dean Pernot
1st State Qualifier 1967 - Greg Trosper
1st State Place Finisher 1970 - Jim Outhouse (2nd place)
1st State Champion 1976 - Guy Gibney
1st Female State Qualifiers 2022 - Raven Ringhand
Julia Ibrahim
Emily Kramer
Ashlynd Schnelle
Cora Tesch