The Newberg Graphic
| Cornett signs on at Cal-State Bakersfield | ||||
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| The NHS wrestler finished the high school season with a 38-6 record and third-place finish at state | ||||
Newberg High School senior Colin Cornett recently signed a letter of intent to wrestle for California State University - Bakersfield. As a senior for the Tigers this past season, Cornett amassed a 38-6 record. He entered the Class 6A state wrestling tournament as the No. 4 seed in the 135-pound weight class and won his first two matches before he was upset by unseeded Alex Elder of West Salem. In the consolation bracket, Cornett won four matches, including a 7-6 victory against North Salem's Spencer Kaufman, the No. 3 seed in the tournament. In the match for third place, Cornett scored a 3-1 victory against Cody Grahn of Barlow, the tournament's No. 2 seed. According to Newberg coach Neil Russo, coaches at Cal-State Bakersfield project Cornett to wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds and expect him to contend immediately for a starting spot in the lineup. Cal-State Bakersfield competes in the Pac-10 Conference and its best finish at the NCAA national tournament came in 1996 when the Roadrunners placed third overall. This season, the Roadrunners qualified four wrestlers to compete in the nationals. Since 1985, the Roadrunners have qualified at least three wrestlers each season for the national tournament. Cal-State Bakersfield coach T.J. Kerr was named the Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year for 2007. "I think it is a great opportunity for him to wrestle at the next level in a very competitive program," Russo said. As Cornett was signing with the Roadrunners, several members of the Newberg wrestling team competed in the Western Junior Regional Freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments in Las Vegas. Russo said while the event is technically a regional event for high school wrestlers, it has become a competitive tournament that has seen several wrestlers from across the nation compete, including some of the top-ranked wrestlers in the country. "I think because it is held in conjunction with the Senior Opens and the FILA Junior Nationals, it attracts kids from outside the western region," Russo said. At the event, Newberg sophomore Jacob Kaufman, who finished second in the 130-pound weight class at the state tournament this past season, finished third in the Greco-Roman competition. Cornett placed sixth in freestyle at 135 pounds and sophomore Joey Chandler placed fifth in Greco-Roman at 152 pounds. Chandler ended the high school season with a fifth-place finish at 145 pounds at the state tournament. At 189 pounds, junior Tyler Sherman didn't place in either style. "All of our kids competed very well," Russo said. "Generally, if you place in this tournament you are going to be in the money in (the national tournament in) Fargo in July. Joey is still a Cadet (younger age group), so for him to place in Vegas in the Junior Tournament is pretty impressive." Former Newberg High School and Oregon State University wrestler Eric Stevenson competed in the open division of the Greco tournament. The tournament is the national championship for senior level athletes and, because this is an Olympic year, it establishes the challenge ladder for the final Olympic Trials in June (also in Las Vegas). Stevenson placed seventh in a competitive 132-pound bracket. | ||||
